The Kentucky Wildcats have been hit hard by the transfer portal. Since it officially opened on April 7, seven players have entered. Of those seven departures, guard Jaland Lowe is the only one who did not appear in at least 30 games last season.
With their season already ending in disappointment, losing to the Iowa State Cyclones in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats continue to struggle. However, head coach Mark Pope has shown an ability to attract talent after landing six commitments in last year’s transfer portal cycle.
With several contributors leaving, he and his staff are hoping to find a similar amount of success this time around.
On3 reporter Joe Tipton wrote that Kentucky is one of several teams set to host former USC Trojans center Gabe Dynes.
“Since entering, the Independence, Kentucky native has received interest from double-digit programs and has now scheduled four official visits, according to his agent Adam Papas,” Tipton wrote. “Dynes will visit Xavier on Tuesday, Kentucky on Wednesday, Louisville on Thursday, and NC State on Friday. He’s also setting up a date to visit Georgia.”
Dynes is coming off his first season with USC after transferring from the Youngstown State Penguins. Standing at 7-foot-5, he appeared in 30 games and made six starts. The junior averaged 2.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game while shooting 78.8% from the field.
With one more year of eligibility, Dynes is garnering attention from several prominent teams. On3 Industry Rankings list him as the No. 152 player and the No. 17 center to enter the transfer portal this offseason.
Getting him on campus for a visit in Lexington allows Kentucky to make a strong impression. If they do land his commitment, Dynes could be the Wildcats’ third transfer addition, alongside guard Alex Wilkins (Furman Paladins) and guard Zoom Diallo (Washington Huskies).
Related: UConn Linked to Award-Winning Center in College Basketball Transfer Portal
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Basketball section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.