A total of 122 current and former University of Kentucky student-athletes are set to complete academic requirements this week or in the summer term, marking another milestone for UK Athletics. Alongside the 41 student-athletes who graduated in December, UK Athletics is poised to celebrate 163 graduates during the 2023-24 school year.
Among the graduates are 18 Wildcats earning their master’s degrees, showcasing their dedication both on and off the field. Notable names include Brennan Canada from men’s basketball, Jensen Castle from women’s golf, and Tori Orcutt from women’s swimming and diving.
Additionally, three Wildcats—Zack Brown and Riley Mahan from baseball, and Enzo Mauriz from men’s soccer—are expected to graduate after participating in UK Athletics’ Post-Eligibility program, a testament to the university’s commitment to supporting student-athletes beyond their playing careers.
The academic achievements of this graduating class are matched by their success in sports, contributing to three team NCAA Championships, 11 conference regular-season championships, and seven conference tournament championships during their time at Kentucky. Moreover, 11 graduates have earned All-America honors, and 19 have received all-conference recognition.
Under the leadership of this class, UK Athletics achieved a school-record No. 9 final ranking in the 2022 NACDA Directors’ Cup all-sports standings and maintained an impressive 18th-place finish in 2023.
Mitch Barnhart, UK Director of Athletics, expressed pride in the graduates’ dedication and acknowledged the crucial role played by the Center for Academic and Tutorial Services (CATS) staff and coaches in supporting their academic endeavors.
Fans can look forward to seeing many of these graduates return to their respective fields of play in the upcoming 2024-25 season as they pursue graduate school or additional undergraduate certifications.
UK’s commitment to academic excellence is evident in its recent achievements, including consecutive semesters with a 3.0 cumulative GPA for scholarship student-athletes, numerous selections to academic honor rolls, and record-breaking performances in graduation success rates and Academic All-American awards.
Below is the list of expected graduates:
Baseball (17)
Devin Burkes
Zack Brown #
Evan Byers
Reuben Church
Ty Crittenberger
Ryan Hagenow
Zach Hise
Robert Hogan
Johnny Hummel
Nick Lopez
Riley Mahan #
Nolan McCarthy
Ryan Nicholson
Dominic Niman
Cameron O’Brien
Trey Pooser
Grant Smith
Men’s Basketball (4)
Brennan Canada – master’s degree
Tre Mitchell
Antonio Reeves
Kareem Watkins Jr.
Women’s Basketball (5)
Nyah Leveretter
Brooklynn Miles
Ajae Petty
Eniya Russell
Maddie Scherr
Football (9)
Michael Bernard – master’s degree
Wilson Berry
Zion Childress
Jordan Dingle
Ronald Gaines, III
Ramon Jefferson – master’s degree
Joshua Jones *
Chance Poore – master’s degree
Alex Raynor
Jack Varga – master’s degree
Jai Williams
La’Vell Wright
Men’s Golf (5)
Alex Goff – master’s degree
Campbell Kremer
Jackson LaLonde
Cooper Parks
Tanner Parks
Women’s Golf (4)
Jensen Castle – master’s degree
Laney Frye
María Villanueva Aperribay – master’s degree
Marissa Wenzler – master’s degree
Gymnastics (5)
Bailey Bunn
Hailey Davis
Arianna Patterson
Elyssa Roberts *
Raena Worley
Rifle (1)
Emmie Sellers
Men’s Soccer (4)
Aboubacar Camara *
Ben Damge
Andrew Erickson
Enzo Mauriz #
Women’s Soccer (8)
Mia Arias
Lainey Burman
Maria Castaldo * – master’s degree
Paige Copeland
Taya Hjorth *
Stephanie Stull * – master’s degree
Ulfa Ulfarsdottir
Hadley Williams
Softball (7)
Erin Coffel
Meeko Harrison
Vanessa Nesby
Stephanie Schoonover
Erica Thulen
Margaret Tobias
Jaden Vickers – master’s degree
STUNT (8)
Damiya Bostic
Gabbi Freeman
MJ Garrett
Rachel Hammond
Isabella Holloway
Karley Kalchbrenner
Jordyn Thomas *
Alayna Tobo
Men’s Swimming and Diving (1)
Zane Rosely
Women’s Swimming and Diving (10)
Kaitlyn Bacik
Caroline Benda
Torie Buerger
Sofie Davis
Megan Drumm
Bridget Engel
Leah Luckett
Claire McDaniels
Tori Orcutt – master’s degree
Kristyn Sabol
Men’s Tennis (3)
Taha Baadi
Josh Lapadat
Tate Sandman
Women’s Tennis (3)
Makayla Mills
Maialen Morante – master’s degree
Elizabeth Stevens
Men’s Track and Field/Cross Country (11)
Jake Allen
Ryan Avare
Keaton Daniel
Matt Duvall
DaRoyce Flemons
Dustin Horter
John Kruzel
Harper Moore
Beck O’Daniel – master’s degree
Dennis Ohene-Adu
Dalton Shepler
Women’s Track and Field/Cross Country (13)
Maria Anderson
Patrice Cornelious
Charity Hufnagel
Katelyn Hutchison – master’s degree
Jaida Knowles *
Jania Martin
Kristen Masucci
Mahogany Mobley
Seven Simms
Sydney Steely – master’s degree
Reynei Wallace
Meg Wilson
Iantha Wright – master’s degree
Volleyball (1)
Mariah Walker
