Following the Sweet Sixteen elimination against the Tennessee Volunteers in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats learned discouraging news as promising talent Travis Perry entered the transfer portal, prior to signing with the Ole Miss Rebels in the SEC.
Perry’s departure was already a significant loss in itself, but his decision to join a rival program in the Southeastern Conference adds another painful layer for the school in Lexington.
The Wildcats will vie to make the NCAA Tournament again in the 2024-25 college basketball season, hopefully finally cutting down the nets in March Madness for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign.
Perry was the only 2024 commit who didn’t waver in his commitment to the Wildcats after John Calipari left and Mark Pope took over on the sideline at Rupp Arena. However, he decided to set for new horizons after his first year in Lexington, breaking Pope’s heart with his surprising decision.
Travis Perry #11 of the Kentucky Wildcats in action against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Madison Square Garden on December 21, 2024 in New York City.
“I was devastated when Travis [Perry] left, mostly because I think he is such a special young man,” Mark Pope said, per KSR’s Mario Maitland. “It was devastating to me, personally, because I enjoyed coaching him so much, and I think he has a brilliant upside. I think he was on his way to becoming a legend here at Kentucky.”
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Oxford-bound
Perry entered the program with sky-high expectations. He attended high school in Lyon County, Kentucky, where he became the all-time leading high school basketball scorer in The Bluegrass State.
Although he was expected to play limited minutes during his freshman year, injuries led to Perry seeing a bigger role in his first college basketball season under Pope’s guidance.
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The 20-year-old, then 19, finished the year with 31 appearances, including four starts. Moreover, he averaged 2.7 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game, according to On3. The fans, players, and coaches were all excited for Perry’s sophomore year, but the latter opted to enroll at Ole Miss, where Chris Beard will more than gladly have him on board.
