Mark Pope isn’t pretending Kentucky is done building for 2026-27.
With college basketball’s latest eligibility wrinkle opening the door for some last year’s seniors - the 2022 high school graduates - to get a fifth year, Kentucky has kept its 15th roster spot available for exactly this kind of chance. And Pope made it clear he’s still hunting.
Speaking with The Field Of 68, Pope laid out the approach pretty plainly when asked about that final opening: “We’re very aggressively looking at every opportunity, like we always will. If there’s something that arises that can really help us be better, we’re going to take advantage of it.”
That’s the kind of answer Kentucky fans wanted to hear, because the names floating around this situation are the sort that could change the feel of the whole roster.
The two players Big Blue Nation has circled are Michigan State forward Jaxon Kohler and Missouri forward Mark Mitchell. Both were productive last season, both got the best of Kentucky at times, and both would fill needs Pope has already acknowledged.
Physicality has been a talking point for this team, and Kohler and Mitchell would bring it in a big way. Kentucky also needs help on the glass, which is where Kohler stands out.
He averaged 8.9 rebounds per game last season for the Spartans. Mitchell pulled down 5.2 rebounds per game last season in the SEC for Mizzou.
There’s also scoring to consider. Mitchell averaged 18.3 points per game last season, while Kohler put up 12.5 points per game. That gives Mitchell the edge offensively, even though Kohler brings his own scoring punch.
If Kentucky can land either one, the roster gets a lot more interesting. The fan base already believes Pope has a team capable of making a deep run as things stand. Add Kohler or Mitchell to the mix, and the conversation starts shifting toward whether this group can win it all.
In Other News...
Kentucky Could Suddenly Have A New Path To A Proven Scorer
Missouri forward Mark Mitchell has become part of a Louisville-filed lawsuit seeking an additional year of eligibility for the 2026-27 season, a case built around the argument that athletes in the class of 2022 have been treated differently than earlier groups that benefited from the COVID-19 eligibility reset. It is the kind of off-court wrinkle that can ripple well beyond one roster, especially for Kentucky fans keeping an eye on how the transfer and eligibility markets might shift.
If the case gains traction in Kentucky, the practical effects could reach beyond a simple ruling on playing time and into whether Mitchell can function normally with schools during the process, including communicating with coaches. For a program that is always scanning for experienced scoring help, that kind of legal uncertainty is exactly the sort of thing that can suddenly open a new lane. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys Last Roster Spot Suddenly Hinges On An SEC Veteran
The final months of roster-building can turn on unexpected legal twists, and Kentuckys picture may be no different. Missouri forward Mark Mitchell has filed a lawsuit in Louisville that seeks to clear a path for him to enter the NCAA transfer portal ahead of a possible fifth year of college basketball, a move that could matter well beyond his own situation as programs continue chasing late roster flexibility.
Mitchells case asks for a temporary restraining order and injunction against the NCAA, aiming to let players who did not enter the portal after the 2025-26 season transfer to another Division I school. The timing is notable for Kentucky because the hearing is set for Aug. 18, keeping one more roster-related variable in play as teams across the SEC monitor whether the case opens a door that has been closed. [Read more 🡒]
Dominika Paurov Gives Kentucky One Of Its Best Comeback Stories
Dominika Paurovs road to Kentucky has already been defined by patience, rehab and a lot of work done away from the spotlight. After missing both her sophomore and redshirt sophomore seasons because of consecutive ACL tears, she is finally preparing to make her debut for the Wildcats, a return that carries a different kind of weight than a typical first impression.
Paurov has talked openly about how hard the recovery was physically and emotionally, and she has made clear how much the support of Kentuckys team and staff helped her get through it. Now, with a chance to join the lineup at last, she is looking forward to contributing in the upcoming season and giving the Wildcats a comeback story that feels just as meaningful as any stat line. [Read more 🡒]