From Washington to WKU, here's where Kentucky basketball transfers will play in 2023-24

LEXINGTON — As John Calipari constructed Kentucky basketball's roster for the 2023-24 season, the Wildcats added only one player via the transfer portal: former West Virginia forward Tre Mitchell.

It wasn't for lack of trying. UK coaches also pursued Michigan star Hunter Dickinson and San Diego State's Keshad Johnson and were in contact with nearly a dozen other players who ultimately chose other schools.

While the transfer portal gave Kentucky a potentially key piece of next season's squad in Mitchell, it took away four players from the 2022-23 roster. They aren't alone — seven other former UK players are on rosters at other schools next season.

Here's a look at 11 ex-Wildcats who will play elsewhere during the 2023-24 campaign:

Dontaie Allen (G/F, Western Kentucky)

Dontaie Allen entered the transfer portal following the 2021-22 season after struggling to break into the UK rotation during his three-year career. The former Kentucky Mr. Basketball redshirted as a freshman after an ACL tear brought his high school career to a premature end. During the next two seasons with the Wildcats, he appeared in 40 games but made just one start. Allen averaged 3.9 points and 1.4 rebounds in 10.5 minutes per game for the Wildcats before transferring to Western Kentucky. Playing in 26 games (11 starts) for the Hilltoppers last season, Allen averaged 9.3 points per game on 79-of-193 shooting (40.9%).

Devin Askew (G, Cal)

Devin Askew transferred from Kentucky after just one season in which he averaged 6.5 points, 2.9 assists and two turnovers during the 2020-21 campaign. He also was one-and-done at Texas in 2021-22, playing in 34 games but making only three starts. Askew averaged just 2.1 points and 1.3 assists an outing with the Longhorns before transferring once again and joining Cal. He became a standout for the Golden Bears: Askew was leading the team in points (15.5 per game) before he underwent season-ending hernia surgery in February.

Jemarl Baker (G, New Mexico)

Where hasn't Jemarl Baker played at this point? He joined New Mexico in April, marking his fourth school in seven seasons. An injury forced him to redshirt at UK as a freshman in 2017-18 and he played sparingly for the Wildcats the following season. He transferred to Arizona prior to the 2019-20 campaign, where he spent two seasons before leaving for Fresno State. A knee injury limited him to just five games in 2021-22, but he started all 28 games for the Bulldogs last season, averaging 12.5 points per game and nailing a team-high 55 triples. He'll now play for Rick Pitino's son, Richard Pitino, at New Mexico.

Keion Brooks (F, Washington)

Though Keion Brooks was a five-star signee in the 2019 cycle, he didn't become a one-and-done draftee at UK. He led the team in rebounds (6.8 a night) as a sophomore during the Wildcats' dismal 9-16 season in 2020-21 and then started 33 games, averaging 10.8 points an outing, in 2021-22 before entering the transfer portal and enrolling at Washington. He's blossomed into a star with the Huskies, earning a spot on the All-Pac-12 second team last season after averaging 17.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game in 30 starts. Brooks posted a team-high six double-doubles in 2022-23, including a personal-best 30 points in a win over Cal Poly last December. He'll be expected to record similar numbers next season — if not improve upon them.

Daimion Collins (F, LSU)

A five-star signee in Kentucky's 2021 class, Daimion Collins only showcased his astonishing potential in small doses. After averaging 35.2 points, 14.4 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 6.2 blocks per game during his senior season at tiny Atlanta High School in Texas, Collins took time to adapt to college and only started two games (in 47 appearances) at Kentucky. Collins also had to deal with a personal tragedy after the unexpected death of his father last year. He entered the transfer portal in April and revealed in May he joined LSU. And he'll host his former teammates next season: Kentucky travels to Baton Rouge on Feb. 21.

Cam'Ron Fletcher (G, Florida State)

Cam'Ron Fletcher had a tumultous time in Lexington. He was suspended for a week during the 2020-21 season before Calipari allowed the St. Louis native to rejoin the team. That reunion lasted less than three months before Fletcher entered the transfer portal and eventually matriculated to Florida State. He was the Seminoles' leading rebounder (7.5) and second-leading scorer (10.8) last season, though Fletcher was limited to 10 games because of injury. Fletcher has played in 48 games (10 starts) over three seasons, averaging 6.7 points and 4.0 rebounds in 17.1 minutes. The best game of his career came in a 94-74 loss to North Carolina in February 2022, when he notched team highs in points (16) and rebounds (10) for his first-ever double-double.

CJ Fredrick (G, Cincinnati)

Injuries have followed CJ Fredrick everywhere. He battled ailments in three seasons at Iowa before transferring to Kentucky prior to the 2021-22 campaign. Fredrick sat out that season with a hamstring injury, then missed seven games in 2022-23 with wrist and rib injuries. He's a lethal shooter when he's healthy, as he's made 44% (213 of 486) of his field goals as a collegian, including 41% (117 for 285) of his shots beyond the arc.

Bryce Hopkins (F, Providence)

Bryce Hopkins spent just one season at Kentucky, appearing in 28 games but never making a start in 2021-22. Scant time on the floor led to little production, as he averaged only 2.1 points per game. Afforded a far more prominent role after transferring to Providence, Hopkins made the most of his opportunity. He burst onto the scene last season, becoming one of only two unanimous All-Big East first-team selections in 2022-23 after averaging 15.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. But his season came to a close at the hands of his former team: Kentucky beat Providence in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, as Hopkins suffered through one of his worst games as a Friar (seven points on 2-of-9 shooting).

Zan Payne (G, Louisville)

Zan Payne spent four seasons with the Wildcats as a walk-on. He left for Louisville last year after his father, Kenny Payne, became the Cardinals' head coach. Zan Payne played in 23 games last season, totaling five points and 14 rebounds. He scored three points versus Texas Tech and pulled down three rebounds against Pittsburgh as U of L struggled to a 4-28 record.

Lance Ware (F, Villanova)

Lance Ware announced he would enter the transfer portal in May, committing to Villanova later that month. He struggled to find much playing time, or provide much production, during his three seasons in Lexington. The 6-foot-9 Ware had just two games in which he grabbed 10 or more rebounds, while he posted only one double-digit scoring effort in 77 career appearances. He'll provide depth and leadership for Villanova while playing close to his New Jersey home.

Sahvir Wheeler (G, Washington)

A well-traveled Texas native, Sahvir Wheeler is now at his third school, rejoining former teammate Keion Brooks at Washington. After two stellar seasons at Georgia, Wheeler transferred to UK and was an All-SEC selection in 2021-22. Though he would have led the SEC in assists per game for the third time in as many seasons in 2022-23 had he played enough games to qualify, injuries limited Wheeler much of the year. He sat out 12 games last season because of various injuries, including the Wildcats' final 11 games.

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Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @RyanABlack.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Where former Kentucky Wildcats will play college basketball in 2023-24