Kentucky among biggest winners of the basketball transfer season

With the Kentucky Wildcats losing almost all of their roster, and practically all of their scoring, it looked like, if for a brief moment, that we could be looking at another insanely young team in Lexington for 2020.

But then, Keion Brooks opted to return, and the Wildcats landed three big-time transfers, two of which will make an immediate impact on the floor.

ESPN sees Kentucky as a big winner during the transfer season after landing a trio of Olivier Sarr, Davion Mintz, and Jacob Toppin.

Kentucky: After losing nearly everyone from last season’s rotation, John Calipari will welcome in his usual highly ranked recruiting class — but he also dipped into the transfer pool. Former Creighton point guard Davion Mintz will provide experience and depth in the backcourt, while Wake Forest transfer Olivier Sarr could be the difference between a preseason top-20 team and a preseason top-five team. The All-ACC big man was arguably the best transfer on the market this spring and is hoping for a waiver to play right away. Jacob Toppin, Obi’s brother, will sit out next season after transferring from Rhode Island.

Mintz will be a solid point guard to help run the show this season, and if Sarr is ruled eligible, Kentucky will almost certainly be a Final Four contender with the star-power that they possess.

Toppin, meanwhile, looks like a great developmental prospect with a lot of potential to become a major impact player when eligible for the 2021-22 season. In the meantime, he’s expected to sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules, giving him a full year to develop behind the scenes before showing the Big Blue Nation what he’s made of next year.

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