Mark Pope’s debut season at the University of Kentucky ended with a surprising ripple through the NBA draft, as two of his former teammates heard their names called on draft night.
Koby Brea, celebrated for his sharpshooting, was selected 41st overall by the Phoenix Suns and went on to appear in 12 NBA games while logging 34 contests in the G League, where he posted a 16.4‑point average.
Amari Williams, a versatile center taken 46th overall by the Boston Celtics, managed 22 NBA appearances and a single playoff game, complementing his G League output of 17.9 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.
The rest of the Wildcats’ rookie cohort faced a mix of challenges; Lamont Butler signed with the Atlanta Hawks but was forced to end his season early due to injury before ever stepping onto an NBA court.
Andrew Carr, undrafted, earned a spot with the Portland Trail Blazers’ G League affiliate and posted 10.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, while Jaxson Robinson, also undrafted, contributed 9.0 points per game for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ G League team.
Ansley Almonor took his game overseas, starring in Finland’s Korisliiga and helping Salon Vilpas capture the league title, a move that underscores the global reach of Kentucky’s talent pipeline.
A Draft‑Year Transition
Looking ahead, the 2026 draft conversation already names Kentucky prospects Jayden Quaintance and Otega Oweh as potential first‑round picks, suggesting that Pope’s influence may extend well beyond his first season.
The story has been covered extensively by ESPN, which tracked the players’ journeys from Lexington to Phoenix, Boston, Atlanta, Portland, Cleveland and beyond, painting a picture of a modern NBA pipeline that stretches across continents.