While Jaxon Kohler waits on word about his fifth year of eligibility, Kentucky fans have found an unexpected ally in his dad.
Jeff Kohler has been getting into it on social media with Tennessee fans while the Big Blue Nation keeps tabs on the Michigan State transfer target, and the back-and-forth has only added fuel to the idea that Lexington is very much in the mix. The whole thing started after BigBlueDylan posted a rumor that Kohler and his family had a Zoom call with Kentucky. One Tennessee fan jumped into the replies and wrote, "He isn't gonna be able to transfer bro."
Jeff Kohler didn’t leave that hanging. He fired back: "Yes he will.
See the Georgia case today?" He was pointing to the group of 20 college athletes who were granted an extra year of eligibility, suggesting that the same path could be coming for his son.
The argument kept rolling from there, and it got even better when Jeff Kohler responded again: "Agreeing to an E10 and signing one is two different things."
BigBlueDylan then stepped back into the exchange with a perfectly timed jab: "Are you trying to double down on debating HIS FATHER on what he’s signed?"
For Kentucky fans, it was the kind of online moment that makes a recruitment feel a little more real. It also doesn’t hurt that Kohler looks like a strong basketball fit for Mark Pope’s roster.
If he ends up in blue and white, Kohler would likely slide into the starting power forward role between Milan Momcilovic and Malachi Moreno. At Michigan State last season, he averaged 12.5 points and nearly nine rebounds per game, while also shooting 38.9% from three-point range.
That kind of production gives Pope another stretch option who can score inside and out. Kentucky already has workable choices at the four, but Kohler would bring more offense and Power Four experience, which should make a move to the SEC easier if he gets there.
The final piece still comes down to whether he receives an injunction in California, which will determine his eligibility. Until then, the recruitment isn’t finished. But with Jeff Kohler openly sparring alongside Kentucky fans online, this is one to watch closely.
In Other News...
Kentucky Just Lost Another Former Blue-Chip Receiveranalysis to=final code omitted ified
Kentuckys receiver room took another hit this week, with former blue-chip wideout Hardley Gilmore IV no longer part of the team after a violation of team rules, according to a University of Kentucky spokesperson. Gilmore had been one of the more notable young names in the wideout mix, and his departure adds another layer of uncertainty to a position group the Wildcats have been trying to stabilize.
Gilmore also was absent from Kentuckys updated practice roster as of Aug. 6, a clear sign that the program had already moved on before the news became official. With the transfer portal closed, his options for this season are limited if he lands elsewhere, and Kentucky is left to regroup again at a spot where depth and continuity already matter. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys Final Roster Push Just Got Tense For Mark Pope
Kentuckys hunt for one last roster piece has narrowed into a familiar kind of spring tug-of-war, and Keyshawn Hall is right in the middle of it. The transfer forward has SEC experience, has already been on a Zoom call with the Wildcats, and has used social media to signal interest from both Kentucky and St. Johns as Mark Pope keeps working to round out the roster.
Hall is not the only name on the board, with Jaxon Kohler and Mark Mitchell also in the mix as Kentucky evaluates how to finish its final spot. But the competition around Hall gives the chase a different level of urgency, especially with both Pope and Rick Pitino involved and St. Johns still pressing hard for a player it clearly values. [Read more 🡒]