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Walter’s Wildcat Dispatch — September 27, 2026

YOUR DAILY SOURCE FOR KENTUCKY BASKETBALL NEWS
Walter’s
WILDCAT
DISPATCH
VOL. 1 · NO. 28
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY
SEPTEMBER 27, 2026
THE DAILY FIVE

Rob Dillingham Traded to Charlotte as NBA Training Camps Near

Former Kentucky guard is headed to the after the traded him for veteran sharpshooter Buddy Hield and cash. The deal, announced Sunday, gives the 21-year-old Dillingham another fresh start after he averaged 9.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 30 games for Chicago last season. Charlotte will be his third stop since Minnesota selected him with the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Wildcat World angle: Dillingham spent only one season at Kentucky, but his electric 2023-24 campaign turned him into a lottery pick. Charlotte now gets a young scoring guard with an opportunity to carve out a larger role as the Hornets continue rebuilding their backcourt.
Source: nba.com

Big Blue Madness Recruiting Weekend Taking Shape

Kentucky’s annual arrives Friday, Oct. 2, and will again use the event as one of the program’s premier showcases. Five-star 2027 forward CJ Rosser is scheduled for an official visit Oct. 1-2, while highly regarded 2028 wing DJ Okoth is expected in Lexington for an unofficial visit. Rosser, a 6-foot-10 forward, has Kentucky among seven finalists, while Okoth already holds a Wildcat scholarship offer. A Sea Of Blue

Why it matters: Pope already has Ryan Hampton committed for 2027, and landing another elite prospect would give Kentucky the foundation of a major recruiting class.
Source: aseaofblue.com

Kevin Knox Gets Another NBA Opportunity With Orlando

Former Kentucky forward has signed with the Orlando Magic and will report for training camp when the club opens workouts Tuesday. Knox is coming off a strong G League season with Windy City in which he averaged 22.7 points and 8.2 rebounds while shooting 41.2 percent from three-point range. The former No. 9 overall NBA Draft pick will attempt to turn that production into a place on Orlando’s regular-season roster. Sports USA

Wildcat World angle: Knox was Kentucky’s leading scorer as a freshman in 2017-18 and earned SEC Co-Freshman of the Year honors before beginning a professional career that has included 320 NBA games.
Source: nba.com

Paul Osaruyi Completes Important Kentucky Recruiting Weekend

Five-star 2027 center Paul Osaruyi spent the weekend in Lexington on his first official college visit, giving Kentucky an extended opportunity with one of its priority frontcourt targets. The 6-foot-10 Bella Vista Prep standout is a consensus top-25 prospect with offers from many of the nation’s leading programs and is a high-school teammate of Kentucky commitment Ryan Hampton. KY Insider

Why it matters: Pope is pursuing several elite centers in the 2027 class, but getting Osaruyi’s first official visit gave Kentucky an important early position in what figures to become a national recruitment.
Source: kyinsider.com

Big Blue Madness Now Five Days Away

Kentucky’s traditional basketball curtain-raiser is now just five days away, with Big Blue Madness scheduled for Friday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. inside . The event will provide Big Blue Nation its first major public look at Pope’s 2026-27 team since official fall practice began and will also serve as an important recruiting weekend. Tickets for the event disappeared in only 22 minutes when they were released earlier this month. Kygametime

Wildcat World angle: Madness has evolved considerably since its Midnight Madness origins, but it remains the unofficial opening bell for another Kentucky basketball season — and this year it introduces a heavily reconstructed roster preparing for Pope’s third season.
Source: ukathletics.com
WILDCATWORLD.COM · EST. 1998 · KENTUCKY BASKETBALL HISTORY