With his high school basketball career now in the rearview mirror, Travis Perry has moved into his dorm at the University of Kentucky in preparation for his freshman season in Lexington.
The only John Calipari signee or commitment to remain with the program when Calipari bolted for Arkansas, Perry likes the team new coach Mark Pope has put together. The roster includes two of the state’s best high school players from last season — Perry and Harlan County’s Trent Noah as well as a collection of players coming to Lexington to play for the first time as a group.
In this YSE interview, Perry also talked about the chance to learn from the mix of experienced players who will be hitting the floor in practice every day.
5 Responses
PG position will SO important with a group who haven’t played together – will need an on-floor director/coach. As always everyone will give us their “best shot” plus think it an opportune time to lay the wood to the Cats. Still think 9 or 10 loss pre tourneys will be acceptable and a great job from the Pope ! This team should probably/will improve as the season progresses . I HOPE.
No one knows where lighting will strike.
Having Perry & Noah will strengthen both of them. I hope Pope brings in 1 or 2 of the best 1 or 2 KY HS players each year, with 4 to 6 always on the roster.
UK has had at least 1 player from a KY HS making a significant contribution in winning all 8 National Championships, so the sooner it happens again, the sooner we will hang Banner #9. Pope will not be influenced by any naysayers who don’t think Perry & Hart can compete for PT this season.
Kentucky isn’t getting much love from the pre-season ratings, but I don’t see another team in the country that is as solid as Kentucky is from 1 to 12. There is not a dropoff in talent from any position. With Pope’s movement offense and pressure defense, a solid bench will be a difference maker. Foul trouble should not be an issue as this team will be able to play big or small. The Riley kid announces his decision on when and where to play on the 23rd. If he reclassifies to this season, I think he goes to Illinois. If he stays in the 2025 class, I think we have a much better chance of seeing him in the Blue & White. With the bat CATS in Omaha and the excitement that Pope has brought back to basketball, Stoops is having a hard time getting much attention for his team, but I think he likes that. This will be his season to show that his program is SEC competitive, then it’s time for hoops!
I think this team once they get some chemistry has a chance to be a top ten offense an top 5 defense, been a good while watching a cats team that loves to play defense pope has brought some excitement to my household I think Oweh an Carr will be some go to guys to get a bucket that no one mentions go bbn.
Eric Musselman just threw Arkansas under the bus. He talked about how being at USC meant that he had to factor in academics in his recruiting and said it was not like that at the other places he had been. I bet that has the Hogs squealing! Sooeee pigs!