After eight weeks of action, the Kentucky basketball summer practice period has come to an end. While it’s important to remember this is just summer, it’s still a fun time to start hearing how guys are looking. I’ve been talking to folks close to the program and gathering what I can.
Here’s the player-by-player rundown of what I’ve heard so far.
Jaland Lowe
Last year, Lowe took a lot of bad shots because of the offense he was in — something even Mark Pope has acknowledged. When he took good shots, he made them,
but he was forcing too much. I’m told he’s cleaned that up significantly.
It also has to be pointed out that Lowe played much of the past season with a fractured finger on his shooting hand after injuring it in a preseason scrimmage. That injury likely played a major role in Lowe’s efficiency numbers going down.
Remember, Lowe was a 41% shooter from 3-point range in ACC play as a true freshman, including a last-minute dagger that gave Pitt a rare win at Duke. He’s much closer to that level of shooting than the 26.6% mark he hit from deep this past season.
Right now, Lowe and Otega Oweh are clearly the two best players on the floor. The veteran point guard is making smart passes while hitting good looks, and fans are going to love his personality as much as his game.
Otega Oweh
Oweh has taken his game to another level. Already the team’s leading scorer last year, he’s sharpened specific skills while preparing for the NBA Draft and is now playing at an even higher level. We already saw glimpses of this at the NBA Draft Combine, where Oweh was one of the top performers in 5-on-5 scrimmages.
Trent Noah
The biggest surprise of the offseason. He’s reportedly not missing in practice, has shed the “baby weight,” and added 15–20 pounds of muscle. Coaches believe he’s made the biggest strides of anyone. Once thought of as the 11th or 12th man, he’s now expected to be in the top 7–9 rotation players and will get plenty of minutes.
Mo Dioubate
Exactly as expected — physical, strong defensively, and a steady on-floor leader. Also played some small-ball 5. Could be important depending on Brandon Garrison’s development and Jayden Quaintance’s availability.
Jayden Quaintance
The staff badly wants him back on the floor. While Brandon Garrison is making progress, Quaintance’s presence is still viewed as essential for Kentucky’s frontcourt potential.
Brandon Garrison
The junior big man has made some strides, but he still isn’t quite where the staff would ideally like him to be yet. Thankfully, there’s still plenty of time between now and the November 4 opener vs. Nicholls State. These next few months will be crucial for how much of an impact we’ll see from Junior Brandon Garrison.
Jasper Johnson
Shows flashes of brilliance followed by freshman moments. Inconsistent for now, but his “wow” plays are hard to ignore.
Malachi Moreno
Further ahead of schedule than expected. Not a “world-beater” yet, but certainly exceeding early projections and making a strong impression, something Kentucky desperately needed with Garrison not improving as much as hoped and JQ’s return timeline still uncertain.
Collin Chandler
Recently returned from a significant injury. Limited info, but the early signs are encouraging.
Kam Williams
Started camp as one of the best shooters, but has cooled off slightly as others have caught up. Still an elite shooter with some of the highest upside on the roster.
Denzel Aberdeen
Exactly what was expected — a steady, consistent leader. Likely to be in the starting lineup.
Brayden Hawthorne
Highly skilled but still raw and lean. Projected as a strong 2-to 3-year player and should get more minutes this year than originally expected.
Reece Potter
No updates provided.
Andrija Jelavic
Not yet with the team.
Overall Takeaways
- The standouts so far are Lowe, Oweh, and Noah — each exceeding expectations in different ways.
- Noah’s transformation has been the most surprising storyline of the summer.
- Frontcourt depth is still developing; much of it hinges on Quaintance’s return and Garrison’s continued growth.
- It looks like Aberdeen still has the inside track toward being the third backcourt starter along with Oweh and Lowe.
- Kentucky needs at least one of Williams/Chandler/Johnson to step up and become a key contributor.
I’ve been piecing this together while traveling — and full disclosure, I was going to post this Wednesday. In the meantime, Jack Pilgrim has been hearing some similar things, so after you read this, check out his piece as well:
Read Jack Pilgrim’s article here.
Also, be sure to check out the full 2025-26 UK basketball schedule here!
