The NCAA officially implemented its new age-based eligibility system on Friday, granting all class of 2022 high school graduate athletes a fifth year of eligibility.

As the ruling became official, there has been a ton of transfer portal news that has come out over the past couple of days as newly eligible players urgently seek a home for the 2026-27 college basketball season before it becomes too late.

Kentucky men’s basketball is in the mix of adding one more player for this upcoming season, as CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein confirmed that the Cats have expressed interest in former Michigan State forward Jaxon Kohler.

Kohler is not officially in the portal as of now, and Rothstein confirms that a move back to East Lansing is certainly possible, but now that we know UK is interested, let’s take a look at Kohler’s numbers and see what he could bring to the Wildcats.

The 6-foot-9 Utah native spent all four of his collegiate seasons with head coach Tom Izzo and the Spartans, flourishing into a polished player over that span.

The All-Big Ten Honorable Mention selection averaged 12.5 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game and closed the season with a 50% field-goal percentage and 38.9% 3-point shooting percentage on an average of 4.3 3-point attempts per game.

Aside from raw stats, Kohler brings a load of postseason experience to the table, as he has played in 12 NCAA Tournament contests over his four-year span as a Spartan; Kohler has accumulated three Sweet 16 appearances and two Elite Eight experiences.

In terms of what Kohler could bring to Lexington, it’s depth. Returning center Malachi Moreno could use some help in the frontcourt, as he is the only rostered player who has a proven track record of success, while not suffering any serious injuries that could alter his style of play.

Washington transfer center Franck Kepnang has a history of injuries, missing 69 total games since starting college ball back in 2020, while returning forward Kam Williams is yet to see the court this off-season while rehabbing a broken foot injury suffered last season.

Forward Ousmane N’Diaye’s college basketball abilities are a toss-up; it’s going to take the international 22-year-old freshman some time to adjust; that part is a fact.

Can Moreno, Kepnang, Williams and N’Diaye hold it down in the frontcourt? Probably. Maybe not in a manner that gives UK a chance to compete for a ninth national title, though.

There’s been some speculation and chatter that year three for Pope could be make-or-break in terms of keeping his coaching job in Lexington; why not go all in if there’s another roster spot still left on the table?

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