Vicky Graff Photo
Travis Perry did not mention transferring following Kentucky’s season-ending loss to Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament.
The former Kentucky Mr. Basketball, who led Lyon County to a state championship in 2024 to conclude a stellar record-breaking prep career, seemed happy and content as he prepared for his sophomore campaign.
“We felt the honor to wear this jersey, to wear the blue and white every day, and proud of that fight that we had all year from top to bottom,” he said in the locker room at Lucas Oil Stadium in March.
Even Kentucky coach Mark Pope had high hopes for Perry next season and beyond. Throughout the season, Pope was consistent in his confidence in Perry from the start of the season, and he never wavered.
“Travis Perry is really special, man,” he said. “What an unbelievable young man. He is going to carry this Kentucky banner. He’s pretty extraordinary.”
Following his first season as coach of the Wildcats, Pope and his staff started to rebuild the roster with new additions through the transfer portal, and Perry began exploring his future options. At the 11th hour before the transfer portal closed, the name on the back of the No. 11 Kentucky jersey entered the transfer portal.
The unexpected decision by Perry was a shock to many, and I’m sure it surprised Pope and the rest of the coaching staff at the time. While Big Blue Nation was left scratching their heads following the decision, college teams were lining up to claim Perry from the portal. Many felt Perry would be a better fit at Western Kentucky or Murray State, but Perry leaned on his experiences at Kentucky to help carry him through a short season of decision.
From the beginning of the process, Ole Miss was a front-runner, considering the Rebels recruited Perry while he was at Lyon County. The recruiting connection between Ole Miss coach Chris Beard and Perry remained intact despite Perry’s decision to be part of Pope’s first squad at Kentucky last season.
Several college programs sought Perry, including Louisville and Arkansas, before Perry ultimately chose to relocate from Lexington to Oxford. More than likely, Perry didn’t want to repeat last year’s cycle of starting over and playing behind experienced players. Although he had knowledge of Pope’s system and had one season under his belt, Perry likely wanted assurances of more playing time without having to prove himself all over again.
Perhaps Perry wanted to take advantage of the NIL market and seek more compensation for his talents. If you look at Denzel Aberdeen’s case, the former Florida guard played on a national championship team last season. It wasn’t enough to keep him in Gainesville, and he transferred to Kentucky, where he will fulfill a dream of playing for the Wildcats.
Although many in the Big Blue Nation would prefer Perry keep the name on the front of the jersey the same, Perry is still a Kentuckian, a high school legend that will be the all-time scoring king for years to come.
I’m pulling for him to enjoy a successful career in Oxford. You should, too.
14 Responses
Travis Perry was blindsided with the influx of too many guards who will wear the UK jersey for simply one reason – to try to improve their chance for a future in pro ball somewhere on planet earth.
Travis Perry is a genuine Kentuckian who should have played 15-20 minutes each of the first 10 games to get fully adjusted to college ball AND should have had set plays to get him screens for a Quick Look at the basket from 3-land.
UK lost a legend – basically ran him away. He will excell and be a big time winner. I don’t blame him one iota if he stays at Ole Miss and leads them to wins over UK for the next 3 seasons without ever even thinking about returning to UK.
There is no reason to recruit a player like Perry if he is going to be at the far end of the bench until an emergency lands him starting a few games against powerful teams. If Oerry had been given those key minutes early in the season, he would have been properly prepared to start against any opponent.
Noah probably made a big mistake not going with Perry to Ole Miss, to play for a coach who really wants a player like Perry. Noah will unfortunately spend another season on the far end of the bench while a bunch of 1&done players wear UK jerseys and are gone after 1 year.
One of the biggest losses in UK history. Avoidable and costly. Genuine Kentuckians with UK as their first priority will always give 110% if given the proper opportunity.
Beard is to planning to place Perry at the far end of the bench. That much can he assured. He recognized Perry was a Star and almost landed him out of HS.
