Mark Pope lands San Diego State transfer Lamont Butler

Butler has given a verbal agreement to join the Wildcats

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Lamont Butler is a Kentucky Wildcat after speaking with Head Coach Mark Pope in Las Vegas and verbally agreeing to join the team. The news was first reported by On3 and The Field of 68.

The former San Diego State Aztecs guard is a an elite defender. He averaged nine points, three rebounds and three assists in 37 games played last season.

Butler is a California native and helped the Aztecs reach the NCAA Tournament East Region Sweet 16 in March. In a loss to the Connecticut Huskies, Butler played 27 minutes with seven points, two rebounds and six assists.

In 2023, Butler hit the game winning shot against FAU to send the Aztecs to the national championship.

Butler is Pope’s fourth player who has committed to playing for the Wildcats this coming season. Travis Perry, Collin Chandler and Amari Williams all have decided to play for Kentucky as well.