Good morning, sports enthusiasts! If you celebrated Christmas, I hope your day was filled with joy, good company, and delicious food. Personally, I indulged in a delightful three-course homemade feast while soaking up quality family time and watching endless basketball (with a quick detour to catch Beyoncé’s spectacular halftime show). As I write this from the snow-dusted Northeast, there’s little to complain about—well, except one thing.
The Kentucky Basketball Wait Continues
If you’re a Kentucky fan, you might be sharing my frustration: the agonizing wait to watch Wildcats basketball again. The women’s team doesn’t take the court until Saturday when Kenny Brooks’ squad faces Western Kentucky, and the men’s team is even further away from action. Mark Pope’s crew won’t hit the hardwood until New Year’s Eve, hosting Brown. That leaves several days of idling for Big Blue Nation, yearning for some on-court excitement.
In the meantime, transfer portal news is beginning to slow as we approach the end of December. However, there’s still plenty to discuss, from recruiting updates to transfer moves, as we wrap up the holiday season and start planning for our 2025 resolutions.
Recruiting Watch: Myles Norwood Delays Decision
Ball State transfer cornerback Myles Norwood was expected to announce his decision on Christmas Day but postponed it due to “unexpected family issues.” While the delay is understandable, it has left fans eager for an update. The 6’2”, 170-pound St. Louis native is deciding between Kentucky and South Carolina, both of which he visited last week.
Norwood, who had 38 tackles and five pass deflections in the 2024 season, has not set a new announcement date, but it’s expected to come soon. With a 70.7 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus, Norwood could be a valuable addition to either program. Kentucky fans are hopeful he’ll choose the Wildcats, as they look to strengthen their secondary for the upcoming season.
Due to unexpected family issues that arose today, I’ve decided to postpone my commitment. My focus is on family right now, but I’ll be announcing soon. Thank you for your understanding and support during this challenging moment.
— Myles Norwood (@MylesxNorwood) December 25, 2024
Kentucky’s 2025 Transfer Portal Progress
Even without Norwood’s commitment, Kentucky has made impressive strides in the transfer portal. With the portal closing on Dec. 28, head coach Mark Stoops has already secured 14 transfers, creating a class that ranks 10th nationally and fifth in the SEC, according to On3.
While there’s room for more additions—particularly at left tackle—the current haul is a promising rebound after a disappointing season. Stoops and his staff will need to build on this foundation as they prepare for the spring portal opening and gear up for a stronger 2025 campaign.
A Christmas Day Full of Sports Highlights
Christmas Day was a basketball lover’s dream, featuring five tightly contested NBA games. The Los Angeles Lakers delivered a thrilling finish with Austin Reaves sinking a game-winner, while Tyrese Maxey shone for the 76ers, and Julius Randle flirted with a triple-double for the Timberwolves.
The NFL games, however, left something to be desired. The Kansas City Chiefs cruised to a 19-point victory, and the Baltimore Ravens secured a bizarre 31-2 win over the Houston Texans. While the football action was lackluster, the Beyoncé halftime show during the Ravens-Texans matchup provided a memorable interlude.
College basketball also made an appearance, with Hawaii edging Oakland in overtime. Still, only the most diehard fans likely tuned in for that late-night action. Unfortunately, today’s sports calendar is lighter, with no college basketball on the schedule. Instead, fans can look forward to Thursday Night Football as the Bears take on the Seahawks, along with a handful of NBA matchups.
| Player | Position | Former School | Year |
| Sam Greene | EDGE (6-1, 255) | USC | Redshirt Sophomore |
| Landyn Watson | LB (6-1, 239) | TCU/Marshall | Redshirt Senior |
| Joshua Braun | iOL (6-6, 338) | Florida/Arkansas | Super Senior |
| Alex Wollschlaeger | T (6-7, 305) | Bowling Green | Super Senior |
| Wallace Unamba | G/T (6-4, 330) | Florida Atlantic/New Mexico | Redshirt Senior |
| J.J. Hester | WR (6-4, 203) | Missouri/Oklahoma | Super Senior |
| Zach Calzada | QB (6-4, 200) | Texas A&M/Auburn/Incarnate Word | Super Senior |
| Henry Boyer | TE (6-6, 270) | Illinois | Redshirt Junior |
| Kendrick Law | WR (5-11, 201) | Alabama | Senior |
| Dante Dowdell | RB (6-2, 225) | Oregon/Nebraska | Junior |
| Jaden Williams | iDL (6-4, 290) | Wyoming | Redshirt Junior |
| Kevis Thomas | CB (5-11, 179) | Maryland | Junior |
| Evan Wibberley | iOL (6-5, 296) | WKU | Redshirt Junior |
| Kameron Olds | EDGE (6-4, 240) | Buffalo/Kent State |
Excitement Builds for Caleb Wilson’s Decision
For Kentucky fans, the anticipation for five-star power forward Caleb Wilson’s decision is reaching a fever pitch. Expected to announce his college choice in early January, Wilson has been heavily linked to Kentucky. While the prolonged timeline has caused some nervousness within Big Blue Nation, recruiting expert Joe Tipton offered some Christmas optimism, suggesting Kentucky remains the likely destination.
Wilson’s commitment would be a significant gift for the Wildcats as they continue to build for the future. Until then, Kentucky fans will have to wait patiently, hoping for good news to start the new year.
Looking Ahead
As the holiday festivities wind down, the sports world is shifting focus toward the new year. Kentucky basketball fans may be waiting for their teams to return to action, but the transfer portal and recruiting updates provide plenty to keep an eye on. With exciting games, major decisions, and roster changes looming, there’s no shortage of storylines to follow as we approach 2025. Stay tuned—there’s much more to come!
