CBB Rank 2025: No. 12, Kentucky Basketball

Year two of the Mark Pope era at Kentucky basketball is here. Do the Wildcats make a jump after a Sweet Sixteen appearance?

The tradition continues! It’s another year of our countdown of the top 100 preseason teams in college basketball until the start of the season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Kentucky basketball.

When Mark Pope was hired, he didn’t have a lot of time to turn Kentucky basketball’s roster around. John Calipari had left for Arkansas, and the fanbase was getting antsy. But he did the best he could, and the Wildcats again returned to the Sweet Sixteen. That marked the first time they had done so since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Though it’s worth noting that Arkansas also made the Sweet Sixteen.)

As Kentucky enters Pope’s second season, some familiar faces are back, but most of the roster is new to Lexington. Expectations are just a bit higher now that Pope has had a full season. 

At point, a battle could be brewing between Pitt transfer Jaland Lowe and freshman Jasper Johnson. Yes, Lowe is coming off a season in which he averaged 16.8 PPG and dished out 5.5 APG. But if Johnson’s performance in the exhibition against Purdue is any indication, Pope will have a hard time keeping the freshman off the court. He scored 15 points in just 19 minutes of action. 

At the two, Pope turned to a rival. Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen, who was in line for a huge opportunity in Gainesville, entered the portal and elected to join the Wildcats prior to the 2025-26 season. Aberdeen came on strong late in the season, with his best game perhaps coming against Mississippi State on the road in which he scored 20 points. Behind Aberdeen in the rotation will be sophomores Collin Chandler and Trent Noah, both of whom return after averaging 2.7 PPG as freshmen. They will serve as valuable bench plugs. 

Playing a bit of small ball, Otega Oweh will likely play at the wing, but he could slide into the shooting guard position at times. A bigger guard, he’s got to get on the court at some spot with his skills, and if it’s at the three, so be it. We’ll get to more on Oweh in a little bit, but he’s the real deal. Behind him in the lineup will be Tulane transfer Kam Williams, who started 28 games as a freshman for the Green Wave last year, and freshman Braydon Hawthorne. 

At the four, it’s basically two names to watch. Alabama transfer Mouhamed Dioubate averaged 7.2 PPG at a rival SEC institution last year, and after seeing his role increase a lot from his freshman season to his sophomore season, he’s ready to make a difference in Lexington as a junior. One stat of note: he shot 46.2% from deep in a very small sample size last season. Also to watch is Croatian prospect Andrija Jelavić. The 6’11” forward is classified as a sophomore, and he averaged 11.0 PPG and 7.4 RPG in the Adriatic League last season. Look out.

Center is a position of interest. Transfer Jayden Quaintance is injured, but returning Brandon Garrison should lock down the starting position. Garrison didn’t start a game last year, but he did average 17.3 MPG on the court and showed the ability to knock down a three when he needs to. He struggled from the line however, with a 53.5% clip. Backing him up will be Malachi Moreno and Miami (OH) transfer Reece Potter. Of the two, Moreno is more likely to make a difference or challenge for a starting role. 

With expectations relatively high in a basketball environment that would already expect a starting five of empty paper bags to average at least 60 PPG, Lexington is raring to go this season. Does Mark Pope have what it takes? Most signs point to yes, and it should be quite a successful year for Kentucky. 

Head coach: Mark Pope (2nd season at Kentucky, 11th overall)

2024-25 record: 24-12 (10-8)

2025 postseason finish: Lost to Tennessee (78-65) in Sweet 16 of NCAA Tournament

Notable departures: 

• Jaxson Robinson (13.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.7 APG)
• Koby Brea (11.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.3 APG, 43.5 3PT%)
• Lamont Butler (11.4 PPG, 4.3 APG, 2.9 RPG)
• Amari Williams (10.9 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 3.2 APG)
• Andrew Carr (10.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.7 APG)

Notable non-conference games: 

• at Louisville (Nov. 11) 
• vs. Michigan State (Nov. 18) – Madison Square Garden
• vs. North Carolina (Dec. 2) 
• vs. Gonzaga (Dec. 5) – Nashville, TN
• vs. Indiana (Dec. 13)
• vs. St. John’s (Dec. 20) – Atlanta, GA

Projected Rotation

PG: Jaland Lowe (6-1.5, 170, Jr.)

