Kentucky Basketball showing interest in Dayton transfer De’Shayne Montgomery

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 27: De'shayne Montgomery #2 of the Dayton Flyers is introduced before a college basketball game against the George Washington Revolutionaries at the Smith Center on February 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Kentucky is continuing to explore options in the transfer portal, with the Wildcats now involved with De’Shayne Montgomery, according to Jacob Polacheck of KSR.

The 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard is coming off a strong junior season at Dayton Flyers, where he averaged 13.4 points, 4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. Montgomery shot an efficient 49% from the field and 33.5% from deep on 4.3 attempts per game, starting all 36 contests while serving as the team’s second-leading scorer.

Polacheck also added that Kentucky assistant coach Cody Fueger has been in contact with Montgomery, showing real interest from Mark Pope’s staff. The Wildcats are not alone in the mix, as Louisville, Ole Miss, and South Carolina are also involved.

Montgomery’s impact extended beyond scoring. He earned All-Atlantic 10 Third Team honors and was one of the top defenders in the conference, finishing second in the A-10 with 77 steals, where he averaged 2.1 per game.

Before his breakout at Dayton, Montgomery had stops at Georgia and Mount St. Mary’s. His sophomore season at Georgia included a matchup against Kentucky, where he posted nine points in 22 minutes.

With proven production and defensive ability, Montgomery could be an intriguing addition to the roster for Kentucky.