Mark Pope expects returning players to take a 'massive leap', says Brandon Garrison can be a 'superstar'

In the wise words of Trilly Donovan: “Sometimes the best gets are the ones you already have.”

In today’s lawless transfer portal era, that saying is more true than ever before. Kentucky head coach Mark Pope understands that, too. Pope stocked his first roster in Lexington with veterans on their final year of eligibility, but made sure to bring in a handful of underclassmen he could develop for the future. Those players ended up being Otega Oweh, Brandon Garrison, Collin Chandler, Trent Noah, and Travis Perry.

All five were important to Pope’s first run in Lexington.

Outside of Perry, who surprisingly elected to transfer in search of a larger role, the remaining four are all expected back. Garrison, Chandler, and Noah have already confirmed their intentions to return for the 2025-26 season. Oweh is testing the NBA Draft waters, but the expectation is he’ll also be back. During his interview with Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports on Wednesday, Pope said that Oweh’s “heart is back here at Kentucky.” Oweh has until May 28 to make a final stay-or-go decision.

But in the meantime, Pope knows for sure he has three key pieces sticking around from last season’s roster. All three expect to play a role on Pope’s second Kentucky team. Not only will they improve their on-court games throughout the offseason, but they’ll make life easier for everyone around them who is new to the program. There is real significance in a lack of player turnover.

“I’m so excited about our returners,” Pope told Rothstein. “The thought of actually having some continuity, where when we step on the practice floor for the first time in mid-June, that we’re gonna have some guys that know our terminology — and not just some guys, but some elite, elite-level veteran talent.”

But beyond having guys who already understand what is expected of them, Pope mentioned how players in his system typically make notable strides in their development going into year two.

“I think it’s a key to big success,” Pope said of roster continuity. “And there’s nothing like getting older with your own guys, right? And the second thing is, my guys, traditionally, my guys (in their) second year take a massive leap.

Jaxson Robinson is the perfect example. He averaged 8.5 points per game as a starter in his first year with Pope at BYU in 2022-23. By the end of 2023-24, Robinson was coming off the bench, but averaging 14.2 points and winning Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year. Once he followed Pope to Lexington, all of that experience and talent carried over.

“We’re such a read-based offense, and in parts defense, where our guys are the deciders on the floor,” Pope continued. “They’re not looking over at me. We coach them to be capable of making decisions on the court, so they spend very little time looking over at me. We coach them to coach each other and communicate with each other.

“And so with a year under your belt now, now you’re coming in not to learn the game or do the game, but you come in actually starting to play the game and trick up the game and use all these actions and manipulate them in creative ways. And that’s where the game gets incredibly fun. So these second-year guys are going to be really key for us.”

Pope is expecting big things out of the trio of Garrison, Chandler, and Noah going into next season. Garrison will help hold down the frontcourt and should fit snugly alongside any of Jayden Quaintance, Mouhamed Dioubate, Andrija Jelavic, and Malachi Moreno. Pope had very high praise for the rising junior center, who figures to be a major part of the rotation.

“Brandon Garrison, man, he’s shown even in this young offseason, he is hungry right now,” Pope said. “He’s a McDonald’s All-American who had an unbelievable first year at Oklahoma State as a freshman, and then clearly took a massive jump forward last year, and I think he’s ready to emerge as a superstar, and he understands how huge this summer is for him. He’s really focused. He’s got a very precise agenda, things he’s working on. I know he’s really hungry.”

Chandler is someone fans believe can take a sizable leap after a promising finish to his freshman campaign. He was effectively Kentucky’s sixth man by the postseason. Another offseason for Noah, who likely didn’t expect to play much in 2024-25, should only continue to build on the confidence he constantly flexed on the hardwood as a rookie.

“I expect Collin Chandler to take a massive jump,” Pope said. “He showed huge strides in the last month of the season, and he’s got limitless capacity to be really special. And this Trent Noah, I’m telling you, this Trent Noah is a baller, okay? He is a big-time basketball player. He’s going to bring over the next seasons, he’s going to bring some incredible physicality and skill and toughness that’s going to make everybody here proud.”

There is, understandably, plenty of excitement around the incoming transfers and freshmen, but the players Pope already has might end up being the most important pieces of his second season.