Kentucky men’s basketball coach Mark Pope reacts to March Madness loss
Following a 78-65 loss to Tennessee in the 2025 NCAA men’s basketball March Madness tournament, Kentucky coach Mark Pope expressed pride for his players. “We’ll be talking about these guys 10 years from now,” Pope.
- Travis Perry, Kentucky’s all-time leading high school scorer, has entered the transfer portal after his freshman season.
- He initially planned to return to Kentucky for his sophomore season but changed his mind.
LEXINGTON — The top scorer in the history of Kentucky high school basketball is on the move after one season at the most well-known college program in the commonwealth.
Travis Perry, who recently wrapped up his freshman campaign with Kentucky basketball, announced he would enter the transfer portal. The decision runs counter to what he told The Courier Journal after UK’s season-ending loss to Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16; at that time, Perry said he “certainly” planned to be back for another go-round with coach Mark Pope and Co.
Perry appeared in 31 games during the Wildcats’ 2024-25 season, earning four starts. Playing in a primarily reserve role, he finished with averages of 2.7 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 9.7 minutes per game. Perry posted personal bests for points (12) and steals (four) in a loss at Alabama on Feb. 22. His other double-digit-scoring performance also was against the Crimson Tide, tallying 11 in an SEC Tournament setback.
He ended his high school career at Lyon County with 5,481 points, which broke the longtime record held by “King” Kelly Coleman, who had 4,337 points during four seasons (1952-56) at Wayland High School. Perry’s point total is the seventh most in the history of U.S. high school basketball, per the MaxPreps National High School Basketball Record Book.
Additionally, Perry also ranks first in Kentucky high school annals for 3-pointers made (712), field goals made (1,918), free throws made (933) and steals (650). Perry also led Lyon County to a state championship, scoring 27 points in the UK HealthCare Sweet 16 title game at Rupp Arena in March 2024; Perry captured the Sweet 16 MVP for his superlative effort.
A two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year honoree, he averaged 32.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 4.7 steals per game during his senior season. He also was the 2024 Mr. Kentucky Basketball recipient. As a junior, Perry averaged 31.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per outing.
He committed to Kentucky in November 2023, when former coach John Calipari led the program. Perry chose UK over fellow finalists Alabama, Cincinnati, Ole Miss and Western Kentucky. Even after Calipari left Lexington to take over Arkansas’ program, Perry remained loyal to UK — the lone link bridging the end of Calipari’s tenure to the beginning of Pope’s tenure.
Perry is the second Kentucky player to put his name into the portal since the season ended, joining fellow guard Kerr Kriisa.
This story will be updated.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.