Kentucky assistant coach Mikhail McLean believes the Wildcats’ frontcourt has the pieces to be a difference-maker this season, pointing to the depth and leadership within the unit.
The group features a mix of veterans and young talent: Mouhamed Dioubate, Andrija Jelavic, Jayden Quaintance (when healthy), Brandon Garrison, Malachi Moreno, and Reece Potter. While Kentucky has plenty of players in the frontcourt, McLean said one player has already set the tone.
“I give credit to Brandon Garrison. He had
an unbelievable summer, like, he worked, man,” McLean said on the Sources Say Podcast. “He’s taken pride, and he’s gonna have a huge jump this year. He’s been leading that group.”
Garrison is now entering his second year at Kentucky and his junior season. After taking on a lesser role and seeing his stats dip compared to his freshman year at Oklahoma State, he now has a chance to grow with Jayden Quaintance expected to miss the start of the season.
At Oklahoma State, Garrison averaged 22.7 minutes per game, starting 29 of 32 contests, while posting 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.5 assists, and 0.8 steals. Last season at Kentucky, however, he did not start a game but appeared in 35, averaging 17.3 minutes with 5.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game.
With a rotation that includes Quaintance, 5-star signee Moreno, and versatile bigs like Dioubate and Jelavic, the Wildcats have both size and versatility inside. McLean emphasized that the combination of talent and leadership, especially from Garrison, could make Kentucky’s frontcourt one of its biggest strengths this season.