Mark Pope helped UK win a National Championship and that is great. However, he surprised me by not recognizing the deep value of genuine Kentuckians. Of course, he did not grow up in Kentucky so it is understandable from that angle. Everyone is entitled to make mistakes. It’s just a life long process to learn each and every angle as we journey through a path full of adventures. He is a great fit for UK. It’s just unfortunate that Travis Perry has been pushed out.
Well we do have 4 boys from Kentucky on scholarship which in today’s college basketball is very rare. I do agree with you about Noah. If you remember he committed to south Carolina out of high school and last years south Carolina team could have used Noah. He would have probably played 15-20 minutes per game at south Carolina and this is why I say its important to go were you can play. That front of the jersey stuff doesn’t exist in 2025. Players go were they get paid the most instead of seeing how they fit into the program. Think about this if Perry and Noah would have signed with Western Kentucky out of high school. They would have both been rotational guys last year and would be starters this year probably being the 2 big names on campus. They could have done great things at a smaller university then transferred back when playing time was on the table. Instead they gave a year of basketball to play clean up minutes. I think its a waste of talent to do that. Pope basically used them for insurance. I said before the year last year both were making a mistake by coming to Kentucky instead of transferring back when they would get playing time. Instead of being practice players they could have cut there teeth in college basketball. There is no way I would ever sit at the end of nobody’s bench when I’m the all time leading scorer in Kentucky history and #7 all time in high school. I knew it would take them a year or 2 to get adjusted to playing college basketball. Perry made a smart move and I can’t believe Noah didn’t follow suit. Noah is more of a sec guy then Perry is because of his defense.
The kid was a great high school player. College is different. His is not fast or quick as the guys in front of him. Pope played the best guys. If he was one of the best he would have played. It will be the same at Ole Miss as they have fast and quick players there that can defend. I can’t count the number of times his man beat him to the basket. Good luck to him.
Its been a long time since 4 kentuckians were on scholarship you might have to go all the way back to our probation days when there was 4 kentuckians on scholarship. Honestly man idk if Perry was even going to commit when Pope got here. He kinda got put on the spot in Rupp arena when Pope called him out. I think he was ready to flip his commitment when that happened to ole miss. Beard went hot and heavy on Perry which also makes no sense to me because he runs a defense first team. Perry isn’t the greatest defender in fact he’s a below average defender. His game belongs in the big ten. Where they still run screen offenses for shooters to get open. The sec is more wide open thug ball lets be honest. He just doesn’t fit into the equation. Pope also messed up by not letting Perry get a feel for college basketball early on. I called him out during the weaker teams saying I thought he would redshirt and that’s what I thought was going to happen because why wouldn’t he play against Chicago State ? Isn’t that the type of teams that he should play against? Instead he cut his teeth in conference play and at that point he was already very far behind. I think this is the reason he transferred. If he would have played earlier in the season he would have been a little more prepared. To play in Mark Popes offense you have to be super athletic. I don’t know why everyone is making such a big fuss over Aberdeen. As a true junior he averaged 7 ppg. So why does everyone think he’s going to be one of the main guys on this team? I also think the Aberdeen commitment was the last straw for Perry. We swapped out a sophomore from Kentucky for a senior from florida. The same way Perry grew up rooting for Kentucky Aberdeen grew up rooting for Florida. Stays there until he finally gets the starting nod then transfers? He almost seems like a Florida spy lol. Why leave a national championship team that you grew up rooting for in Florida and not try to win back to back championships. Or the writing is on the wall that they will suck next year one of the two. I do wish Perry the best and I hope he becomes the sec 3 point king. We will just have to see. If he flops at Ole Miss we know that we didn’t miss out on to much. If he starts for ole miss and averages double figures we will know we missed out. I think its going to take him another year to become relevant in the sec but we will see. The question is Does Trent Noah love Kentucky more than Travis Perry? I think so! They basically got the same playing time. Noah is still second to last on the roster only ahead of Potter.
Good remarks, Terry… although I don’t think Noah loves UK more. Noah did not have time to think about transferring after Perry made the decision or he may have put his name in also.
