What Mark Pope said about each of Kentucky’s transfer portal signees.
New Kentucky coach Mark Pope shared high praise for each of his first four transfer portal signees. Here’s what he said and what it means for Big Blue Nation.
In just a short time as Kentucky’s head coach, Pope has retooled the roster with four key additions from the transfer portal — and if you read between the lines, he’s assembling a group built on versatility, athleticism, and relentless energy.
Here’s a closer look at each signee — and what Pope had to say about them:
🧠 Jaland Lowe (Pittsburgh) – The veteran floor general
“Jaland is an incredibly explosive, playmaking, veteran point guard,” Pope said. “He’s a great kid who has a tremendous work ethic and most importantly, loves this game and wants nothing more than to win.”
Lowe is a major addition to Kentucky’s backcourt. The 6-foot-1 lefty was a standout freshman at Pitt and brings two years of eligibility with him. He’s known for his court vision, change-of-pace control, and leadership — and yes, he recorded a triple-double while at Pitt.
Pope clearly sees him as a tone-setter. Expect Lowe to be the kind of guard who can run the show, make winning plays, and provide stability when the lights are bright.
🛡 Mouhamed Dioubate (Alabama) – The positionless weapon
“Mouhamed is a special young man who is a perfect fit for the way we play,” Pope said. “He is a ballhandling, decision-making, physical, competitor. Mo can play and guard all five positions and has a presence as a point forward which makes him uniquely suited to play for us.”
Dioubate brings serious two-way value. At 6-foot-7, 215 pounds, he’s a stat-sheet stuffer who averaged 7.2 points and 5.9 boards in just 16 minutes per game. His efficiency? Ridiculous. He shot 61.7% from the field and hit 46.2% from deep — all as a lefty.
Don’t be surprised if Dioubate plays multiple roles in Pope’s system. Whether he’s guarding bigs, pushing the ball, or crashing the glass, “Mo” is the kind of glue guy championship teams need.
🚀 Jayden Quaintance (Arizona State) – The phenom
“Jayden is a 17-year-old phenom who is as explosive as he is skilled,” Pope said. “He’s an incredibly bright kid who is already postering anyone in Big Blue Nation in a game of chess and he and his family couldn’t be more excited to finally get to wear the Blue and White.”
What a journey for Quaintance. After initially decommitting from Kentucky following John Calipari’s departure, the 6-foot-9 lefty recommitted to Pope and Big Blue. He’s one of the youngest players in the country and already has a Big 12 All-Defensive Team nod under his belt.
His 9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game tell the story of a dynamic interior presence — but he’s currently recovering from a torn ACL. While there’s uncertainty about his return timeline, the ceiling remains sky-high.
🎯 Kam Williams (Tulane) – The marksman with bounce
“Kam is a beautiful kid who is not only an elite-level shooter but also an elite 1-through-4 defender,” Pope said. “He has a ton of gravity to his game and has untapped athleticism that is going to make his ceiling really high.”
Kentucky needed shooting. Enter Kam Williams.
The 6-foot-5 wing drilled 41.2% of his 3-point attempts last season on volume (153 shots). But he’s not just a shooter — his 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks per game show defensive range, and Pope believes there’s even more to unlock athletically.
In other words: this is your classic “3-and-D” wing with extra upside.
🌀 And the portal’s still spinning…
While these four transfers are exciting pieces, the offseason isn’t over yet.
With more roster spots to fill and the portal still open, Pope’s not done crafting his second Kentucky team. But early signs are clear — he wants toughness, versatility, and guys who love the game.
And so far? Mission accomplished.
Mark Pope isn’t just bringing in talent — he’s bringing in culture guys. Smart, and mostly left-handed, culture guys.
