John Calipari announced Tuesday that he has officially parted ways with Kentucky.in Video posted on social media. Calipari said in the video that he has another chance. Less than 24 hours later, Calipari was officially named the next coach at Arkansas, replacing former USC coach Eric Musselman, who left the vacant position.
Kentucky instantly became the top market for open jobs and will continue to do so. There is no shortage of excellent candidates as the choice of UK athletic director Mitch Barnhart. Potential candidates to replace Calipari at Kentucky include early college coach Dan Hurley, Baylor coach Scott Drew and Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan.
But Calipari's departure will impact Kentucky's roster and future recruiting classes. The Wildcats have the No. 2 class in the 2024 cycle, according to 247Sports, but they've already taken a hit. On Monday, four-star forward Carter Knox announced his departure, and a few days later five-star center Jaden Quentance and four-star center Somt Cyril requested release from their national letters of intent.
CBS Sports is tracking Kentucky's roster and class recruiting in real time. Here are the current positions of all current UK players and commitments:
Kentucky underclassman
reed shepherd
GP: 33 | GS: 5 | PPG: 12.5 | RPG: 4.1
Shepard was named CBS Sports Newcomer of the Year after establishing one of the most efficient statistical lines in the country. Shepard started just five of 33 games, but made an impact every time he stepped on the court. Shepard finished the season shooting 53.6 percent from the floor, 51.1 percent from 3-point range (on 4.4 attempts) and 83.1 percent from the charity stripe. Shepard is five steals away from breaking the single-season record set by Rajon Rondo in 2004-05 (82 steals). He plans to be a lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
DJ Wagner
GP: 29 | GS: 28 | PPG: 9.9 | RPG: 1.9
Wagner was the No. 6 player out of high school and one of the better recruits in his class. The Wagner family has deep ties to Calipari, with DJ's father, Dajuan Wagner, playing for Calipari while he was coaching in Memphis.
Zvonimir Ivišić
GP: 15 | GS: 0 | PPG: 5.5 | RPG: 3.3
Ibicic didn't play much in his freshman season, but when he did, he definitely made an impact. Hours after being granted eligibility by the NCAA on Jan. 20, Ivicic had 13 points, five rebounds and two assists in his collegiate debut.
Ugonna Onyenso
GP: 24 | GS: 14 | PPG: 3.6 | RPG: 4.8
The top shot blocker on Kentucky's team last season averaged 18.6 minutes per night. Onienso started 14 games last year as a freshman, playing less than seven minutes.
jordan barks
GP: 20 | GS: 0 | PPG: 1.9 | RPG: 1.6
Mr. Burks is a former three-star recruit from the 2023 recruiting cycle. He played in 20 games this season and scored a career-high 13 points in the win over Vanderbilt.
brennan canada
GP: 5 | GS: 0 | PPG: 0 | RPG: 0.4
The Canadian appeared in a total of 25 games during his five-year career at Kentucky. He appeared in five games this season.
Kareem Watkins
GP: 6 | GS: 1 | PPG: 0 | RPG: 0.2
Watkins has appeared in 20 games over the past four seasons at Kentucky. He appeared in six games this season.
walker horn
GP: 4 | GS: 0 | PPG: 0 | RPG: 0
Horn has appeared in eight games over the past two seasons for Kentucky.
grant derbyshire
GP: 4 | GS: 0 | PPG: 0 | RPG: 0
Derbyshire played in four games for Kentucky this season.
Kentucky players not expected to return
Rob Dillingham (NBA draft pick)
GP: 32 | GS: 1 | PPG: 15.2 | RPG: 2.9
The top-ranked player on CBS Sports' NBA draft prospect rankings announced Tuesday that he is turning pro. Dillingham was named the SEC's Sixth Man of the Year after making a big splash in his first season at Kentucky. The 6-foot-3 guard started only one game, but was one of Kentucky's best players all season. Dillingham is a crafty guard with a quick burst who can get to the rim whenever he wants. Dillingham has been talked about as a potential No. 1 overall pick in recent months.
Aaron Bradshaw (in transfer portal)
GP: 26 | GS: 10 | PPG: 4.9 | RPG: 3.3
Bradshaw became the first player in Kentucky's top-ranked 2023 freshman class to put his name in the transfer portal. Bradshaw missed the start of the season due to injury and made his first appearance on December 2 against UNC Wilmington. Bradshaw was the fifth recruit to graduate from high school. There should be plenty of candidates in the transfer portal who would be suitable for his services.
Adu Tierro (in the transfer portal)
GP: 25 | GS: 19 | PPG: 7.2 | RPG: Five
Thierry entered his name into the transfer portal last month and is the No. 53 available player on David Cobb's transfer portal rankings. Tierro took on a larger role in his second year in Lexington, starting 19 games and appearing in 25, averaging career highs in nearly every statistical category.
