The pressure surrounding Kentucky Wildcats heading into the 2026-27 college basketball season is impossible to ignore. After entering last year with massive expectations, a star-loaded roster, and one of the biggest NIL investments in the country, the Wildcats failed to deliver the kind of season fans in Lexington demand.
Despite earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and securing the No. 7 seed in the Midwest Region, Kentucky’s campaign ended with more frustration than celebration. The Wildcats finished with a disappointing 22-14 overall record and managed just one NCAA Tournament victory, a result many around the program viewed as unacceptable considering the reported $22 million invested into the roster during the NIL era.
Now, head coach Mark Pope is aggressively working to reshape the roster and restore excitement around one of college basketball’s premier programs. Kentucky has already added multiple transfer portal pieces this offseason, but the Wildcats may not be finished making major moves.
According to Jacob Polacheck of KSR, Kentucky is now pursuing talented Serbian guard Savo Drezgić, a 19-year-old international professional currently playing for Mega Superbet in Serbia.
Polacheck reported that Kentucky is among several schools involved in Drezgić’s recruitment as the young guard considers a return to college basketball after spending the past season competing professionally overseas.
“My agent is in contact with Kentucky,” Drezgić told KSR, further fueling speculation that the Wildcats are serious contenders to land the former SEC guard.
The 6-foot-4 combo guard enjoyed a breakout professional season with Mega Superbet during the 2025-26 campaign, averaging 15.4 points and four assists per game in the highly competitive ABA League. His offensive growth and improved confidence have quickly turned him into one of the more intriguing international prospects potentially entering the college basketball landscape this offseason.
Before beginning his professional career overseas, Drezgić spent the 2024-25 season with Georgia Bulldogs. However, his freshman season in the SEC was limited both in opportunity and production. In just eight appearances, he averaged 2.9 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game while shooting 33.3% from the field and an impressive 44.4% from three-point range.
Although those numbers did not immediately jump off the page, many evaluators believed his talent level remained high due to his advanced scoring instincts, international experience, and natural offensive creativity. Rather than staying in Athens to continue his development, Drezgić made the bold decision to return to Europe and begin his professional career early.
That gamble appears to have paid off.
Playing against seasoned professionals in the ABA League forced Drezgić to mature quickly both physically and mentally. Over the course of the season, he became a far more polished scorer, improved his decision-making as a playmaker, and developed into a guard capable of creating offense at multiple levels.
Now, after proving he can compete successfully in professional basketball, Drezgić is reportedly considering another opportunity in college basketball — this time with significantly more experience, confidence, and momentum.
For Kentucky, adding a player like Drezgić could provide exactly the type of backcourt versatility the Wildcats desperately need heading into next season. Pope has made it clear throughout the offseason that he wants experienced, skilled players capable of handling pressure in high-level environments. Drezgić’s professional background could make him one of the more battle-tested young guards available.
His combination of size, perimeter shooting, ball-handling ability, and international experience would give Kentucky another dynamic offensive weapon in an SEC that continues to grow more competitive every year.
Perhaps even more importantly, Drezgić’s potential arrival would signal that Kentucky remains aggressive in recruiting talent from every corner of the basketball world. Modern roster building no longer revolves strictly around high school recruiting classes. Between NIL opportunities, the transfer portal, and international recruiting, programs are searching globally for impact players who can contribute immediately.
Kentucky understands the urgency.
The Wildcats are not simply trying to improve after a disappointing season — they are trying to reestablish themselves among the nation’s elite after falling short of championship expectations. Fans expect deep tournament runs in Lexington, and anything less places enormous scrutiny on the coaching staff and roster construction.
That reality makes every offseason addition critically important.
While no official decision has been announced, Drezgić’s recruitment is expected to move quickly in the coming days. His agent, well-known European basketball representative Misko Raznatovic, recently hinted that the Serbian guard’s college decision could arrive soon.
If Kentucky ultimately secures his commitment, the Wildcats may land one of the most intriguing international guards available this offseason — a talented young player with SEC experience, professional seasoning, and something to prove.
For a program hungry to bounce back and silence critics after a frustrating year, that could be exactly the spark Kentucky needs.
