Kentucky Pursuing International Sharpshooter Amid Growing Interest

Kentucky has thrown its hat into the ring for one of the most intriguing international prospects considering a jump to college basketball — Dame Sarr, a 6-foot-8 shooting guard currently playing for Barcelona in Spain’s top professional league. According to NBA Draft analyst and high school basketball reporter Krysten Peek, the Wildcats have made contact with the sharpshooting wing as he evaluates his future. BYU and Illinois have also expressed strong interest.

"There have been some schools that have entered with his name: Illinois, Kentucky, BYU,” Peek said during a recent episode of Locked on NBA Big Board. Peek added that she believes Sarr would benefit from taking the college route before making the leap to the NBA.

Sarr, a rising international prospect from Italy, has been drawing more attention as scouts get a better look at his size, smooth shooting mechanics, and ability to contribute within high-level systems. In limited minutes this past season for Barcelona in the Liga ACB — widely considered the best domestic league in Europe — Sarr posted promising numbers. Over 12 games, he averaged 5.8 points per game while shooting 52.1% from the field and an impressive 42.9% from three-point range on 1.8 attempts per game. He also chipped in 1.7 rebounds in just under 13 minutes of action per contest.

His upside lies in his rare combination of size and perimeter efficiency. At 6-foot-8, Sarr has the frame of a forward but the shooting touch of a guard. Though he’s still raw in some areas and hasn’t had the opportunity to showcase a complete offensive arsenal in extended minutes, his flashes in Spain’s top division — against former NBA talent and seasoned professionals — have been enough to garner serious collegiate interest.

For Kentucky, adding a player like Sarr would offer a high-upside, floor-spacing option to pair with incoming freshman, returners, and transfer talent. With head coach Mark Pope reshaping the Wildcats’ roster and identity after six graduated and one player has transferred, Sarr could slide into a versatile role on the wing where he’d have room to develop and produce within a fast-paced, modern offense.

Sarr is not related to former Kentucky center Olivier Sarr, but if the Wildcats can land him, he’d have a chance to make his own mark in Lexington.

With interest heating up and a decision potentially on the horizon, Kentucky is firmly in the mix for one of Europe’s most intriguing young wings.