As the Kentucky Wildcats advance in the NCAA Tournament, their coaching staff is proactively identifying top talent in the transfer portal to strengthen their roster for the upcoming season. Three standout players have emerged as primary targets: Dedan Thomas Jr., Treysen Eaglestaff, and Donovan Dent.
Dedan Thomas Jr. recently entered the transfer portal following the departure of UNLV’s head coach, Kevin Kruger. As a sophomore, Thomas showcased his skills by averaging 15.6 points, 4.7 assists, and 2.0 rebounds per game, earning Third Team All-Mountain West honors. Kentucky faces competition from programs like Florida, UCLA, and Gonzaga in pursuing Thomas, who is recognized for his exceptional playmaking abilities.
Treysen Eaglestaff, a 6-foot-6 guard from North Dakota, has garnered significant attention after entering the transfer portal. Eaglestaff’s standout performances include scoring 40 points against Alabama and 51 points in a Summit League Conference Tournament win over South Dakota State. He averaged 18.9 points per game, with notable shooting efficiency (35.9% from three-point range), along with 2.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game during the season. In addition to Kentucky, schools such as Alabama, Michigan, St. John’s, Kansas, LSU, Gonzaga, UCLA, Ole Miss, Georgia, and Oklahoma have expressed interest in Eaglestaff.
Donovan Dent, a standout guard for the New Mexico Lobos, has entered the transfer portal for his final season of eligibility after leading his team to a win in the NCAA tournament. Dent’s impressive performance this season, highlighted by his scoring (20.4 points per game), passing (35.8 percent assist rate), and improved three-point shooting (40.9 percent), makes him a highly sought-after player. As a talented point guard known for his fast-paced playmaking, Dent is expected to attract significant attention from top college basketball programs, including Kentucky, North Carolina, Texas Tech, Alabama, and Florida.
As the Wildcats continue their tournament run, securing commitments from these top transfer targets could significantly enhance their roster for the next season.
