Latest news with #MarkPope
Associated Press
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
BYU signs men's basketball coach Kevin Young to long-term contract extension
PROVO, Utah (AP) — BYU has signed men's basketball coach Kevin Young to a long-term contract extension following the program's first run to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 in 14 years. Terms of the deal announced Thursday were not released, with the school saying only that the contract would keep Young in Provo for the 'foreseeable future.' 'My family and I have loved our first year at BYU, being surrounded by great people, at a great university with shared values,' Young said in a statement. 'I'm excited to continue to build a program based on trying to help young men prepare for the NBA, win at the highest level and do it at BYU.' Young was hired last year after coach Mark Pope left to become Kentucky's head coach. The Cougars had a superb first season under Young, finishing 26-10 and 14-6 in Big 12 play. BYU beat VCU and Wisconsin in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, earning its first trip to the Sweet 16 since 2011 and third overall. Young also had huge success on the recruiting trail, adding highly touted recruit A.J. Dybantsa, projected as the possible No. 1 pick in the NBA draft once he's eligible. Young has an extensive coaching career, including a stint as a Phoenix Suns assistant from 2020-24. ___ AP college basketball: and
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mark Pope announces 5 UK nonconference opponents next season
LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — Mark Pope announced five of Kentucky's nonconference games for the upcoming basketball season, featuring one of Kentucky's most bitter rivals returning to Rupp Arena. On Friday, Pope announced that the rivalry with the Indiana Hoosiers will reignite on Dec. 13. The Wildcats and Hoosiers haven't squared off since losing 73-67 in the second round of the 2016 NCAA tournament. Mark Pope announces 5 UK nonconference opponents next season Kentucky guard Jaland Lowe withdraws from NBA Draft 4-star forward Braydon Hawthorne commits to Kentucky The other four announced coming to battle the Wildcats in Rupp Arena are: Loyola University Maryland: Nov. 21 Tennessee Tech: Nov. 26 North Carolina Central: Dec. 9 Bellarmine University: Dec. 23 Kentucky leads the all-time series with Indiana, 32-25, including winning three of five under former head coach John Calipari. During Kentucky's national championship-winning 2012 campaign, the Cats trounced the Loyola University Maryland Ramblers, winning 87-63. They also boast a 5-0 all-time record against the Golden Eagles, now coached by UK Athletics Hall of Famer John Pelphrey. The 2026 season will mark the first time NC Central and Kentucky will meet on the hardwood, according to UK Athletics. Pope hopes to build on his promising first season with the Wildcats after bowing out to border rival Tennessee in the Sweet 16, their first appearance out of the second weekend since 2019. Read more of the latest UK sports news Last season, UK Athletics noted that the Cats clawed past an NCAA-tying eight teams ranked in the Associated Press' Top 15. With a returning core of key players from last season and an exciting new crop of recruits and transfers, the reloaded Cats are one of the more trendy picks to cut down the nets in the Big Dance next season. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Mark Pope and two Kentucky recruits were invited to USA Basketball's U19 training camp
Mark Pope and two Kentucky recruits were invited to USA Basketball's U19 training camp The KEntucky Wildcats have long represented Team USA Basketball. From Anthony Davis to Devin Booker, a long line of Kentucky products have represented the United States at the international level. That's set to continue this year, as two Kentucky recruits, Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno, have been invited to the 2025 USA Basketball Men's U19 National Team training camp, as has head coach Mark Pope. "Kentucky basketball head coach Mark Pope and incoming freshmen Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno will take part in the 2025 USA Basketball U19 National Team training camp at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center beginning on June 14. Pope will serve in an on-court coaching role, while the freshmen are vying for spots on the 12-player roster on Team USA's squad that will compete at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland," said the University of Kentucky in a press release. "This will serve as Pope's first official role with Team USA, while Moreno will be making his second training camp appearance. Johnson earned a gold medal at the 2024 FIBA U19 AmeriCup." Johnson and Moreno, both four-star recruits signed to Kentucky as part of their 2025 class, have previously played for Team USA, including at this year's Nike Hoop Summit. They'll both vie for a spot on the 12-man roster headed to the U19 World Cup in Switzerland against 31 other athletes. Pope will serve in an on-court coaching role at training camp. Arizona's Tommy Lloyd will serve as at the team's head coach, with Texas Tech's Grant McCasland and Notre Dame's Micah Shrewsberry serving as his assistants. Pope, alongside Alabama head coach Nate Oats and North Carolina's Hubert Davis, will feature as on-court coaches throughout training camp.
Reuters
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Kentucky newcomer Jaland Lowe withdraws from draft
May 22 - Kentucky guard Jaland Lowe, a transfer from Pitt, has withdrawn from this summer's NBA draft. "Can't miss this opportunity," Lowe posted Thursday on X along with photos of himself in a Wildcats uniform and a message to Kentucky fans: "Big Blue Nation See you soon!" As a 2024-25 sophomore, Lowe averaged 16.8 points, 5.5 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 31 starts for the Panthers. He earned a spot on the All-Atlantic Coast Conference third team. Lowe averaged 13.1 points, 4.3 assists, 3.5 boards and 1.3 steals in 64 games (50 starts) over two seasons at Pitt. "I love his ability as a playmaker," Kentucky coach Mark Pope said earlier this offseason, per "He's going to be surprised, and he knows it, by having a chance to actually get an open catch-and-shoot once in a while, and have guys that demand space on the floor. "I expect he's going to take a massive jump also in his efficiency and his leadership. We're really excited about him. I think he's got a huge upside." --Field Level Media
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
4-star forward Braydon Hawthorne commits to Kentucky
LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — Just when you thought Mark Pope had his 2025 Kentucky basketball roster all set, he made another addition on Tuesday with the commitment of four-star Braydon Hawthorne. Former UK basketball star returns to his Laurel County roots after tornado devastates community Hawthorne is a 6-foot-8 small forward who lately has been rising up recruiting boards in the class of 2025. He is ranked No. 33 nationally by 247 Sports, No. 10 by position and No. 1 in his home state of West Virginia. He played high school ball at Huntington Prep and committed to play at West Virginia, but then decommitted when Mountaineers' head coach Darian DeVries left to take the job at Indiana. He kept WVU in his top five with Kentucky, Duke, Pitt and Virginia Tech and chose the Wildcats. Hawthorne is viewed as a prospect with a ton of potential as a long-term project and not considered to be a one-and-done, but could provide value immediately on both ends of the floor with his 7-foot-3 wingspan. Kentucky basketball: Pope discusses 'hungry' roster, Otega Oweh The final piece for Kentucky is waiting on Otega Oweh's decision on whether to stay in the NBA Draft or return to school. He has until May 28th at 11:59 p.m. to make that decision. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
