It becomes increasingly so each day that Kentucky has chance for a 'do-over' so to speak, as Auburn guard and Prospect (KY) native, Justin Powell, has entered the transfer portal.
Powell, who averaged 11.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.7 assist per game while shooting 42.9% from the field and 43.1% from the three-point line, only played in 10 games after having his freshman season ended due to concussion protocols. He averaged 27.6 minutes a game in those ten, being an active role for the Tigers.
The former North Oldham standout didn't wait for Kentucky during his High School recruitment, as they showed brief interest but never got the chance to offer. "They've been coming at me a little bit," said Powell in an interview with the Herald Leader. "Obviously, it's a great program -- big blue-blood program. And they're the best of the best. So it (an offer) would be pretty cool." Powell was urgent on choosing a school before his senior season, and with Kentucky not hardly ever offering players that early on, pleated him into going with his biggest offer in Auburn, the summer after his junior year. It's believed that he would have likely received an offer if he would've waited until later in his senior year to commit to a school, but he didn't
Back in January when Kentucky faced off with Auburn, Cal was asked what he thought of Justin Powell's freshman season. “He is a terrific scorer...He’s probably their highest percentage 3-point shooter. They had him at point and he was fine. He was scoring all kinds of different ways for them. I think with Sharife (Cooper) there, he’ll be pushed back a little bit, but I think he’ll get minutes because he can shoot. But you know, he’s another one. He’s a good player."
Since entering the portal, Justin Powell has been receiving a lot of interest from schools such as Virginia, UCLA, Duke, Georgia Tech, Louisville and Kentucky. The word around town is that Kentucky and Louisville are the heavy favorites.
Then this came out Wednesday evening, which made a lot of this state very happy.
Tipton Edits went on to add to this tweet, by saying "A source to me: 'If they want him, they’ll get him.'”
Could this be Kentucky's chance to get a player who would thrive in Lexington, that they missed out on the first round? It's trending that way.
A commitment date has yet to be announced, but will likely come after this season concludes.