Kentucky’s Mark Pope Scores Big Transfer Portal Win
After Kentucky’s run ended in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, most of the Wildcats’ starting lineup is expected to move on from college basketball. But new head coach Mark Pope has wasted no time reshaping the roster through the transfer portal.
On Monday, Pope secured his third transfer portal commitment, continuing to reload ahead of next season. After quickly filling the gap left by departing guard Lamont Butler with Tulane’s Kam Williams, and then adding Pittsburgh guard Jaland Lowe over the weekend, Pope has now landed a key piece in the frontcourt.
According to On3’s Joe Tipton, Alabama forward Mouhamed Dioubate is transferring to Kentucky. Tipton broke the news on social media:
“BREAKING: Alabama transfer forward Mouhamed Dioubate has committed to Kentucky,” he posted on X. “The 6-7 sophomore averaged 7.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game this season.”
Dioubate, a 6’7″, 215-pound sophomore from Queens, New York, was a four-star recruit in the 2023 class, ranked 104th overall and 24th among power forwards by 247Sports. As a freshman, he played sparingly at Alabama, averaging just under eight minutes per game. But after an offseason of development, he became a regular contributor off the bench in his second year, boosting his impact with 16 minutes, 7.2 points on 61.7% shooting, and 5.9 rebounds per game.
His best performance came in the NCAA Tournament opener against Robert Morris, where he posted 18 points and 10 rebounds.
With several top-tier recruits also set to arrive in 2025, Pope is piecing together a roster that could make Kentucky a serious contender in the 2025–26 season.
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