The 2025-26 Kentucky Basketball roster as we know it

In the era of the transfer portal, there is no such thing as the offseason.

Coaches all over the country are scrambling to inject as much talent into their programs as possible before the well runs dry.

When it comes to the Kentucky Wildcats, the Big Blue Nation has quickly learned that this new coaching staff moves in silence. There has been little information leaking and the commitments and decommitments have come abruptly, without warning.

Case in point: The Wildcats learned Thursday night that Acaden Lewis will not be part of the 2025 recruiting class after he decommitted.

Lewis was set to arrive in Lexington with the luxury of learning from Jaland Lowe and not being forced to do too much too early. It’s unclear why Lewis is now reopening his recruitment, but Kentucky will thankfully have other options to run the point next season.

With that, we’re beginning to get an idea of what the 2025-26 Kentucky basketball roster will look like. The final product is still a work in progress, but the foundation for Mark Pope’s second year has been laid.

Here is a quick look at the current roster with a projected starting line-up.

Jaland Lowe – Adding an experienced veteran to run the show came as welcomed news over the weekend. In two years at Pitt, Lowe played in a total of 64 games and will come to Lexington eyeing a breakout season playing in Pope’s scoring-friendly offense.

Travis Perry – There’s no denying that Perry will enter his sophomore season with a little added pressure to perform after struggling to carve out a role for himself in year one. He was asked to do a lot because of injuries, so you can expect a smoother approach in year two.

Jasper Johnson – The Woodford County product has as much upside as just about anyone in the country. His smooth left-hand game, paired with his fierce athleticism, makes for a combo that will have the NBA scouts closely following Johnson’s development.

Otega Oweh – Not much to say here. Otegatron returning to Lexington will be the foundation of this roster. His heroics fueled Kentucky’s run to the Sweet 16, capturing the hearts of the Big Blue Nation along the way. Next year’s season could be very much dependent on the contributions of #00, so long as he doesn’t go pro. He’s expected to test the waters but is widely projected to go undrafted.

Trent Noah – It’s not an unpopular opinion to think that Noah will have a monster sophomore season. His stature compliments SEC play well and he’s proven he can come in and make a big shot. Keep an eye on the Mountain Mamba next year.

Collin Chandler – Who knows where the Cats would have been without Chandler stepping up in the face of devastating injuries. His big-shot-making ability and defensive tenacity were put on display in some of the biggest moments of the season. Expect to see a lot of Collin Chandler next year, especially now that Lewis is out of the fold.

Brandon Garrison – Anyone who watched Kentucky basketball last season saw the potential in Brandon Garrison. Mark Pope could be relying on BG to play a much bigger role with the departure of Amari Williams.

Malachi Moreno – Many fans were introduced to Moreno after his strong showing in the McDonald’s All-American game. The 7-footer looks poised to contribute in his first year as a Wildcat.

Kam Williams – At 6-foot-8, Williams shot 41% from deep last season at Tulane and all signs point to him thriving in Mark Pope’s offense.

Mouhamed Dioubate – All signs are pointing to this being a huge commitment for Mark Pope and the Cats. The Alabama transfer is expected to bring versatility and the ability to stretch the floor. He fills a much-needed void in the front-court and is an offensive rebounding machine.

Jayden Quaintance – Kentucky’s latest pick up was a needle mover. The projected NBA lottery pick will be coming off of a torn ACL but all signs point to him being available for the start of the season. This was a monster commitment for Mark Pope and his staff.

Projected Starting Lineup

• PG: Jaland Lowe
• SG: Jasper Johnson
• PF: Otega Oweh
• PF: Mouhamed Dioubate
• C: Jayden Quaintance

Keep in mind the roster is not complete, and Mark Pope may still have some magic up his sleeve. Among the names Kentucky is still in the mix for are Robert Morris forward Alvaro Folgueiras and Sam Houston shooting guard Lamar Wilkerson.

Buckle up. We’re in for a busy couple of weeks and potentially months.