UK reaches out to transfer Adam Kunkel

There’s a new transfer to track for the Kentucky Wildcats.

On Tuesday, it was revealed that Hebron-native Adam Kunkel is transferring from Belmont, and Kentucky has already reached out.

The 6-foot-3 guard played his high school ball at Cooper, just an hour or so from Lexington. Opting to attend Belmont, Kunkel averaged 2.3 points per game his freshman season, playing just under 10 minutes per game.

The improvement was obvious as Kunkel became a force in his second season at one of the association’s better mid-major programs.

His second season, Kunkel averaged 16.5 points per game and 2.5 threes per game. Shooting 39% from downtown, Kunkel should be a top target for UK.

That said, he initially announced his plans to transfer on Twitter, thanking his former university and then noting his plans for the future.

The Wildcats don’t need Kunkel, but he would be likely be welcome addition. Entering his third season, Kunkel would have competition. He may have so much that shying away from UK could be a smart move.

After all, the Wildcats are bringing in BJ Boston, the best shooting guard in the Class of 2020. Although, after losing all five starters, the team could use the help.

Announcing his transferring today, Kunkel has already been contacted by a few major programs, including Xavier and Cincinnati which are both only about a 20-30 minute drive from Hebron.

Here’s the full list of teams that have shown interest according to KSR’s Jack Pilgrim.

Kunkel made his name at Belmont, not being rated by 247 Sports coming out of high school. That fact alone should make it even more clear that Kunkel has what it takes in order to continually improve and find time with Kentucky.

An experienced sharpshooter may be exactly what this young team will need.

“As a senior in 2018, the in-state star was named All-State by the Associated Press & Louisville Courier-Journal, was a Kentucky Mr. Basketball Finalist, the Most Valuable Player of the Ohio-Kentucky All-Star Game, earned All-Cincinnati Area Boys’ Basketball Team honors by Cincinnati.com, and 2018 Kentucky Co-Ninth Region Player of the Year,” KSR’s Pilgrim wrote.

As of now, we don’t know if Kentucky heavily pursue Kunkel. Pilgrim notes many top-tier D-I programs, so it would make sense for Kentucky, the region’s best men’s basketball program, to at least reach out and see if he’s interested in what the Wildcats have to offer.