Predicting the Kentucky basketball roster for next season
· Yahoo Sports
There's no way to look at the 2025-26 Kentucky Wildcats basketball season as anything other than a disappointment. Injuries hit early, and certainly had a major impact on things, but lackluster play, and questionable roster construction also greatly hindered the team all year.
Immediately after losing to Iowa State on Sunday, the focus began to shift to next season, and what coach Mark Pope needed to do to rebound. That begins with building the roster, and putting together a more cohesive unit than he had this year.
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Over the coming weeks, decision will be made by the players who have eligibility remaining. Some will head to the NBA, and some will decide to transfer. Pope has stated his desire to retain the players from the current squad, and will make his case for them to stay, and try to be a part of a potential comeback story in 2026-27.
So, who stays? Who goes? That will be answered soon, but in the meantime, here's a look at where things could stand in a few weeks, heading into the opening of the transfer portal.
Out of eligibility
Otega Oweh - Job one this offseason will be to find a way to replace Oweh's scoring ability, but that's not all they're losing. His ability to take over a game, score inside and out, and defend likely can't be replicated by one player. They'll need to have multiple guys fill his roles. He's a big loss.
Denzel Aberdeen - When injuries pushed him into the starting point guard position, Aberdeen stepped up and played admirably. He was a terrific leader on the court, and became the secondary scorer on the team. He helped hold the team together through their struggles.
NBA Bound
Jayden Quaintance - Mark Pope knew he was getting Quaintance for just one season, and it's disappointing that his injury never allowed him to be a part of the team. His ability to defend and rebound was sorely missed. He'll be a lottery pick.
Strongest transfer portal candidates
Jasper Johnson - Formerly a top 40 recruit, Johnson was expected to make an immediate impact. However, he struggled to find his fit on the roster, and spent time playing as the backup point guard, which he simply wasn't suited to do. His playing time suffered, and he could look to find a fresh start elsewhere.
Trent Noah - Though he was a fan favorite, Noah all but disappeared down the stretch, buried on the bench. He's a solid shooter, and a high effort player, but his lack of high-end athleticism limits him on the court. He could transfer to a school where he gets more playing time.
Mouhamed Dioubate - His effort and toughness were huge for Kentucky at times, but Dioubate's offensive limitations kept him on the bench more than he probably would have liked. There will be teams looking at him as a starter.
Strongest return candidates
Braydon Hawthorne - Nothing is every set in stone, but Hawthorne has stated that he will be back. He was a late signee for Pope, but a four-star recruit with loads of talent. He redshirted this season, and will be ready to make a difference next year.
Jaland Lowe - Like Hawthorne, Lowe publicly said he would return. His shoulder injury was devastating to Kentucky's chances this year, and he likely feels like he has unfinished business. He can score from the point guard spot, though he's not a great shooter. He's also terrific at getting into the lane and creating offense.
Malachi Moreno - When Quaintance went down, Moreno stepped into the starting center role, and performed well overall. The former McDonald's All-American has a great skill-set and if he adds some muscle, could be one of the SEC's best centers.
Collin Chandler - Nobody made a bigger leap this year than Chandler. He became the Wildcats' deadliest shooter, and a much bigger part of the offense overall. Heading into his junior season, if he improves his ball handling and continues to evolve his defense, he could be a star.
Reece Potter - After transferring in last year, Potter also took a redshirt season. His size can't be taught, and he has certainly spent this year working on his game. There are high hopes for him to be a solid role player next season.
Andrija Jelavic - There is a ton of potential with Jelavic, and Pope will surely do whatever is necessary to keep him in Lexington. He improved defensively as the year went on, and his offensive game showed its versatility.
The big questions
Kam Williams - Another player who missed major minutes due to injury this year, Williams is a bit trickier to predict. Still, he's exactly the kind of player Kentucky needs. He is a terrific shooter, a great athlete, and plays both ends of the floor well. He could step his game up to the next level.
Brandon Garrison - Many Kentucky fans thought Garrison would leave last year, but he returned. He's talented, but inconsistent, and disappears at times. He has even been benched. For him, it may come down to perceived playing time. Moreno would likely be the starter next year, so if Garrison is good with coming off the bench, he'll stay. If Pope brings in another big man to take more minutes from him, he could decide to play his final season somewhere else.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky basketball roster predictions for the next season