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Kentucky newcomer Jaland Lowe announces withdrawal from 2025 NBA Draft

Grant Grubbs Profile Pictureby: Grant Grubbs05/22/25grant_grubbs_
Feb 1, 2025; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers guard Jaland Lowe (15) brings the ball up court during the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Feb 1, 2025; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers guard Jaland Lowe (15) brings the ball up court during the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Kentucky guard Jaland Lowe has withdrawn from the 2025 NBA Draft. Lowe transferred to Kentucky this offseason after spending two years at Pittsburgh.

In the 2024-25 campaign, Lowe started in all 31 of his appearances for the Panthers. He averaged 16.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game, while shooting 37.6% from the field and 26.6% from beyond the arc.

Lowe had his best performance of the season in Pittsburgh’s 91-90 win over Ohio State on Nov. 29, 2024. In the triumph, Lowe tallied a season-high 28 points on 9-20 shooting. For his efforts, he was named an All-ACC Third-Team selection.

While Lowe put up excellent numbers last season, his efficiency left much to be desired. Kentucky head coach Mark Pope believes that in the Wildcats’ system, Lowe’s efficiency will skyrocket.

“I love his ability as a playmaker,” Pope said. “He’s going to be surprised, and he knows it, by having a chance to actually get an open catch-and-shoot once in a while, and have guys that demand space on the floor.

“I expect he’s going to take a massive jump also in his efficiency and his leadership. We’re really excited about him. I think he’s got a huge upside.”

Pope isn’t the only one who expects Lowe to have better shot quality at Kentucky. Sports Illustrated NBA Draft reporter Kevin Sweeney told KSR+’s Jacob Polacheck that Lowe’s inefficiency last season was likely a product of his environment.

“A knock on him at Pitt was that he played a little bit of hero ball, a little bit of me, me, me,” Sweeney said. “A lot of that is probably the reality of not being on a very good team. He did a really good job of coming into this setting where there are a lot of mouths to feed and a lot of guys you’ve never really played with before.”

With Lowe returning, Kentucky isn’t only getting a standout talent but an excellent leader too. In April, Pope raved about the incoming junior’s leadership abilities.

“He’s also got a great leadership ability,” Pope said. “Having him here on campus, it was fun because you have these new guys on campus, and you’re kind of out to dinner, and he was the guy that was instigating a lot of the conversation, which is exactly what we need him to be.

“I think he’s going to be an elite-level leader. He’s got a huge future in this game, and he’s going to come do it in a Kentucky jersey, and join this legacy of incredible point guards that have played here.”