Kentucky’s new-look basketball team will play games in Canada before next season begins

The Kentucky men’s basketball team has made its summer plans official.

The Wildcats will be headed to Canada in July, a chance for John Calipari’s 2023-24 roster to play some exhibition games ahead of another season that will bring high expectations on the court.

UK announced Monday that the program will participate in the “GLOBL JAM” in Toronto, a four-team event featuring squads from the United States, Canada, Germany and Africa. The Cats will obviously represent the USA, with games scheduled against under-23 teams from Germany (July 12), Canada (July 13) and Africa (July 15).

The gold-medal and consolation games will be played July 16. All of the games will take place in the Mattamy Athletic Centre, and tickets are already available through Ticketmaster.com.

Broadcast information will be released at a later date.

Canada Basketball, in partnership with the National Association of Basketball Coaches, invited UK to represent the United States in the showcase.

“We’re so appreciative of the NABC and Canada Basketball for the invitation to participate in the GLOBL JAM,” John Calipari said in a statement. “They have put together a field full of talented and tough teams that will begin to help us prepare for the upcoming season, while also providing us with another special trip for not only our team but for our fans as well. On behalf of everyone at the University of Kentucky and our team, we’re honored to represent the United States and we’re excited to get to Toronto and take part in this terrific event.”

Calipari is still piecing together next season’s roster, but the Wildcats are sure to feature the nation’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class, a group that includes McDonald’s All-Americans DJ Wagner, Justin Edwards, Aaron Bradshaw and Reed Sheppard, as well as top-10 recruit Rob Dillingham.

The GLOBL JAM will be Kentucky fans’ first chance to see those Wildcats play together. Freshman center Ugonna Onyenso has also confirmed that he will return to UK for another season, and the Cats are still waiting on official announcements from starters Oscar Tshiebwe, Antonio Reeves as Chris Livingston, among others, while Calipari and his staff continue to monitor the transfer portal for possible new additions. No. 1-ranked transfer Hunter Dickinson — an All-America center who played the past three years at Michigan — is on UK’s campus for a recruiting visit this week.

The (very early) preseason rankings from national outlets generally have the Wildcats ranked in the top 10 in the country heading into the 2023-24 campaign.

“The NABC is committed to elevating the game of basketball across the globe, and we’re thrilled to partner once again with Canada Basketball in support of GLOBL JAM,” NABC Executive Director Craig Robinson said in a statement. “Kentucky is among the most storied programs in men’s college basketball history, and will serve as a fitting representative for our country and our sport on this prominent international stage.”

Baylor represented the United States at the GLOBL JAM last summer.

Canada Basketball president Michael Bartlett noted Kentucky’s “prominent contingent of Canadian alumni” in his statement that accompanied Monday’s announcement.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray and Trey Lyles are among several recent UK players with links to the country.

GLOBL JAM schedule

July 12: Kentucky vs. Germany (1:30 p.m.)

July 13: Kentucky vs. Canada (8 p.m.)

July 15: Kentucky vs. Africa (1:30 p.m.)

July 16: Bronze medal game (1:30 p.m.)

July 16: Gold medal game (8 p.m.)