The 2025–26 college basketball season is shaping up to be a pivotal one for the University of Kentucky and head coach Mark Pope. After navigating a chaotic offseason in 2024 with zero returning scholarship players, Pope impressively rebuilt the Wildcats’ roster on the fly and led the program to a Sweet 16 appearance in his first season at the helm. Now, as Year 2 of the Pope era begins in Lexington, the roster turnover continues—though with a bit more structure and clarity this time around.
Let’s take a look at how the Wildcats’ roster is shaping up for the upcoming season, including transfer additions, returning players, pending draft decisions, and incoming freshmen.
🆕 Incoming Transfers
Kentucky made one of the most significant offseason moves by landing Jayden Quaintance, a former five-star recruit who originally committed to UK under John Calipari. After a year at Arizona State, Quaintance is back on board and ready to make an impact. A projected top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the big man averaged 9.4 points and 7.9 rebounds across 24 games.
Joining Quaintance is Mouhamed Dioubate, a do-it-all forward from Alabama who played 37 games and brought toughness, rebounding, and defense. Jaland Lowe, a standout guard from Pitt, brings scoring and playmaking after putting up 16.8 points and 5.5 assists per game. Another guard, Kam Williams (Tulane), adds 3-point shooting after hitting 41.2% from deep last season. Denzel Aberdeen, who played a key role in Florida’s national title run, rounds out the transfer group and brings experience and energy to the backcourt.
🔁 Returners and Draft Decisions
Otega Oweh, Kentucky’s top scorer last season at 16.2 points per game, has declared for the 2025 NBA Draft but has maintained his eligibility. His return would be a game-changer for the Wildcats. Another notable potential returnee is Travis Perry, a freshman guard who remained loyal to UK despite Calipari’s exit and averaged 2.7 points in limited action.
Confirmed returners include:
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Brandon Garrison, a sophomore forward who played 35 games off the bench
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Collin Chandler, a former BYU recruit who averaged 2.7 points in 30 games
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Trent Noah, who contributed as a reserve forward and showed flashes of scoring ability
🚪 Departures
Several key contributors from last year’s Sweet 16 squad have moved on due to graduation:
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Jaxson Robinson (13.0 PPG), who battled injury late in the season
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Koby Brea (11.6 PPG), the team’s top 3-point shooter
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Lamont Butler, a defensive leader and former San Diego State star
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Andrew Carr, a reliable frontcourt presence
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Ansley Almonor, Amari Williams, and Kerr Kriisa (now committed to Cincinnati) have also exited
Each of these players played a role in laying the foundation during Pope’s inaugural season in Lexington.
🧑🎓 Freshman Class
Kentucky’s 2025 recruiting class features three new signees:
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Jasper Johnson, a top-20 combo guard known for scoring and athleticism
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Malachi Moreno, a 7-foot McDonald’s All-American from Kentucky with shot-blocking potential
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Andrija Jelavic, a 21-year-old European prospect with professional experience and a smooth shooting stroke from long range
Former commit Acaden Lewis has decommitted, leaving Johnson as the highest-profile recruit in this class.
📋 Final Thoughts
The 2025–26 season promises to be a more stable but still critical year for Mark Pope and his revamped Wildcats. With a strong mix of returning players, high-upside transfers, and promising freshmen, Kentucky looks poised to make another deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
Whether or not Otega Oweh returns could define the ceiling for this team—but with or without him, expectations in Lexington remain sky-high.