A source tells the Cats’ Pause that Kentucky has contacted Virginia Tech transfer guard/forward Tyler Nickel.
Assistant Chuck Martin was the one to contact the former Hokie, per the source.
Nickel, a native of Harrisonburg, Virginia, and East Rockingham High School alum, started his college career at North Carolina, signing with the Tar Heels as a four-star prospect in the class of 2022.
As a freshman in Chapel Hill, he played in 25 games off the bench, averaging 6.0 minutes of playing time. He averaged 2.1 points per game and shot 37.5 percent from the field.
After the season, he hit the transfer portal and landed back in his home state of Virginia at Virginia Tech.
With the Hokies this past season, the 6-foot-7, 220-pound guard/forward played in 30 games and started seven logging an average of 24.3 minutes per game. Nickel averaged 8.8 points per game, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 39.9 percent from three point range.
He scored a season-high 24 points in a win over eventual Elite Eight qualifier Clemson by shooting 8-for-11 from the field and 5-for-7 from three. In the ACC Tournament against Florida State, Nickel scored 18 points and grabbed a season-high seven rebounds.
Nickel will have two years of eligibility remaining at his next school. He currently ranks as a three-star transfer portal prospect, the 131st-best player in the portal, and the 21st-best small forward.
He is the fifth transfer portal prospect UK has reached out to so far this offseason joining Rutgers center Clifford Omoruyi, UTSA guard Jordan Ivy-Curry and Milwaukee guard BJ Freeman and South Carolina guard Meechie Johnson.
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