When Mark Pope took over at Kentucky, he already had a reputation as one of the sharpest basketball minds in the game. But it’s what he’s done with Collin Chandler — a player many wrote off too soon — that’s turning heads across Big Blue Nation.
Chandler’s journey hasn’t been typical. Once a top-35 recruit in the 2022 class, he delayed his college career for a two-year Mormon mission. Pope, who first recruited him at BYU, didn’t hesitate when the opportunity came to bring Chandler to Lexington as a transfer.
At the start of his true freshman season, Chandler looked far from the star he was projected to be — hesitant with the ball, uncertain in his decisions, and searching for his rhythm. But when backcourt injuries thrust him into the SEC fire, something changed.
From February 22 through the end of the season, Chandler caught absolute fire from deep, shooting a scorching 54% from beyond the arc. In the postseason, he buried 7 of 13 three-pointers, flashing the skill set of a cold-blooded shot-maker.
“He’s exactly what you want in today’s game — 6’5”, athletic, shoots it, passes it, defends it,” said KSR’s Zack Geoghegan. “And he can make plays at both ends.”
What’s even more impressive? His mental game. Pope and his staff rave about Chandler’s ability to manipulate defenders with his eyes, setting up passes and opening scoring lanes in ways veterans struggle to master.
“This is a future NBA player — no doubt,” said KSR’s Brandon Ramsey. “Whether it’s next year or three years from now, he’s got the tools, athleticism, and mindset to have a long career at the next level.”
Kentucky fans already saw the lightbulb flicker on late last season. Now, as a sophomore, Chandler could be on the verge of breaking out in a way that changes the entire trajectory of this Wildcats team.
If Pope’s instincts are right, Collin Chandler isn’t just a nice piece in Kentucky’s rotation — he might be the program’s next star.
