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(This post was last modified: 2 hours ago by purplefaithful.)
Kentucky MCBB Roster Reportedly Features $22M Payroll for 2025-26 Season
In the wake of the new NIL rules that went into place on July 1 thanks to the House v. NCAA settlement, Kentucky's men's basketball program is taking advantage of the ability to directly pay athletes.
Per Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald-Leader, the Wildcats are spending at least $22 million on payroll for their 2025-26 roster. Roberts noted that figure could increase during the season with any potential legitimate name, image and likeness deals that might come along.
Specific details about NIL spending at programs is not publicly available, but Roberts did say Kentucky is believed to be spending the most money of any basketball team in the nation with several others exceeding $10 million.
To illustrate how rapid the growth of NIL has hit college sports, Roberts pointed out that Kentucky's budget for John Calipari's final season with the program in 2023-24 was "less than $4 million."
Given Kentucky's stature as one of the premier basketball programs in the country, it's not a surprise that big-money donors will provide an influx of cash. For example, one donor reportedly pledged $4 million in NIL funds in April 2024 when Pope was hired to replace Calipari.
Jayden Quaintance, an incoming transfer from Arizona State, has the highest NIL valuation among all Kentucky players and sixth-highest among all players entering the 2025-26 season at $1.9 million, per On3.com.
Kentucky's incoming transfer class ranks fifth in the country, per 247Sports.com. The group, led by Quaintance, features six players, with five rated as 4-star prospects or better.
The Wildcats also have the seventh-best freshman class, led by Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno.
With all of this talent and spending comes significant pressure on Pope to deliver. He went 24-12 in his first season, including an 8-8 stretch going into the SEC tournament.
Kentucky earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 before losing to Tennessee.
Pope and the Wildcats will open the 2025-26 season against Purdue, the No. 1 team in the AP Top 25 preseason poll, on Oct. 24 at Rupp Arena.
Bleacher Report
In the wake of the new NIL rules that went into place on July 1 thanks to the House v. NCAA settlement, Kentucky's men's basketball program is taking advantage of the ability to directly pay athletes.
Per Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald-Leader, the Wildcats are spending at least $22 million on payroll for their 2025-26 roster. Roberts noted that figure could increase during the season with any potential legitimate name, image and likeness deals that might come along.
Specific details about NIL spending at programs is not publicly available, but Roberts did say Kentucky is believed to be spending the most money of any basketball team in the nation with several others exceeding $10 million.
To illustrate how rapid the growth of NIL has hit college sports, Roberts pointed out that Kentucky's budget for John Calipari's final season with the program in 2023-24 was "less than $4 million."
Given Kentucky's stature as one of the premier basketball programs in the country, it's not a surprise that big-money donors will provide an influx of cash. For example, one donor reportedly pledged $4 million in NIL funds in April 2024 when Pope was hired to replace Calipari.
Jayden Quaintance, an incoming transfer from Arizona State, has the highest NIL valuation among all Kentucky players and sixth-highest among all players entering the 2025-26 season at $1.9 million, per On3.com.
Kentucky's incoming transfer class ranks fifth in the country, per 247Sports.com. The group, led by Quaintance, features six players, with five rated as 4-star prospects or better.
The Wildcats also have the seventh-best freshman class, led by Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno.
With all of this talent and spending comes significant pressure on Pope to deliver. He went 24-12 in his first season, including an 8-8 stretch going into the SEC tournament.
Kentucky earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 before losing to Tennessee.
Pope and the Wildcats will open the 2025-26 season against Purdue, the No. 1 team in the AP Top 25 preseason poll, on Oct. 24 at Rupp Arena.
Bleacher Report
