Kentucky transfers Sarr, Toppin granted immediate eligibility

The NCAA and SEC have ruled highly touted transfers Olivier Sarr and Jacob Toppin will be eligible to play for Kentucky for the 2020-21 season, the team announced Wednesday.

Sarr, a senior center from France, averaged 13.7 points, nine rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game at Wake Forest last year.

Toppin, a forward and younger brother of likely 2020 NBA lottery pick Obi Toppin, averaged 5.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game as a freshman at Rhode Island.

"I'm excited for Olivier and Jacob," Wildcats coach John Calipari said. "Both have worked really hard and deserve this opportunity. They were both hopping and skipping out of my office after getting the news because they've been waiting on this day."

All five members of Kentucky's 2019-20 starting lineup - and eight of the team's top-nine scorers - have left the program. That group includes five underclassmen who have declared for the 2020 NBA Draft, set to take place Nov. 18.