Your Aberdeen comments are the same that I considered. How does a Floridian leave the National Championship and team when he is about to start his SR year? I don’t think I want that guy in my team. That does not make any sense at all. And that was the hire that was the last straw & pushed Perry out the door.
Every level of BB follows the action of the pros as it trickles down over a period of time. The rules (dribble instead of carrying the ball; don’t grab, push, shove, trip unless you want to foul out) have been abandoned. Even the pros played by the rules when the great Wilt, Oscar, Pistol, West, Baylor, Petit were playing. Then the Jordon days there was a very noticeable change in the lack of officiating – carrying the ball and clobbering players was allowed more and more each year. That trickled down to college ball and eventually even to HS & pee wee ball where street ball was allowed without blowing a whistle.
The thug feat has continued to get worse and worse to the point that the pros in the playoffs this season are complaining about the lack of officiating – both teams playing a game complain about the endless thug ball at both ends of the floor. The inmates have fully taken over and now they are complaining because the sheriff left town. College ball and others will follow suit. The game of BB has self-destructed by not following the simple rules.
The SEC is the worst of the college conferences and is just a notch below the NBA level of thug ball. It will get worse every year until fights break out at least twice per half.
Has the woke era impacted BB at every level where “anything goes” ? It seems it has!
I don’t know anyone that wanted Perry to leave. I’m sure Pope didn’t run him off. Sounds like you’re mad at Pope. Instead of worrying about woke you should wake up and see Pope is trying to build a winning team. With the guard injuries last year Pope had to stack the deck. Perry had the opportunity to stay and fight for playing time. He chose to leave for what he thinks are greener pastures. I hope Perry does good. I also hope the Cats beat Ole Miss by 25 everytime they play.
Travis is a good kid. It will be interesting to see how he fares at Ole Miss.
I was in a restaurant waiting on a rose to go & saw about 5 minutes of New York vs Boston on TV. Otherwise I would not waste any time watching the ultimate thug league.
It was more than interesting to see Boston players set a solid screen outside the 3-point line and get a teammate a clean shot at the basket. It’s a no-brainer to set screens for top level shooters. They made 4 in a row while I was watching. I guess NY will start covering the shooters better and then Boston will go inside. The inside-outside game is for real. Dribbling into a crowd and then throwing up a wild shot or trying to pass to the perimeter risks losing the ball or takong a crazy shot.
High BB IQ used to be a favorite media term. The fact is, either a guy has a low or high IQ and that will directly affect how they “think” or “don’t think” when playing BB or working or anything else. Today, the thug leagues do not need players with an IQ above 50. It’s a fight; no finesse, no thinking required. Just fight til the last man is standing in the lane and then take the fight to the perimeter.
When the thug-style pros complain because the refs don’t call fouls, then the real game of BB has ended for the so-called pros.
Jeff Sheppard was the FF MVP when UK won the Title in 1998. He played sparingly for the Atlanta Hawks (a losing franchise ever since trading Dominique Wilkins) for only a few years. That sure shows the NBA is Nothing But Animals and gave up real BB decades ago. Now it’s just a matter of if they fight until death or just have an ambulance at court-side.
The NCAA thieves taking in mega-millions let the college game decay into a gladiator level of fighting. Now it’s a soap opera with over paid actors. The woke folks think they have won, but they are deceived. It reminds me of years ago when some schools in an ultra-liberal city out west were “teaching” math so every answer was right. Nothing could be wrong. 2+2 no longer was “limited” to being = to 4, but any answer was correct. Such nonsense is the ultimate in ignorance!! It’s the same with BB, where the street ball thug style without a ref is now how college BB is played.
