For months, Big Blue Nation has imagined what Mark Pope’s new Kentucky basketball team might look like when the lights come on. Tuesday night at Historic Memorial Coliseum, the Wildcats gave us our first real glimpse at what’s taking shape — and it didn’t disappoint.
The event wasn’t a game, but rather a two-hour showcase that mixed individual drills with a 30-minute team scrimmage. Think of it as a preseason appetizer: enough to whet your appetite, but leaving you hungry for the main course once the season begins.
And while it was only a taste, it was plenty of time to learn a few important things about this new-look Kentucky team.
Standout Wildcats
Jaland Lowe
Everyone knows Otega Oweh is “the guy” for this squad, but he wasn’t the only one turning heads. Jaland Lowe, the former Pitt guard, showed that he’s ready to be a legitimate playmaker in Lexington.
After a season spent taking tough shots at Pitt, Lowe’s touch from the perimeter was a pleasant surprise. He looked comfortable, confident, and efficient — especially from three-point range — giving fans hope that Kentucky’s outside shooting may not be the concern many feared.
Andrija Jelavic
Finally, Big Blue Nation got to see what Andrija Jelavic actually looks like in action. Until now, all we had were grainy overseas highlights. On Tuesday, Jelavic proved he belongs.
The Croatian forward, who admitted during Media Day that the transition to Kentucky felt like “drinking from a firehose,” showed that the learning curve is flattening fast. His confidence and shot-making ability stood out, and he looked more comfortable than anyone expected at this stage.
Braydon Hawthorne
Another pleasant surprise was Braydon Hawthorne, the long, athletic wing who flipped to Kentucky late after originally committing to West Virginia.
Hawthorne is still raw, but his natural smoothness and incredible length give him sky-high potential. He’s clearly a project for the future — but one that could pay off in a big way once he develops under Pope’s system.
Pope’s Practice Discipline on Display
Pro Day wasn’t just a showcase of skill; it was a window into Mark Pope’s culture. When mistakes were made, accountability followed — immediately.
When Andrija Jelavic slipped up, he found himself running the full set of stairs to the top of Memorial Coliseum. When Brandon Garrison fouled on a three-pointer, his punishment came in the form of sideline bear crawls.
It’s all part of Pope’s blueprint: demanding discipline, effort, and attention to detail every single rep.
Beyond the Court
While basketball took center stage, KSR’s “Sources Say” crew dove even deeper into what they saw during an extended breakdown show. The early takeaway? Pope’s second Kentucky team is versatile, well-conditioned, and already forming strong chemistry.
Meanwhile, over on the gridiron, Mark Stoops and the Kentucky football team continue to work through their bye week. The schedule lightens in media access, but the work doesn’t stop — Stoops and his players are focused on refining fundamentals before Texas comes to Kroger Field next weekend.
Around the Bluegrass
It wasn’t just basketball making headlines.
The UFL announced that Louisville will be home to a new spring football franchise, the Louisville Kings, set to begin play in 2026 at Lynn Family Stadium.
Heavy rain drenched parts of Louisville on Tuesday, leading to localized flooding and even a bizarre sight — a private jet overshooting the runway at Bowman Field and ending up on a golf course green.
And on the links, Kentucky freshman Cole Stockard shined at the Cullan Brown Invitational, finishing 6-under to capture an individual victory while helping the Wildcats place second as a team.
From promising player performances to a glimpse of Mark Pope’s structure and intensity, Kentucky’s Pro Day delivered exactly what fans needed — a reason to believe that this group is already building something special.
The main course is coming soon. But for now, the appetizer tasted pretty darn good.
