Bryce Hopkins always wanted to play at Kentucky but after one year he is transferring. (Photo by Vicky Graff)
If you are surprised that Kentucky freshman Bryce Hopkins put his name into the transfer portal, you should not have been.
He was the No. 8 power forward recruit who initially planned to go to Louisville but changed his mind and picked UK over Kansas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Oregon, Illinois and others. But he averaged just 2.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 6.5 minutes per game.
But it is about more than just the numbers.
— On Feb. 23, Hopkins had 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting in just 16 minutes in a win over LSU when UK had starters TyTy Washington and Sahvir Wheeler out with injuries. Calipari praised him after the game and said he was “involved in everything and there was nothing like crazy-crazy. He did what the team needed him to do.”
However, he played just seven minutes the rest of the season. He did not get off the bench against Saint Peter’s in the NCAA Tournament loss.
— On his final radio show, coach John Calipari praised the potential of freshman Daimion Collins and said he would be one of the “cornerstones” for Kentucky. Compare that to what he said about Hopkins:
In his final radio show of the season, Calipari continued that theme by expressing optimism about Hopkins’ future should he return to Kentucky.
“He got behind some guys that just were better than him at this point,” Calipari said. “He didn’t have the opportunities … You’ve got to come in knowing, lose some weight. Let’s try that one. Let’s get more consistent shooting the ball. You drive and your pull-ups, your strength and your rebounding. Let’s get it to where you’re even more athletic than you are.”
Notice no mention of future stardom or being a future cornerstone for Hopkins.
Before last season started, the buzz was that Hopkins had been UK’s best player in summer and preseason workouts. However, maybe it was an early injury or just the lack of playing time but he never got a chance to showcase that during the season.
Hopkins announced on Twitter that he was leaving UK but noted Lexington would “always have a special place in my heart” despite his decision.
“This journey has been a dream come true. I’ve always wanted to play for Kentucky growing up and it came true. I can’t thank the Big Blue Nation enough for embracing me like you did. There are so many memories that I will keep with me forever. I want to thank my brothers that I’ve grinded with all season. I have built a bond with all of you that nobody can break, and I love you all,” Hopkins posted on Twitter.
“I want to thank Coach Calipari, Coach Bru, Coach Jai, Coach Chin and Coach Orlando for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to play here. But with that being said my parents and I have put a lot of thought into it and feel that it’s best for me to enter the transfer portal.”
He’s now one of over 1,000 players in the transfer portal — UK teammate Dontaie Allen did the same thing earlier — and remember that last year UK went into the transfer portal to get Kellan Grady, Wheeler and CJ Fredrick.
Another UK player, Keion Brooks, announced earlier this week that he was putting his name into the NBA draft but not hiring an agent so he could still return to UK — or even transfer. Freshman guard TyTy Washington has also put his name into the draft and does not intend to return.
12 Responses
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This is exactly what the fraud, Calipari has delivered for too many years.
I agree. The writing is on the wall and too many Cal lovers can’t see it. Maybe since he’s all in on getting other school spin-offs their names can be on the back and also replacing the checkerboards on the sides of the uniforms.
Calipari was more concerned about improving the draft stock of Ty Washington and Sahvir Wheeler than he was about winning tournament games. Another repeat of the 38 – 1 team’s loss to Wisconsin because he was trying to elevate Andrew Harrison’s draft stock. This guy has shown repeatedly that he will lose games, tournament games, to help his pets get to the NBA. The University is paying him big bucks to lose big games and one has to wonder what kind of arrangement he has with his players that get drafted. He is more concerned about that issue than anything else. Bryce and Dontaie will join a long list of Calipari rejects who go on to be stars somewhere else after Calipari has labeled them as being under achievers here at KY. Will this sad song ever end? Send Calipari to the transfer portal and get a coach here at UK who wants to win games for UK!
CCC to the transfer portal and then the La La Lakers for Frank Vogel, or Anthony Grant, or Doug McDermott
Basketball talent wasted if you want my opinion. A great loss of talent and physicality because he never got a fair shot of playing time at UK IMO. His game against LSU was pretty impressive, yet his playing time tailed off down the stretch, and vanished. This is not a good visual for future aspiring talent, and UK basketball recruiting as a whole. Could this player development failure have anything to do with Skyy Clark choosing Illinois? I think the total melt down of UK at the end of this season is really the reason for this young man’s choice coupled with Calipari’s 6 to 7 man rotation generally speaking.
CCC cannot be believed. He is not trustworthy and just spews anything that comes Into his mind and often contradicts himself. Don’t know why any recruit would want to come and play for him. He does not put players into the NBA. The players that were one and done at UK, would have been one and done at Vandy or any other Division 1 school. Without the ridiculous buyout, he would be gone. I cannot wait until he is somewhere else puttingplayers first and fighting generational poverty. Then. maybe we will have a coach on the sideline that cares about winning, recruits players that want to play for the name on the front of their jersey and not their draft status, and cares about UK and the greatest fans in the country CCC cares about neither of these two idea
I don’t know what went wrong here but a player coming in with alot of hoopla and everyone saying how great he is doing does good but then can’t get on the floor! Something seems a miss in Lexington! Every year it’s a new team we have 1 or 2 players that stay and that’s it! It doesn’t make a difference if there freshmen or portal guys! I don’t here this happening at other schools I dunno but I definitely think Kentucky needs some new excitement and some positive things to go on.
yeah kind of funny how the buzz just went away
I would love to see Allen and Hopkins both go to an sec team and smoke cow pattie but Hopkins never did impress me for all the blow up he was supposed to be.
I support Hopkins 100 % because he never gotta chance show what he can do on the floor and in the game he play against LSU at Rupp Arena Hopkins got 12 pts in February and since then he only played 7 minutes and to me that is not right .
I liked him too Terry
No wonder that Makenzie Mbako picked Duke instead of us.
It’s gonna take the powers that be in Lexington
To do something about this mess because I’m telling you that this is not a good look for our program at all..
A first time coach getting 5 five stars in one year
And cal can’t even get off the ground with any..
If we miss out on JJ TAYLOR and other big time recruits, surely the athletic director is gonna notice and wonder what the hell is going on with the program