Kentucky basketball continues to search for ways to strengthen its roster, and the transfer portal remains one of the most important tools in that effort. After missing out on highly regarded forward Donnie Freeman, the Wildcats are now shifting attention toward another talented option who could help fill multiple needs heading into next season. With depth, versatility, and perimeter scoring still major priorities, Mark Pope and his staff appear to be casting a wide net for proven talent.
One name now emerging on Kentucky’s radar is former St. John’s guard Joson Sanon. According to Sam Kayser, the Wildcats have made contact with the transfer standout as his recruitment begins to heat up. Kentucky is far from alone in the chase, however, as several major programs are also involved. Kansas, North Carolina, Alabama, Texas, UCLA, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt have all reportedly entered the mix.
Sanon brings intriguing upside as a 6-foot-5, 200-pound shooting guard who can also slide to the wing. Before arriving at St. John’s, he began his college career at Arizona State and entered the sport with major expectations. Coming out of high school, he was considered a five-star prospect and ranked No. 25 overall in the 2024 recruiting class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
During his freshman campaign at Arizona State, Sanon showed why he was so highly regarded. He averaged 11.9 points per game while shooting 42.2 percent from the field. He also connected on 36.9 percent of his three-point attempts while averaging 4.5 shots from beyond the arc each game. In addition, he contributed 3.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 28.3 minutes per contest. His versatility allowed him to play multiple positions, lining up anywhere from the two through the four. After that season, he even explored the NBA Draft process before eventually deciding to return to college basketball.
Sanon later transferred to St. John’s, where his numbers dipped in a reduced role. This past season, he averaged 7.9 points per game while shooting 33.8 percent from the floor and 33.6 percent from three-point range on 3.9 attempts per outing. He also added 2.4 rebounds and 0.7 assists while playing 20.9 minutes per game. Most of his time came at shooting guard, though he occasionally saw action at small forward.
Kentucky fans may remember his performance against the Wildcats. In that matchup, Sanon did not make a field goal, finishing 0-for-5 from the floor, but he was perfect at the free-throw line, going 12-for-12. He also added two rebounds and two steals before fouling out.
Despite the statistical decline, St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino remained extremely confident in Sanon’s talent.
“I’ve said it all along, Joson is physically the most talented ball player on the team,” Pitino said after St. John’s win over Seton Hall in the Big East Tournament. “He’s only going to grow. He made a big-time play down the stretch defensively, and he’s grown as a defensive player, and that’s exciting because he’s so much better defensively, he’s so much better doing other things, but he is a cold-blooded shooter. I got great confidence in him.”
That endorsement alone will catch attention in Lexington. Kentucky could use another athletic wing capable of defending multiple spots while adding competition across the lineup. Sanon’s ability to play the two through four positions would give the Wildcats more flexibility and create competition for players like Kam Williams and Braydon Hawthorne for minutes on the wing.
At this stage of the portal cycle, Sanon may be one of the better available options still on the market. Now the question becomes whether Kentucky can turn early interest into something more serious as his recruitment unfolds.