It was a two-sport haul for the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, and Big Blue Nation’s timeline could barely keep up with the excitement.
Mark Pope bolstered Kentucky’s frontcourt with the addition of veteran Washington center Franck Kepnang, giving the Wildcats an experienced rim protector and physical presence in the paint. At the same time, Will no Stein continued to build momentum on the football recruiting trail by securing a commitment from four-star wide receiver Iveon Lewis out of Virginia, one of the more explosive pass-catchers in the 2027 class. Together, the two additions made for a massive day across Kentucky athletics and sent Big Blue Nation into celebration mode online.
Here’s a quick look at both, plus how the fans are reacting.
Franck Kepnang Brings Rim Protection to UK.
The 6-foot-11, 250-pound center announced his commitment on Instagram, and Kentucky quickly followed with an official announcement of its own. A native of Cameroon, Franck Kepnang spent last season at Washington after beginning his collegiate career at Oregon, developing into one of the Big Ten’s top rim protectors when healthy.
Kepnang appeared in 27 games during the 2025-26 season, making 25 starts while anchoring the Huskies’ interior defense. He averaged 6.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.07 blocks per game, finishing third in the Big Ten in blocked shots per contest. His length, physicality and defensive instincts made him one of the conference’s most disruptive paint defenders, and Kentucky is hoping that presence translates immediately to the SEC next season.
The wrinkle in the situation is that Kepnang will need an NCAA waiver to receive a seventh year of eligibility. A series of knee injuries severely limited him during multiple stops in his college career, as he appeared in just eight, 10 and 14 games across three separate seasons.
Because of that medical history, many around college basketball believe he has a strong case for an additional year. If the waiver is approved, Kentucky would add an experienced veteran with high-level shot-blocking ability and years of major conference experience to Mark Pope’s frontcourt rotation for the 2026-27 season.
