The Kentucky Derby is generally an opportunity for Superstars and VIPs to be seen at quite possibly of the most notable game in the US.
On Saturday, it was new Kentucky b-ball mentor Imprint Pope’s chance to embrace that spotlight.
Pope — the previous lead trainer at BYU and Utah Valley who was employed to supplant John Calipari as the Wildcats’ lead trainer on April 12 — was at Churchill Downs on Saturday evening in front of the running of the 150th Kentucky Derby.
Prior on Saturday, previous UK b-ball player Reed Sheppard strolled honorary pathway at Derby 2024.
Thankful for loved ones and the Kentucky Derby!!! pic.twitter.com/TdMOrNt6pa
— Mark Pope (@CoachMarkPope) May 4, 2024
A critical individual from Kentucky’s 1996 public title crew, Pope has been logging huge travel hours as of late as he collects a program without any preparation for the 2024-25 season.
Pope’s enrolling attempts have taken him wherever from Oklahoma to Las Vegas this offseason. On Friday morning, Pope was in Utah to welcome approaching UK player Collin Chandler at an air terminal. Chandler, who was previously endorsed to play for Pope at BYU, was getting back from a two-year mission trip for The Congregation of Jesus Christ of Contemporary Holy people.
Welcome home Collin Chandler pic.twitter.com/d2VAb6vzV8
— B️ (@BanteredB_) May 3, 2024
Before his appearance Saturday at Churchill Downs, Pope and his kindred UK instructing staff individuals held up their Derby picks. Pope went with Sierra Leone, the victor of the 100th running of the Country Stakes at Keeneland recently.
Every one of the five UK training staff individuals went with an alternate pony as their Derby choice.
During the brief timeframe that Pope has come back in Focal Kentucky, he’s likewise been a regular guest at Keeneland. Pope took previous Drexel forward and future Kentucky Wildcat Amari Williams to Keeneland as a feature of his selecting visit to Lexington.
At the point when Pope was at Keeneland with Williams, he was evaluated by FanDuel Dashing.
“We’re profoundly into the work at the present time and partaking in each second of it,” Pope said during that meeting. “I don’t know precisely exact thing I’m permitted to discuss and not, yet we’re here on business. Along these lines, we’re attempting to finish some work.”
Williams is one of seven players from the NCAA move gateway that has resolved to play for Pope at UK this offseason.
Pope has likewise been seen at Keeneland with UK b-ball legend Dan Issel.
Spotted: 2 Kentucky masters at Keeneland! @CoachMarkPope @DanIssel44 pic.twitter.com/MX5L9DbIs1
— Keeneland Hustling (@keenelandracing) April 25, 2024
Altogether, nine players are important for Pope’s most memorable Kentucky program for next season. This gathering incorporates two first-year players, Chandler and in-state watch Travis Perry, a previous star at Lyon Region Secondary School who is the unsurpassed driving scorer in Kentucky secondary school young men ball history.
The other seven augmentations have all come by means of the exchange entrance.
They are third-year watch Otega Oweh (Oklahoma), fifth-year monitors Koby Brea (Dayton), Lamont Steward (San Diego State) and Kerr Kriisa (Arizona and West Virginia), fifth-year advances Amari Williams (Drexel) and Andrew Carr (Delaware and Wake Backwoods) and second-year focus Brandon Post (Oklahoma State).
Pope has four more grant recognizes that he could fill for his 2024-25 list
