The player who nearly knocked Kentucky out of the NCAA Tournament in the opening round is now weighing his next move in college basketball—and Lexington could be a landing spot.
Allen Graves, who quickly developed into an NBA-caliber prospect during his debut season at Santa Clara, has become one of the latest high-profile players to enter the transfer portal this offseason. He officially placed his name in the portal Friday, just days after declaring for the 2026 NBA Draft.
A 6-foot-9 forward from Ponchatoula, Louisiana, Graves posted averages of 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.9 blocks, and 1.9 steals per game during the 2025–26 campaign. He also proved to be a reliable perimeter threat, connecting on 41.3 percent of his 92 three-point attempts across 35 games in his first collegiate season. ESPN currently lists him as the No. 32 overall prospect for the 2026 draft, narrowly outside first-round territory.
Despite earning Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year honors as a senior, Graves flew largely under the radar as a recruit and didn’t even have a 247Sports profile. He ultimately chose Santa Clara over Xavier, redshirting his first year to improve his conditioning and due to a crowded frontcourt rotation.
Once he took the court as a redshirt freshman, Graves immediately impressed with his skill-driven style of play. His shooting continued to improve throughout the season, and his passing ability for a player his size stands out as a major strength—one that could fit seamlessly into Mark Pope’s offensive system. While his defense remains a work in progress, his quick hands consistently generate steals and deflections.
Graves’ breakout year earned him both West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year honors.
He was also at the center of one of Kentucky’s most dramatic moments this past tournament. Despite dealing with foul trouble early, Graves finished with 17 points and seven rebounds in 27 minutes. His late three-pointer gave Santa Clara a 2.4-second lead, but Otega Oweh answered with a 40-foot bank shot to force overtime, where Kentucky escaped with an 89–84 win. The Wildcats were eliminated two days later by Iowa State.
Turning 20 in July, Graves has already drawn attention from NBA scouts, with growing first-round buzz. However, if he opts to return to college, he will be one of the most sought-after transfers in the nation.
Kentucky is expected to show strong interest in his recruitment. Duke is also projected to be a major contender, while new LSU head coach Will Wade could pursue the in-state product.
The transfer portal window runs from April 7–21, and players can commit at any time afterward. The deadline to withdraw from the NBA Draft and retain college eligibility is May 27.
Meanwhile, Mark Pope is once again navigating significant roster turnover. Wing Kam Williams is currently the only Kentucky player confirmed to return next season. Starting center Malachi Moreno has indicated he’ll be back if he withdraws from the draft, though he plans to test the process first. Redshirt players Braydon Hawthorne and Reece Potter are also expected to join the rotation, while sophomore Trent Noah has yet to decide his future.
Seven other Wildcats—Denzel Aberdeen, Collin Chandler, Mouhamed Dioubate, Brandon Garrison, Andrija Jelavic, Jasper Johnson, and Jaland Lowe—have all entered the transfer portal this week. Aberdeen has already committed to Florida, though he will need an NCAA waiver to gain an additional year of eligibility.
Kentucky will also be without senior guard Otega Oweh, who led the team in scoring in each of the past two seasons, prompting Pope to aggressively explore transfer options this spring.
Graves still has three years of NCAA eligibility remaining, though he could choose to spend just one more season in college before turning his focus fully to the 2027 NBA Draft.