Aly Khalifa heading back to BYU after stops in Louisville and Kentucky

It looks like we’re about to witness the first clash between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Louisville Cardinals under the leadership of Mark Pope.

When Pope was announced as the head coach at UK, BYU Cougars center Aly Khalifa promptly entered the transfer portal with a ‘Do not contact’ designation, leading to reports of his potential visit to Louisville.

According to Joe Tipton of On3, Khalifa has narrowed down his options to three: Kentucky, Louisville, or returning to BYU.

Standing at 6-foot-11 and weighing 270 pounds, Khalifa, a native of Egypt, posted averages of 5.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game in 19.4 minutes of play this season, shooting 38.6% from the field and 31.5% from beyond the arc. He initially played for two seasons at Charlotte.

This development coincides with reports that Kentucky is set to host Amari Williams, a transfer from Drexel, for a visit later this month. It remains unclear whether Mark Pope intends to recruit one or both of these big men for the upcoming season.

In BYU’s victory over Baylor on February 20th, Khalifa showcased his skills by tallying 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting (including 4-of-6 from three-point range), along with seven rebounds, seven assists, a block, and a steal. He’s recognized as one of the top passing big men in college basketball.