Mark Pope may have spilled the beans on Kerr Kriisa’s plan
As the Kentucky Wildcats prepare to honor its seniors with a traditional senior dinner, one notable player will not be in attendance: Kerr Kriisa.
While Kriisa has played a key role for the Wildcats this season, his absence from the event is not due to oversight but rather eligibility status.
“It’s just for the guys that have zero college eligibility left. Just those six guys,” Mark Pope said on his Monday call-in show. “(Kerr’s) got another year left, which is fantastic for all of us, right?”
While Kentucky has continuously left the door open for Kriisa to return this season, it’s been far more likely that he sits out the rest of the year to preserve a potential medical redshirt to return for the 2025-26 college basketball season, whether it be at Kentucky or elsewhere.
Kriisa’s absence from the senior dinner isn’t a slight but rather a reflection of his remaining eligibility. Unlike his teammates who are officially moving on from college basketball, Kriisa could still return for another season, potentially receiving a medical redshirt after missing most of the year due to injury. His time at Kentucky may not be over just yet.
Though his future remains undecided, not being included in the dinner highlights the possibility of him returning for a second year in Lexington. The Estonian guard appeared in just nine games before being sidelined, averaging 4.4 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per contest. Despite the limited action, he provided valuable leadership and experience in Kentucky’s backcourt.
There has been no official word on whether Kriisa will take advantage of his extra year, but if he does, his return would be a significant boost for the Wildcats.
For now, he continues focusing on his recovery, and his decision will be one to watch as the offseason unfolds.
