Kentucky basketball guard Kerr Kriisa becomes first player to enter NCAA transfer portal
Ryan Black- Kerr Kriisa, a fifth-year senior guard for the Kentucky Wildcats, has announced his decision to enter the transfer portal.
- Kriisa's time at Kentucky was hampered by a foot injury, limiting him to nine games last season.
- Kriisa is considering continuing his basketball career either at another college or professionally in Europe.
LEXINGTON — Kerr Kriisa's time with the Kentucky basketball program has come to a close.
A fifth-year senior guard, Kriisa announced Monday he would enter the transfer portal. Kriisa becomes the first player from the Wildcats' 2024-25 roster to announce he plans to transfer. Last week, coach Mark Pope and his staff added a transfer to next season's roster: Former Tulane wing Kam Williams committed Friday.
Kriisa ends his abbreviated time at Kentucky having averaged 4.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. His assist average ranked second on the squad, behind fellow point guard Lamont Butler at 4.3.
Kriisa released a statement on social media shortly after news of his transfer began to circulate.
"To Coach Pope and the UK coaching staff — it has been an absolute dream to play for the University of Kentucky. Thank you for your continued support," Kriisa wrote. "To my teammates — I am so thankful for the relationships we've formed during my time at Kentucky, and I will keep those friendships for a lifetime. To BBN — your unending support of me and my team has been amazing. Playing at Rupp Arena in front of huge crowds has been a dream come true.
"I will always cherish my time in the Bluegrass State, and I wish Kentucky basketball all the best in the future."
Kriisa appeared in nine games last season. His 2024-25 campaign — and ultimately, his time with the Wildcats — was cut short after suffering a foot injury in the second half of the team's overtime win against Gonzaga on Dec. 7 in Seattle.
On March 20, the day before UK's NCAA Tournament opener versus Troy, Kriisa admitted he wasn't sure what the future held.
"I don't know nothing about next year. I don't even know if (I'll) come back to college," he said. "I don't know anything. All I know is that my foot wasn't good enough to play and risk (this season). So, yeah, I'll focus on that stuff later."
And "later" came Monday.
While Kriisa could enroll at another school, an alternate possibility he noted is returning to Europe to embark on his professional career; Kriisa is from Estonia.
"I don't know if I want to do another three months of college. Like, college summers are long, you know?" he said. "So I might go overseas. We'll see. I don't know."
If he remains in the U.S. for a sixth season of college basketball, it will mark Kriisa's fourth school. He began his college career at Arizona before moving on to West Virginia and then Kentucky.
The most fruitful stretch of Kriisa's time as a collegian was at Arizona, where he spent his first three seasons (2020-21 through 2022-23).
He paced the Pac-12 in assists per game his final two seasons at Arizona, becoming the first player to accomplish that feat since Southern Cal's Brandon Granville in 2000 and 2001. Kriisa participated in 76 games (70 starts) at Arizona, averaging 9.4 points, 4.7 assists and 2.3 rebounds per outing.
He then transferred to West Virginia, where he played during the 2023-24 season. Kriisa started every game he appeared in for the Mountaineers, 23 in all. He averaged 11 points and 4.7 assists in 33.4 minutes per game for WVU.
Kriisa has played in 108 games at the college level, notching 94 starts.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
This story was updated to add a gallery.