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Following a Sweet 16 run, Mark Pope is preparing for his second season at the helm in Lexington.

While Pope has brought in several new additions to the roster for next year, he also saw a significant departure—Kentucky native Travis Perry, who entered the transfer portal and committed to Ole Miss.

Pope addressed Perry’s decision to transfer, admitting it was a tough moment for him and the Kentucky program.

“I was heartbroken when Travis left,” Pope said. “Mainly because he’s such an outstanding young man. It really hit me hard on a personal level—I loved coaching him, and I truly believe he has incredible potential. I thought he was on track to become a legend at Kentucky.”

Clearly, Pope held Perry in high regard, but the standout from Lyon County chose to pursue a new path.

For Perry, transferring offers a chance at more playing time, but his impact during Pope’s first year in Lexington was clear.

The former Mr. Kentucky Basketball saw his role grow over the season, appearing in 31 games and averaging 2.7 points per contest.

He’ll now aim to make his mark with a new SEC program at Ole Miss.