SEC Basketball Previews: Kentucky Wildcats

Sean Miller’s first season in the SEC will not be an easy one – plenty of teams that were successful last year in the conference built on that success, retaining talent as well as adding elite players from the portal or from the prep ranks.

Kentucky is a team that had a vast amount of success in both categories, particularly in the portal, assembling a roster that was rumored to be in the $15-20 million range for the season. The expectations are sky high, but so is the potential for this team to compete on a national stage. Here’s a look at the 2025-26 Kentucky Wildcats.

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Returning Players

Mark Pope brings back arguably the most important eligible piece from last year’s roster in wing Otega Oweh, a previous transfer from Oklahoma that averaged 16.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game last year while shooting 49% from the field. The team’s emotional leader and cornerstone for this upcoming season’s success, Oweh had NBA Draft intentions before opting to return to Lexington.

Pope also returns junior center Brandon Garrison, a big-bodied front court piece that stands at 6-foot-10 and weighs 250 pounds. The other returners are combo guard Collin Chandler and wing Trent Noah, both of whom will look to compete for playing time this season on a loaded roster.

Transfer Additions

The transfer portal group for Kentucky is one of the strongest in the country. The crowned jewel of the class is Arizona State forward/center Jayden Quaintance, a potential top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, though he will be out until January after suffering a knee injury last season. An elite defensive prospect, Quaintance will, when he returns, be a high-level impact piece if he can replicate last year’s production (9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 1.1 steals, 52.5% FG).

Another key piece is former Fort Bend Marshall (TX) point guard Jaland Lowe, a Pittsburgh transfer whose upside could land him in the NBA Draft next summer as well depending on how things go this season. Though his efficiency was an issue in 2024-25 at just 37.5% FG, he still managed 16.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists for the Panthers, meaning he could be an elite addition if he can shore up some of his shot selection problems.

Florida wing Denzel Aberdeen (7.7 points, 35% 3-point FG) and Alabama forward Mouhamed Dioubate (7.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 61.7% FG) are two other top additions who will both play significant minutes. Throw in sniper wing Kam Williams (9.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 41.5% 3-point FG) and 7-foot-1 forward Reece Potter (Miami OH), you have an extremely well-rounded unit that can attack multiple ways on the offensive end.

Prep Talent

Freshman point guard Jasper Johnson and first-year seven-footer Malachi Moreno both add a legitimate level of upside to this Wildcats roster. Two high-four star recruits, these prospects will still find time on the court despite the loaded transfer portal class referenced above.

Other additions are four-star wing Braydon Hawthorne, a native of West Virginia who stands at 6-foot-8, and international player Andrija Jelavic, who brings experience and size from the Adriatic League. Both could see minutes at different forward spots.

Overall Thoughts

Kentucky’s level of success will come down to two things: rebounding and catch-and-shoot proficiency. Garrison and Dioubate will have to be at the top of the SEC in rebounding statistics, at least until Quaintance can make his way back onto the floor around conference play. Moreno may also play a role here, as could Potter.

The other key will be their ability to hit spot-up shots. Though Kam Williams is an elite three-point shooter, with Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen as capable deep threats, Pope’s offense is predicated upon generating looks from beyond the arc on catch-and-shoot opportunities. This in turn opens up driving lanes in the five-out offense, but the shooting has to come through in order for this to work.

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If the Wildcats are able to shoot the ball well and handle opposing physical bigs, they are a legitimate national title contender. If these things fail, their talent will still probably land them in the Sweet 16. But if you know anything about the expectations at Kentucky, the regional semifinal will do their fans no justice; it is Final Four or bust in Lexington.