In a major move, the University of Kentucky has announced that Mark Pope, the former BYU coach and Kentucky star, will be taking over as head coach following John Calipari's departure. Calipari, who spent 15 seasons with the Wildcats, recently accepted the vacant coaching position at Arkansas. Pope, a former player under Rick Pitino at Kentucky, has spent the last five seasons coaching at BYU.

Calipari's departure has already had an impact on Kentucky's roster and incoming recruiting class. The Wildcats currently have the No. 2 class in the 2024 cycle, according to 247Sports, but it has already taken a hit. Forward Karter Knox, a four-star recruit, has announced his decommitment, while five-star center Jayden Quaintance and four-star center Somto Cyril have requested a release from their National Letter of Intent.

Upon his official arrival, Coach Pope will have significant work to do. Freshmen Justin Edwards and Rob Dillingham have both declared for the NBA Draft, and key reserves Aaron Bradshaw and Adou Thiero have entered the transfer portal. The decisions of four-star forward Billy Richmond, four-star guard Boogie Fland, and four-star guard Travis Perry are still unknown.

During Calipari's tenure, Kentucky consistently had top recruiting classes, and the 2024 class was no exception. However, with the coaching change, the future of these recruits remains uncertain. It will be up to Coach Pope to maintain the No. 2 recruiting class and address the challenges that come with a roster in transition.

As the roster continues to develop and recruits make their decisions known, CBS Sports is diligently tracking the status of Kentucky's roster and recruiting class. This will provide some insight into what the team will look like in the 2024-25 season.

The departure of Calipari also marks the end of an era for Kentucky basketball. Calipari led the Wildcats to several successful seasons and consistently produced NBA talent. His departure to Arkansas has not only left a void in Kentucky but also raised questions about the future of the program.

It will be interesting to see how Coach Pope's arrival and the evolving roster impact the Wildcats' performance in the upcoming seasons. With the No. 2 recruiting class and the involvement of talented players like Sheppard, Wagner, Ivišić, Onyenso, Burks, and Canada, Kentucky has the potential to continue its winning tradition.

While the coaching change and player departures may create uncertainty, Kentucky fans remain hopeful for a successful transition under the leadership of Coach Pope. As the team continues to take shape, fans eagerly await the start of the 2024-25 season to see how the Wildcats will fare under the new era of Kentucky basketball.