Kentucky is seeking to recruit one of the top scorers in the country from the previous season.

 

With nearly every player from last season’s Kentucky roster either declaring for the NBA Draft or entering the transfer portal, and with most of the recruiting class departed, Mark Pope faces a complete rebuild.

Pope secured his first recruit as Kentucky’s head basketball coach in Collin Chandler. Chandler, initially committed to BYU as a top 40 recruit in the 2022 class, has yet to play a minute of college hoops due to a mission trip. He is set to debut as a 21-year-old freshman for the Wildcats next season.

Now, Pope is eyeing his first addition from the transfer portal, with former Northern Illinois star guard David Coit emerging as a serious target. Coit boasted an impressive 20.8 points per game average last season, ranking 24th nationally in college basketball scoring.

Standing at 5’11, Coit is a smaller guard but possesses a knack for scoring. In addition to his scoring prowess, he averaged 3.4 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game for the Huskies. While his three-point shooting percentage dipped slightly from the previous season, Coit remains a high-volume shooter, with some games seeing him attempt 12 three-pointers.

Coit’s skill set aligns well with Coach Pope’s system, characterized by a focus on solid shooting and offensive aggression. If he joins the Wildcats, Coit could potentially become a standout player in Rupp Arena, especially if he continues to showcase his ability to score from beyond the arc.

As Kentucky aims to rebuild its roster, Coit emerges as a notable name to watch in the transfer portal.