2024-25 stats: 16.8 PPG, 5.5 APG, 4.2 RPG (Pitt)

SG: Denzel Aberdeen (6-5, 195, Sr.)

2024-25 stats: 7.7 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 1.4 APG (Florida)

SF: Otega Oweh (6-4, 220, Sr.)

2024-25 stats: 16.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.7 APG

PF: Mouhamed Dioubate (6-7, 220, Jr.)

2024-25 stats: 7.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.1 APG (Alabama)

C: Brandon Garrison (6-10, 245, Jr.)

2024-25 stats: 5.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.9 APG 

6: Jasper Johnson (6-5, 180, Fr.)

247Sports Composite No. 21-ranked recruit

7: Andrija Jelavić (6-11, 225, So.)

International recruit from Croatia

8: Kam Williams (6-8, 205, So.)

2024-25 stats: 9.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.3 APG (Tulane)

9: Malachi Moreno (7-0, 250, Fr.)

247Sports Composite No. 25-ranked recruit

10: Braydon Hawthorne (6-8, 190, Fr.)

247Sports Composite No. 114-ranked recruit

11: Collin Chandler (6-5, 205, So.)

2024-25 stats: 2.7 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.7 APG

12: Trent Noah (6-5, 220, So.)

2024-25 stats: 2.7 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 0.4 APG 

13: Reece Potter (7-1, 230, Jr.)

2024-25 stats: 6.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.2 APG (Miami-Ohio)

Kentucky Basketball team MVP: Otega Oweh

When Oweh transferred in prior to last season from Oklahoma, there was optimism that he would be an above-average starting guard in the SEC. Flash forward to now, and he’s the media’s pick for SEC Preseason Player of the Year. That’s because he was the beat of this offense last season, and he’s returning for a second go. After averaging 16.8 PPG, the 6’4″ senior is back in Lexington once more. 

Oweh is able to get to the basket, sure, but he can also step back and take shots from deep if he needs to. He’s a physical finisher, and at times, he seemed like the only player on either side of the court who was scoring last season. Oweh is key to Kentucky’s big hopes this season, and there’s a possibility that he breaks out into the Wooden Award conversation. 

Kentucky Basketball make-or-break player: Denzel Aberdeen

Aberdeen just won a championship, and now he’s going to try to do so again, but with a different team. Mark Pope liked what he saw enough to get Aberdeen to Lexington, and the Florida native is primed for a starting role in the Wildcats’ offense. Last year, he averaged 7.7 PPG, but there was a seven-game stretch in February in which he averaged 13.0 PPG, including two 20-point games. Watch out.  

Key analytic: 3PT%

Kentucky basketball was high above average from behind the arc last year, and one big reason for that was Koby Brea. But the Dayton transfer, who was drafted 41st overall after a 3PT% of 43.5% last season, is now on the Warriors. The next three best shooters from behind the arc, Ansley Almonor, Lamont Butler, and Jaxson Robinson, in order, also depart. 

However, Otega Oweh is back, and in addition to the fact that many are calling for him as the SEC Preseason Player of the Year, he’s good from distance. Last year for the Wildcats, Oweh shot 35.5% from deep, and fellow returnee Trent Noah, albeit in a limited role, was slightly above average with a 33.3% clip. While Pitt transfer Jaland Lowe struggled with a 26.6% average from three last season, he did shoot 35.2% as a freshman, so there’s hope. Mix in freshman Jasper Johnson and Florida transfer Denzel Aberdeen, and it’s a pretty good bet that Kentucky will at least finish within the top 100 for 3PT% this year. 

Kentucky Basketball 2025-26 projections

Projected conference finish: 2nd in the SEC

Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament Elite 8 Exit