The NCAA men’s basketball season has officially wrapped up, and with it comes a wave of transfer activity. According to For The Win, nearly 2,000 players have now entered the transfer portal. This list includes names like RJ Luis Jr. and Bennett Stirtz—standouts looking for a fresh start. One of the latest players drawing attention is Brandon Garrison, whose social media activity has sparked rumors of a possible move.
Kentucky will have a visit with Sam Houston guard Lamar Wilkerson this weekend, according to Joe Tipton of On3. Wilkerson is also expected to visit Indiana, Auburn, and Ole Miss before making his final decision.
Wilkerson is a 6-foot-5 guard from Arkansas, and just wrapped up an… pic.twitter.com/gzYFXexZgk
— Chris Beasmore (@CBeasmoreSports) April 10, 2025
A look at Garrison’s Instagram shows that he’s removed any mention of the University of Kentucky, a change that has caught the attention of fans and media. Bleed Blue Network described this move as “something to keep an eye on.” When an athlete removes team-related content from social media, it’s often seen as a signal of dissatisfaction or potential transfer.
Garrison has been with the Kentucky Wildcats for just one season after transferring from Oklahoma State. His departure from Oklahoma followed the dismissal of head coach Mike Boynton—a decision that reportedly impacted him deeply, as he was said to be very close to Boynton. After discussing his future with family and advisors, he chose Kentucky as his next destination.
Brandon Garrison has removed UK from his bio on Instagram. Something to keep an eye on. pic.twitter.com/WCQxzEZ6av
— Bleed Blue Network (@BleedBNetwork) April 10, 2025
However, his time at Kentucky hasn’t been as successful as expected. He appeared in 35 games but didn’t start any, a stark contrast to his freshman year at Oklahoma State, where he started 29 out of 32 games. His stats also took a dip—from averaging 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists with the Cowboys to 5.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists at Kentucky.
Despite the drop in performance, Kentucky’s head coach Mark Pope remained optimistic about Garrison. In March, Pope praised him, saying Garrison was exciting to coach and had developed a dangerous mid-range and three-point game. But the lack of playing time may be enough to push Garrison to explore new opportunities.
Meanwhile, Coach Pope is already making roster adjustments. He has brought in several new players from the transfer portal, including point guard Jaland Lowe, versatile 6’8″ guard Kam Williams, power forward Mouhamed Dioubatea, and shot-blocking forward Jayden Quaintance. Now, it seems Kentucky is targeting another major piece: a consistent shooter.
That’s where Lamar Wilkerson enters the picture. The 6’5” guard from Arkansas is fresh off an impressive junior season with Sam Houston State, where he averaged 20.5 points per game and had strong shooting numbers—47.7% from the field, 44.5% from three, and 82.2% from the free-throw line. He also averaged 4.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals across 32 starts.
Kentucky was quick to reach out when Wilkerson entered the portal, and he is expected to visit the campus soon. However, he’s also scheduled visits with Indiana, Auburn, and Ole Miss, making the competition for his commitment intense. With his scoring ability, Wilkerson could be the sharpshooter Kentucky needs to round out their lineup.
As for Garrison, his potential exit raises questions about internal dynamics within the Kentucky program. Is it simply a matter of playing time, or are deeper issues at play? The situation continues to develop, and both fans and analysts are watching closely.