Kentucky Basketball Reacts to First NBA Draft Class Under Mark Pope originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
When it comes to turning college players into NBA stars, few schools do it quite like Kentucky. Just look around the league. You don’t have to squint to spot a former Wildcat lighting it up on the biggest stage. Reigning MVP and champ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the perfect example of that Wildcat pipeline paying off.
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But Kentucky’s legacy isn’t just about the past; it’s alive and well under Mark Pope. This year’s draft was his first shot at keeping that tradition going, and let’s just say five new names heading to the league is one heck of a statement.
The Wildcats took to X to flex their players who recently turned pro.
“NBA Class of 2025,” the caption read.
Koby Brea was Kentucky’s go-to shooter last season, and his smooth stroke is exactly what today’s NBA teams love. The Phoenix Suns clearly thought so, too, that they snapped him up with the 41st pick in the second round, making him the highest-drafted Wildcat this year. He’ll probably come off the bench at first but could carve out a nice role in their rotation.
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Then there’s Amari Williams, who went 46th overall to the Celtics. Boston needs some extra size, so he might get more minutes than people expect right out of the gate.
As for the other guys, Lamont Butler didn’t hear his name on draft night, but he landed a two-way deal with the Hawks, which means he’ll bounce between the G-League and Atlanta’s roster this year.
Kentucky Wildcats guard Koby Brea (4) reacts after defeating the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Fiserv Forum.Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Andrew Carr and Jaxson Robinson also went undrafted but both picked up Exhibit 10 deals Carr with the Trail Blazers and Robinson with the Cavs. They’ll probably spend most of their time with each team’s G-League affiliate but have a chance to work their way up.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.