Kentucky’s basketball program is entering an exciting new phase as it begins welcoming potential recruits for official visits amidst the transfer portal frenzy. Mark Pope, the Wildcats’ head coach, is preparing for the arrival of new talent as former Florida State player Taylor Bol Bowen is set to make his official visit to Lexington on Tuesday. Bowen will be the first player to be hosted on Kentucky’s campus since the transfer portal opened last week.
The 6-foot-10 forward, who has two years of eligibility remaining, played two seasons at Florida State. This past year, he averaged 8.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game, starting 27 of the 29 games he played. Bowen was also an impressive 41.4% from beyond the arc, sinking 29 out of 70 attempts. Known for his defense, Bowen has a wingspan of 7 feet 2 inches and was ranked among the top 10 defenders in the Atlantic Coast Conference. His stats underscore his importance to the Seminoles’ defense, even as they navigate the transition following longtime coach Leonard Hamilton’s departure.
Bowen was ranked as the No. 73 recruit in the 2023 class according to the 247Sports composite rankings. Now, he’s one of the key targets for Kentucky’s 2025-26 roster, with the Wildcats actively pursuing him through the transfer portal. While Kam Williams, a former Tulane wing, recently committed to Kentucky without visiting the campus, Bowen’s visit marks the beginning of more on-campus recruiting events for the Wildcats. Kentucky is also in a rebuilding phase after losing backup point guard Kerr Kriisa to the transfer portal, but the program is poised to return key players like Otega Oweh, Brandon Garrison, and Collin Chandler, along with talented freshmen like Jasper Johnson, Acaden Lewis, and Malachi Moreno.
With spots still open, Coach Pope and his staff are determined to find the right pieces to complement their current roster, and Bowen’s visit is a powerful signal that Kentucky is aggressively pursuing some of the most coveted players in the transfer portal this spring. Following his time in Lexington, Bowen is scheduled to visit Alabama, and more recruits are expected to tour Kentucky’s campus in the coming days.
