John Calipari and Devin Askew react to transfer decision

Kentucky Wildcats guard Devin Askew entered his name in the NCAA transfer portal on Monday and will continue his college basketball career elsewhere, the school announced.

“I am thankful for the opportunity I had to play basketball at the University of Kentucky,” Askew said in a press release. “I am also thankful for the coaching staff as they provided an experience that contributed to my development in this game I love. My teammates will be my friends forever and I appreciate how they pushed me day in and day out to get better.

“With that being said, it will be part of my growth in this game to explore a new opportunity and enter the transfer portal.”

Askew played in all 25 games and made 20 starts this past season. He averaged 6.5 points per game and finished second on the team with 73 assists (2.9 per game). He shot 34.5% from the field and a team-high 80.6% from the free-throw line while grabbing 23 steals.

“This is the part of the business I hate,” Kentucky head coach John Calipari said in a press release. “I wish I could coach every kid for four years, but I have to respect Devin’s decision and I do. I will always be here to help him. My hope – and I told him this – is that he takes the fight he learned here with him wherever he goes. He was a great teammate and improved in so many ways as the season wore on. I will be rooting for Devin as he takes this next step.”

Askew is the second player from the 2020-21 team to enter the NCAA transfer portal. Freshman forward Cam’Ron Fletcher announced his intentions last month.

Fellow freshmen Brandon Boston Jr. and Terrence Clarke are leaving for the NBA Draft, while Isaiah Jackson is testing the waters but is keeping open the option of returning for Year 2.

Assuming Jackson stays in the draft, that means Kentucky’s top-ranked 2020 recruiting class will only have forward Lance Ware on the roster next season.