Mark Pope has his eye on a new transfer target…. but first, he’ll have to survive an SEC arms race to land him.

Justin McBride has emerged as a favorite in Kentucky’s latest transfer portal saga, standing out as the only player with clear starting potential to visit campus since Donnie Freeman. His visit is still ongoing, and he could soon become the Wildcats’ next commit.

That would be a major boost for Mark Pope’s frontcourt, but McBride isn’t Kentucky’s only target right now. According to Jacob Polacheck and KSR, Dayton transfer guard De’Shayne Montgomery is now in communication with the Kentucky coaching staff. The physical, experienced guard would be a strong and possibly final addition to the Wildcats’ backcourt. However, if Coach Pope wants him, he’ll need to outpace interest from other SEC programs.

De’Shayne Montgomery Drawing SEC Attention

In addition to already visiting NC State and Louisville, Ole Miss and South Carolina are also expected to pursue the former Dayton Flyer, who previously played for Georgia. A return to the SEC seems like the most likely outcome for Montgomery.

At first glance, Kentucky appears to be the obvious choice. But if Ole Miss and South Carolina offer him a more significant role, the situation could become more complicated. The 6’4″ guard averaged 13 points and four rebounds per game in his junior season, shooting an impressive 49% from the field. He was also a defensive standout, averaging over two steals per game and thriving in transition.

At Kentucky, Montgomery would likely fit in as the backup shooting guard behind recently acquired Alex Wilkins, with the ability to move to small forward if Pope opts for a “small ball” lineup.

If that arrangement works for Montgomery as well as it does for Kentucky, Pope and his staff should move quickly to bring him to campus and make a formal offer.

Make Montgomery an Offer

Kentucky fans shouldn’t question whether the Wildcats can compete with Ole Miss and South Carolina regardless of role, Kentucky has the resources to get this done if they choose to. And in my view, they should. Montgomery is a physically tough, efficient force who could thrive in the right SEC system. Hopefully, Kentucky’s interest progresses beyond preliminary contact and moves to the next phase of recruitment.