LEXINGTON — The
top scorer in the history of Kentucky high school basketball
is on the move after one season at the most well-known college program in the commonwealth.
Travis Perry
, who recently wrapped up his freshman campaign with
Kentucky basketball
, entered the transfer portal Tuesday night, just before the window closed at 11:59 p.m. Perry’s decision to transfer runs counter to what he told The Courier Journal on March 28, following
UK’s season-ending loss to Tennessee
in the
NCAA Tournament
‘s Sweet 16; at that time,
Perry said he “certainly” planned to be back
for another go-round with coach
Mark Pope
and Co.
Perry appeared in 31 games during the
Wildcats
‘ 2024-25 season, earning four starts. Playing in a primarily reserve role, he
finished with averages
of 2.7 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 9.7 minutes per game. Perry posted personal bests for points (12) and steals (four) in
a loss at Alabama
on Feb. 22. His other double-digit-scoring performance also was against the Crimson Tide,
tallying 11 in an SEC Tournament setback
.
Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.
He ended his high school career at Lyon County with 5,481 points, which broke the longtime record held by
“King” Kelly Coleman
, who had 4,337 points during four seasons (1952-56) at Wayland High School. Perry’s point total is the
seventh most in the history of U.S. high school basketball
, per the MaxPreps National High School Basketball Record Book.
Additionally, Perry also ranks first in Kentucky high school annals for 3-pointers made (712), field goals made (1,918), free throws made (933) and steals (650).
Perry also led Lyon County to a state championship
, scoring 27 points in the
UK HealthCare Sweet 16
title game at Rupp Arena in March 2024; Perry captured the Sweet 16 MVP for his superlative effort.
A two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year honoree, he averaged 32.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 4.7 steals per game during his senior season. He also was the
2024 Mr. Kentucky Basketball recipient
. As a junior, Perry averaged 31.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per outing.
He committed to Kentucky in November 2023
, when former coach
John Calipari
led the program. Perry chose UK over fellow finalists Alabama, Cincinnati, Ole Miss and Western Kentucky. Even after Calipari left Lexington to
take over Arkansas’ program
, Perry remained loyal to UK — the lone link bridging the end of Calipari’s tenure to the beginning of Pope’s tenure.
Perry is the second Kentucky player to put his name into the portal since the season ended, joining fellow guard
Kerr Kriisa
.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal:
Kentucky basketball’s Travis Perry, in-state star, puts name into NCAA transfer portal
