DISPATCH
Kentucky’s Final Roster Spot Comes Down to Kohler and Mitchell
Kentucky’s pursuit of a 15th player has narrowed around Michigan State transfer Jaxon Kohler and former Missouri forward Mark Mitchell. Kohler completed a reported 2½-hour Zoom meeting with Kentucky on Wednesday and is also talking with BYU, while Mitchell continues to await a Jefferson Circuit Court ruling on his bid for another season of eligibility. Kentucky appears prepared to move quickly once either recruitment becomes actionable.
Kentucky Makes Its Pitch to Jaxon Kohler
Mark Pope and his staff spent roughly 2½ hours meeting virtually with Jaxon Kohler, and the conversation was reportedly productive. The 6-foot-10 former Michigan State forward averaged 12.5 points and 8.9 rebounds last season and has already secured the legal relief necessary to pursue a fifth college season. BYU remains a significant contender and is expected to make its own pitch.
Mark Mitchell Court Ruling Could Arrive Within Days
Kentucky continues to wait on Jefferson Circuit Judge Brian C. Edwards’ ruling in Mark Mitchell’s eligibility case. Mitchell is seeking relief that would permit him to play another college season and enter the transfer portal, with a decision expected after both sides submitted additional arguments this week. The former Missouri forward averaged 18.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists last season.
Early Bracketology Places Kentucky on the No. 5 Seed Line
ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi’s latest preseason projection has Kentucky as a No. 5 seed in the East Region, matched initially against the winner of a projected Xavier-Oklahoma State First Four game. The hypothetical region also includes Duke, Michigan State and UConn near the top, with Arkansas positioned as a possible second-round opponent for Kentucky. August bracketology carries little predictive weight, but it offers an early indication of how the Wildcats are being viewed nationally entering Mark Pope’s third season.
On This Date: Ernest Sparkman Was Born in 1925
Former Kentucky center Ernest Sparkman was born Aug. 20, 1925, and played for Adolph Rupp’s Wildcats during the 1944-45 season alongside future stars Alex Groza and Jack Parkinson. Sparkman later became an eastern Kentucky broadcasting institution, founded WSGS in Hazard and spent four decades calling games at the Kentucky boys’ Sweet Sixteen.