Kerr Kriisa has made significant news headlines, Have shared a heartfelt message to Coach Pope & the UK coaching staff
Kerr Kriisa’s stint with the Kentucky Wildcats was short-lived. As anticipated, he entered the NCAA transfer portal on Monday morning, becoming the first player from the 2024-25 UK men’s basketball team to take action following their loss to Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament on Friday. This decision had been on the horizon for weeks. Kriisa arrived in Lexington around this time last year, heralded as a dynamic offensive talent suited for Mark Pope’s fast-paced offensive style. Pope and his long-time assistant Cody Fueger, who joined him at UK last spring, were Kriisa’s initial college recruiters back when he was a teenage prospect in Europe, but they couldn’t secure his commitment at BYU. Everything changed when Pope took the reins at Kentucky, and Kriisa started the 2024-25 season as the backup to starting point guard Lamont Butler, anticipated to be a spark off the bench for the Wildcats. However, the 24-year-old point guard from Estonia never gained momentum, suffering a foot injury during Kentucky’s victory over Gonzaga on December 7, after which he did not return to play. Toward the end of the regular season, Pope announced that Kriisa wouldn’t be back, and he refrained from discussing the player’s future beyond this season amid growing speculation about Kriisa’s departure from the program. Before the NCAA Tournament opener against Troy, Kriisa spoke with reporters in the UK locker room about his foot injury but avoided providing details about his post-season plans. By that time, it was widely believed in college basketball circles that Kriisa would be leaving Kentucky. Although he has entered the transfer portal, he may also consider returning to Europe to kickstart his professional career in the next few months, as he is set to turn 25 in January.
Kriisa shared a message on social media Monday morning, expressing his gratitude: “To Coach Pope and the UK coaching staff — it has been an incredible dream to play for the University of Kentucky. Thank you for your unwavering support. To my teammates — I am truly grateful for the bonds we’ve built during my time at Kentucky; these friendships will last a lifetime. To BBN — your relentless support for me and my team has been phenomenal. Playing in Rupp Arena before large crowds has been a dream come true. I will always treasure my time in the Bluegrass State, and I wish Kentucky basketball all the best in the future.” This was meant to be Kriisa’s last season in college basketball after three years at Arizona and one at West Virginia; however, he is likely to qualify for a medical redshirt due to missing time at Kentucky, where he only played nine games. Kriisa averaged 4.4 points and 3.8 assists in 17.3 minutes per game.
What lies ahead for Kentucky?
The Wildcats will lose Butler, their starting point guard, as well as Jaxson Robinson, who stepped in as a makeshift point guard at times during the season when both Butler and Kriisa were out due to injuries. Both players have reached the end of their NCAA eligibility. Freshman guards Collin Chandler and Travis Perry have emerged as backup options for Pope’s team, with Perry, last year’s Kentucky Mr. Basketball, starting four games for the Wildcats this season. Both are anticipated to return as sophomores on the 2025-26 roster, although neither has made an official announcement. Kentucky will also be welcoming two promising combo guards from the 2025 high school recruiting class: Jasper Johnson and Acaden Lewis, both seen as players who can make an immediate impact in the Wildcats’ backcourt next season. Additionally, Pope will be on the lookout for a lead guard who can replicate the defensive intensity Butler showcased this past season. Finding a point guard with these qualities will likely be the top priority for the Kentucky coaching staff in the transfer portal this spring, with the team already linked to several potential additions for the upcoming season. UK received its first transfer commitment the morning of the Tennessee game, landing 6-foot-8 wing Kam Williams from Tulane, a long and athletic 3-point shooter, filling one of the many available spots on the 2025-26 roster.
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