The Kentucky Wildcats are continuing to shape their transfer portal big board as head coach Mark Pope and his staff aim to build a competitive squad for his second year at the helm in Lexington.
With Kam Williams and Jaland Lowe already in the fold, the Wildcats are actively pursuing several other key targets — and now, a new name has joined the mix.
On Saturday, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reported that USC wing Wesley Yates III had entered the transfer portal with a “do-not-contact” designation.
However, on Sunday, Doug Jones of RCS Sports revealed that Kentucky had scheduled a Zoom call with Yates — a clear indication he’s officially on their radar.
Yates, a 6-foot-4, 219-pound wing from Beaumont, Texas, redshirted his freshman year due to a foot injury before putting up impressive numbers at USC this past season. He averaged 14.1 points per game with shooting splits of 48% from the field, 44% from three, and 80% from the line, along with nearly three rebounds and two assists per contest.
Originally a member of the 2023 recruiting class, Yates started at Washington before transferring to USC, where he reunited with his cousin, assistant coach Quincy Pondexter. Pondexter is reportedly weighing a return to Washington, which could influence Yates’ next move.
Yates also has ties to Kentucky through assistant coach Alvin Brooks, who recruited him during his time at Baylor. On top of that, he shares an AAU background with current UK commit Jaland Lowe.
This recruitment is shaping up to be one to watch closely.
I’ve learned that Wesley Yates III @thewesleyyates_ has a Zoom Call set up today with @KentuckyMBB
Yates III has long standing relationships with assistant coaches @Coach_AB3 and @Coach_McLean
He also is former Grassroots teammates with recent UK commit Jaland Lowe… pic.twitter.com/OFPdWpTgDl
— Doug Jones (@djones8301) April 6, 2025
Leave a Reply