Thank & Praise our Living God that He has drawn the line in the USA and we have an administration filled with MAGA enforcers. BB and many sports may be beyond hope, but the USA will no longer be pushed around by nations with evil leaders. The big picture is the best since the days of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abe Lincoln, Ronald Reagan & other great Presidents were in office. The Trump Derangement Syndrome destroying the already weak & evil minds of millions of libs is just proof that the nation is getting back on track. Otherwise the media me crooked Dems would not be squealing because Trump, Musk & MAGA enforcers want to stop the checks going to terrorists, antisemitism crazies, queer organizations, dead people, people 600 years old, etc.
Who knows, some day real BB may return and skilled players will once again be in the game. In the meantime, keep those ambulances along court-side!
You’re as big a Dumb Ass as I have ever seen. It takes a man with a WEAK mind to believe all the bullshit you just wrote. You should buy some Trump meme coins. Maybe infest all your money in his bitcon operation. I bet he would sell you some ocean front property in Arizona. You talk about thugs and you’re in love with one!
My sincere apology for stirring you up so much.
Take a deep breath. Sit down in a quiet place and talk to the Lord Jesus about how frustrated you are. He will listen, heal your heart of any and all problems and after you confess your sins, just “call upon His Name” by calling out loud “Lord Jesus, cleanse me with your precious blood and fill me with Your Divine Life.” God will instantly put His Divine Life into your human spirit, as the Spirit of Jesus renews your inner being.
May the Glory of the Lord Jesus shine upon & into you & fill you with hope, joy, peace & the love of God.
You should take your own advice. I will never bow to a Dictator loving man that would throw away the poor and embrace the rich. A lunatic that pushes away allies and kneels to Russia, North Korea, and Saudi Arabia. Maga is pushing to become Communist. God bless the people trying to defend democracy against a tyrant.
Never thought UKBB site would turn into a political forum 🤷♂️.
My one and only thought is 1.) Pope is a good man & 2.) he’s charged with winning a national championship..
You’re right on both, Paul. 👍
Having lost interest & focus, I’m planning to step away.
Basketball has definitely changed. The refs either call too many fouls or not enough. Traveling is rarely called. I see people use 2 different pivot feet and still no call. Basketball definitely varies by conference. Out west and the big ten still play position basketball. There are 2-3 picks set for shooters and more 2-3 zone defense. The sec acc and big 12 play more positionless basketball were you put your best thoroughbreds in the race and let them run. The sec takes the cake with positionless basketball. This is where you have guys 6’3"-6’10" nobody really plays a position you spread everyone out and let them play one on one with the defender. This why Pope recruited who he recruited this year. We didn’t have the personnel last year to keep up with the top teams in the conference and Pope made major changes to keep up. This is one of the reasons I don’t understand why Perry would go to another sec team. He will play early on in the season but no way he plays alot during sec play. He will be exploited for his slow first step which he can’t drive around anyone especially at 6’1" you have to be super fast. He gets beat on defense very badly. After 2 steps the guard runs by Perry like he’s standing still. Perry could offset this playing in a system that plays more zone. He could also create more shots for himself playing in the big 10. He will struggle next year and might not ever have the speed to be a threat in the sec. You can’t learn speed you either have it or you don’t. He will be better suited and find out ways around it the older he gets. He could also offset alot of this by shooting 45% or better from 3. That would make coaches have to play him more if he shot the ball better. Perry should have went somewhere were he could play and make a difference. What he does have going for him is ole miss only has 4 guards on the roster including him. So if a injury occurs he could be in the starting lineup. I still don’t see him averaging more than 7 points per game this year. Noah has better defense and a better game suited for the sec. I still dont understand why he didn’t play for South Carolina last year because he would have easily played 20 mpg as a freshman on a terrible team. South Carolina will be a tournament team this year and Noah would be the starting 3 for a good south Carolina team this year. He could have been the man and then transferred to Kentucky his junior and senior season and could have been the 6th man his junior year and a starter his senior year. Noah was blessed with some height and that’s what sets him and Perry apart. Noah defends against the 3 which usually small forwards are much slower than point guards who Perry has to guard. If Perry was 6’4" or 6’5" he would be a little better suited but not 6’1" and as slow as a center.
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