5-Star SF Billy Richmond Decommits from Kentucky After John Calipari's Arkansas Move

Another day and another Kentucky departure.

Hunter Shelton of On 3 reported Tuesday that recruiting prospect Billy Richmond decommitted from the Wildcats after head coach John Calipari left the program for Arkansas. Richmond is a 5-star prospect and the No. 25 overall player and No. 9 small forward in the class of 2024, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

Shelton previously reported that point guard Boogie Fland, center Jayden Quaintance, center Somto Cyril and forward Karter Knox departed from Kentucky's once highly-regarded 2024 recruiting class.

It is not just incoming recruits that are leaving.

Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald Leader reported Tuesday that point guard D.J. Wagner entered the transfer portal on the same day that big man Aaron Bradshaw decided to transfer to Ohio State.

"Wagner's decision leaves only three Kentucky players—Reed Sheppard, Ugonna Onyenso and Jordan Burks—who have not yet entered the transfer portal or declared for the NBA draft," Roberts wrote while noting Sheppard could head to the NBA and the other two may end up leaving anyway.

Since then, Onyenso declared for the NBA draft, leaving the Wildcats even more shorthanded as they look ahead to the 2024-25 campaign.

In today's world of college sports, roster turnover is expected even with no coaching changes. The ability to enter the transfer portal is enticing to many players, and a number of the Kentucky players likely would have explored the NBA draft even if Calipari was still the coach.

Still, the loss of incoming recruits such as Richmond makes things all the more difficult for new head coach Mark Pope.

He is already under the microscope as the replacement for a coach who won a national championship and reached four Final Fours during his time at Kentucky, and figuring out a way to build a contender even with so many departures is his first challenge.

So many highly-regarded players leaving could make the Wildcats all the more enticing for players in the transfer portal, though, as they could see the opportunity for immediate playing time at one of the best programs in the sport.