Joey Hart (in transfer portal)
GP: 7 | GS: 0 | PPG: 0.4 | RPG: 0
Hart will enter the transfer portal after playing sparingly as a freshman. The former three-star recruit went to Kentucky after attending UCF, Ball State, Drake and Northwestern after high school.
Justin Edwards (NBA draft pick)
GP: 32 | GS: 30 | PPG: 8.8 | RPG: 3.4
Edwards was Kentucky's first player to declare for the draft, deciding to turn pro just days before Calipari left the program. The once highly touted prospect showed signs of becoming a five-star player throughout the season. Edwards projects to be a late first-round or early second-round pick in this summer's draft. Edwards is the perfect swing for the fences prospect.
Antonio Reeves (ineligible)
GP: 33 | GS: 33 | PPG: 20.2 | RPG: 4.2
Kentucky's leading scorer from last season was ineligible. Reaves spent his first three seasons at Illinois State before transferring to Kentucky in 2022. Reaves did not enter his name into his transfer portal last summer, but he reportedly took summer classes at Illinois State University, where he began his career. He finished his college career setting career highs in points and rebounds.
Tre Mitchell (ineligible)
GP: 27 | GS: 24 | PPG: 10.7 | RPG: 7.2
Like Reeves, Mitchell is also ineligible. Mitchell spent time at Massachusetts, Texas and West Virginia before transferring to Kentucky for his final college season. Mitchell provided a valuable veteran presence to the young players, starting 24 of the 27 games he played in.
Kentucky's 2024 recruiting class
Kentucky's new coach will be tasked with maintaining the No. 2 recruiting class in the 2024 cycle according to 247Sports. Kentucky's freshmen include five-star center Jaden Quaytens, four-star guard Billy Richmond, four-star guard Boogie Frand, four-star center Somto Cyril and four-star guard Travis Cyril. Perry included.
Quaintance, Frand, Cyril and Perry have signed national letters of intent to come to Kentucky, but Richmond has not yet signed.
Four-star forward Carter Knox committed to Kentucky last month, but Knox's father told 247Sports on Monday that his son plans to resume scouting following Calipari's departure.
Since 247Sports began tracking team rankings in 2010, Kentucky has finished with a top-five recruiting class every cycle under Calipari. The Wildcats had the No. 1 recruiting class under Calipari in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2020 and 2023.
Here's a look at Kentucky's roster and upcoming recruiting classes as per 247Sports rankings.
No.22 Billy Richmond
Richmond is committed to beating Kentucky over Alabama, LSU and Memphis on Dec. 21. The Richmond family has deep ties to Calipari. Richmond's father, whose real name is Billy Richmond, played for Calipari in Memphis from 2002 to 2004. Richmond is considered an athletic left winger and has a chance to be an immediate hit when he steps on campus this fall.
No.26 Boogie Franc
The McDonald All-American is one of the best combo guards in the country, ranking behind Rutgers signee Dylan Harper as the top player at the position. Frand committed to Kentucky over Alabama, UW, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina and St. John's. Frand was Kentucky's second commitment in the 2024 cycle.
No.73 Travis Perry
Perry was Kentucky's only signee from the Bluegrass State. He was ranked as the No. 6 point guard in the 2024 cycle and committed to Kentucky over Alabama, Cincinnati, Ole Miss and Western Kentucky. Perry is the all-time leading scorer in Kentucky high school boys basketball history.
Recruit no longer committed
No.8 Jaden Quintance
The highest-ranked signee in Kentucky's recruiting class is unique because of his age. Quitance won't be eligible for the 2025 NBA Draft because he won't turn 17 until July. NBA rules state that players must be at least 19 years old during the draft calendar year, which opens up the possibility of playing two seasons in college. Quaintance committed to Kentucky over Florida, Missouri and Ohio State. On Wednesday, Quaintance's father, Hamin, told 247Sports that his son will request release from the NIL to Kentucky. Hammin recently posted on social media that his family will be “riding with our big dog (Calipari) until the wheels fall off.” Calipari will likely try to lure Quaintance to Arkansas.
No.20 Carter Knox
The younger brother of former Kentucky one-and-done Kevin Knox II was the most recent player in this class to commit to Calipari. Knox committed to Kentucky on March 9 after stints at Louisville, USF and a return to the Overtime Elite. After former Indiana signee Liam McNeely requested his release from the NLI, he became the highest-ranked high school player on the board. Knox's younger brother Kobe is currently a player at USF. With Knox resuming his recruiting efforts, there will no doubt be many suitors for his services.
No.46 Somto Cyril
The Wildcats were selected as the first commitments in Kentucky's 2024 recruiting class over Cincinnati, Florida, Georgetown, Indiana, Kansas, Memphis, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss and Tennessee. Cyril ranks as the No. 10 center in his class. Cyril was granted release from NLI on Wednesday and was granted release from Kentucky.