Mark Pope continues shaping Kentucky’s roster for the 2026-27 season, and while the Wildcats have already landed several important additions, the work is far from finished. Kentucky has strengthened the backcourt through the transfer portal with the commitments of Washington guard Zoom Diallo and Furman standout Alex Wilkins, while other returning and incoming pieces have helped give the roster a stronger foundation heading into the offseason.
Now, another intriguing addition has emerged for Big Blue Nation.
Just one day after entering the transfer portal, Southern California center Gabe Dynes quickly drew interest from Kentucky. According to Jacob Polacheck of KSR+, Pope recently held a Zoom conversation with Dynes. Later, On3’s Joe Tipton reported that the towering big man is scheduled to visit Lexington on Wednesday, April 22. Kentucky is not alone in the chase, as Louisville, Xavier, NC State, and Georgia are also pursuing him.
Dynes is currently a junior and would have one season of eligibility remaining. On3 ranks him as the No. 152 overall transfer in the portal and the No. 17 center available this cycle.
Standing 7-foot-5, Dynes also has strong Kentucky ties. He was born in Independence, Kentucky, and attended Simon Kenton High School. During his senior season, he shot 74 percent from the field while averaging 12.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. His defensive presence earned him Division 1 Defensive Player of the Year honors from the NKBCA.
He began his college career at Youngstown State, where he quickly became one of the best shot blockers in the Horizon League. As a freshman in 2023-24, he averaged 3.9 points, 4 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks in only 13.7 minutes per game, leading the league in blocks. He also earned Horizon League All-Freshman and All-Defensive honors.
Dynes took another step forward the following season, averaging 6.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks in 21.8 minutes per contest. He once again led the conference in blocks and earned another All-Defensive Team selection.
He then transferred to USC for the 2025-26 season under Eric Musselman. In a reduced role, Dynes averaged 2.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1 block in 11.9 minutes per game while shooting an efficient 78.8 percent from the floor.
Advanced metrics highlight his strengths. His efficiency around the basket ranked among the best in college basketball, and his block percentage remained elite. Nearly all of his scoring came at the rim through dunks and layups.
There are limitations, however. Dynes has never developed perimeter range, missing all four career three-point attempts. He is also a career 43.6 percent free-throw shooter, and rebounding consistency remains an area for improvement.
Still, his rare size, rim protection, and interior efficiency make him a fascinating portal option. If Pope wants more frontcourt length and defensive presence, Gabe Dynes could become one of Kentucky’s most interesting remaining targets.