John Calipari leaves Kentucky for Arkansas: Who’s in, out on Wildcats roster for 2024-25

Tracking what UK’s roster will look like in 2024-25 following Calipari’s departure

John Calipari has officially parted ways with Kentucky, he announced Tuesday. In a video posted to social media. Calipari mentioned in that video that he had another opportunity on the table. Less than 24 hours later, Calipari officially became the next coach at Arkansas to replace former coach Eric Musselman, who departed for the vacant job at USC.

Kentucky immediately becomes the top available job on the market, and there will be no shortage of quality candidates for UK athletic director Mitch Barnhart to pick from. Early candidates to succeed Calipari at Kentucky include UConn coach Dan Hurley, Baylor coach Scott Drew, Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan, and more.

However, Calipari’s departure will impact Kentucky’s roster and incoming recruiting class. The Wildcats have the No. 2 class in the 2024 cycle by 247Sports, but it’s already taken its first hit with four-star forward Karter Knox announcing his decommitment amid rumors of Calipari parting ways with the program on Monday.

CBS Sports is tracking the status of the Kentucky roster and recruiting class in real time. Here’s where every current UK player and commit currently stand.

Sheppard was named CBS Sports Freshman of the Year after putting up one of the most efficient stat lines in the country. Sheppard made only five starts in 33 games but had an impact whenever he stepped onto the court. Sheppard finished the season shooting 53.6% from the floor, 51.1% on 3-pointers (on 4.4 attempts), and 83.1% from the charity stripe. Sheppard finished five steals shy (82) of breaking the single-season record set by Rajon Rondo during the 2004-05 season. He projects as a lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

D.J. Wagner

GP: 29 | GS: 28 | PPG: 9.9 | RPG: 1.9

Wagner ranked as the No. 6 player coming out of high school and was one of the prized recruits from his class. The Wagner family has deep ties to Calipari, as D.J.’s dad, Dajuan Wagner, played for Calipari when he was the coach at Memphis.

Zvonimir Ivišić

GP: 15 | GS: 0 | PPG: 5.5 | RPG: 3.3

While Ivišić didn’t play a ton during his freshman season, he definitely made an impact when he played. Hours after he was ruled eligible by the NCAA on Jan. 20, Ivišić recorded 13 points, five rebounds, and a pair of assists in his collegiate debut.

Ugonna Onyenso

GP: 24 | GS: 14 | PPG: 3.6 | RPG: 4.8

The top shot-blocker on last season’s Kentucky team averaged 18.6 minutes per night. Onyenso made 14 starts after playing less than seven minutes as a freshman the year before.

Jordan Burks

GP: 20 | GS: 0 | PPG: 1.9 | RPG: 1.6

Burks is a former three-star recruit from the 2023 recruiting cycle. He appeared in 20 games this season and scored a career-high 13 points in a win over Vanderbilt.

Brennan Canada

GP: 5 | GS: 0 | PPG: 0 | RPG: 0.4

Canada appeared in 25 total games over his five-year career with Kentucky. He made five appearances this season.

Kareem Watkins

GP: 6 | GS: 1 | PPG: 0 | RPG: 0.2

Watkins has appeared in 20 games over the last four seasons with Kentucky. He made six appearances this season.

Walker Horn

GP: 4 | GS: 0 | PPG: 0 | RPG: 0

Horn has made eight appearances over the last two seasons for Kentucky.

Grant Darbyshire

GP: 4 | GS: 0 | PPG: 0 | RPG: 0

Darbyshire made four appearances for Kentucky this season.

Kentucky players not expected to return

Rob Dillingham (Declared for NBA Draft)

GP: 32 | GS: 1 | PPG: 15.2 | RPG: 2.9

The top-ranked player in CBS Sports’ NBA Draft prospect rankings is turning pro, he announced on Tuesday. Dillingham was named SEC 6th Man of the Year after putting up big numbers in his first season at Kentucky. The 6-foot-3 guard made only a single start but was one of Kentucky’s best players the entire season. Dillingham is a crafty guard with a quick burst that can get to the rim whenever he pleases. Dillingham has received buzz over the last few months as a potential No. 1 overall pick.

Aaron Bradshaw (In transfer portal)

GP: 26 | GS: 10 | PPG: 4.9 | RPG: 3.3

Bradshaw was the first player from Kentucky’s top-ranked 2023 recruiting class to enter his name in the transfer portal. Bradshaw missed the start of the season due to injury and appeared for the first time on Dec. 2 against UNC Wilmington. Bradshaw was the No. 5 recruit coming out of high school. He should have plenty of suitors for his services in the transfer portal.

Adou Thiero (In transfer portal)

GP: 25 | GS: 19 | PPG: 7.2 | RPG: 5

Thiero entered his name into the transfer portal last month and is the No. 53 player available in David Cobb’s transfer portal rankings. Thiero saw a larger role during his second season in Lexington, making 19 starts and 25 appearances while averaging career-highs in almost 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 committed to Kentucky out of high school over UCF, Ball State, Drake and Northwestern among others.

Justin Edwards (Declared for NBA Draft)

GP: 32 | GS: 30 | PPG: 8.8 | RPG: 3.4

Edwards was the first Kentucky player to declare for the draft and decided to turn pro days before Calipari left the program. The former highly-touted prospect showed flashes of his five-star billing throughout the season. Edwards projects as someone who will either get drafted late in the first round or early in the second round of this summer’s draft. Edwards is a perfect swing for the fences prospect.

Antonio Reeves (Out of eligibility)

GP: 33 | GS: 33 | PPG: 20.2 | RPG: 4.2

The leading scorer on Kentucky last season is out of eligibility. Reeves transferred to Kentucky in 2022 after spending the first three seasons at Illinois State. Reeves never entered his name into the transfer portal last summer but reportedly took summer classes at Illinois State, where he began his career. He finished his college career with a career-high in points and rebounds.

Tre Mitchell (Out of eligibility)

GP: 27 | GS: 24 | PPG: 10.7 | RPG: 7.2

Like Reeves, Mitchell is out of eligibility. Mitchell transferred to Kentucky for his final college season after stops at UMass, Texas, and West Virginia. Mitchell provided a valuable veteran presence for a young roster and started 24 out of the 27 games he appeared in.

Kentucky’s 2024 recruiting class

The new Kentucky coach will assume the task of keeping the No. 2 recruiting class in the 2024 cycle by 247Sports together. Kentucky’s incoming class includes five-star center Jayden Quaintance, four-star guard Billy Richmond, four-star guard Boogie Fland, four-star center Somto Cyril, and four-star guard Travis Perry.