Kentucky has various spots on the floor that need a complete reconstruction, including the whole frontcourt. Mark Pope clearly wants to bring Malachi Moreno back once he evaluates the NBA waters and withdraws his name from the NBA Draft, but the Wildcats will still need a backup center and many power forwards.
Kentucky’s primary power forward target is Donnie Freeman, who visited this week. It looks like Freeman may race for the SEC, but he is a superstar who would have a dominating season down low for Pope’s Wildcats.
Another player who the team has contacted about serving as Moreno’s possible replacement is FAU transfer Devin Williams. Last season, the 6’10 205-pound forward averaged 7. 5 points, 5. 2 rebounds, and 1. 3 assists per game for the Owls, shooting 51% from the field and 30. 6% from beyond the arc.
Williams’ blocks per game is a particularly impressive figure. The 6’10 sophomore swatted 2. 6 shots per game, tying him for third in the country. Williams is a freak athlete who should be one of the country’s top rim defenders next season. Williams would be an excellent addition to the 2026-27 squad in terms of protecting the paint.
The only concern I have with Williams is his offense. While he averaged 7. 5 points per game, his statistical offensive grade is quite low. When you watch Williams perform, the offensive potential is evident, but he has a long way to go. If Pope can get Williams, the first priority will be to see if he can enhance the 6’10 forward’s offensive repertoire.
According to KSR, Williams and Kentucky are scheduled to have a Zoom meeting today, and if it goes well, the next step will be to bring him to campus for a visit. Williams is a wise bet for this team to back up Moreno because he can defend and rebound. If he could be a guy who comes in and scores six points per game, he would fulfill his goal for Kentucky.
This is a name to watch for the next few days to see if Kentucky can bring Williams on campus for a visit. The Pope still has a lot of acquisitions to make via the transfer portal.
