Kentucky fans can breathe a little easier today — the update everyone’s been waiting for on Jaland Lowe’s shoulder injury is finally here, and it’s good news.
According to Larry Vaught of Vaught’s Views, the MRI on Lowe’s shoulder came back negative, meaning there’s no major structural damage. The sophomore point guard — who went down awkwardly during Friday night’s Blue-White Game after colliding with Otega Oweh — avoided the worst-case scenario that many feared when he told trainers “it popped out.”
“From what sources told me, the MRI on Lowe’s shoulder was negative,” Vaught reported. “He had been fine since suffering a fall in June, and apparently there’s a chance this could have been related to that incident about four months ago.”
The report confirms that Lowe will not need surgery, though he’s unlikely to suit up for Kentucky’s upcoming exhibition game against top-ranked Purdue. Vaught added that it wasn’t a full dislocation — the shoulder “did not completely pop out of place.”
That update aligns with what KSR’s Jacob Polacheck shared earlier in the weekend, saying Lowe “will be fine” and “should be ready soon.” There’s no firm return date yet, but the overall outlook is extremely positive for the Wildcats’ starting point guard.
Head coach Mark Pope echoed that optimism Friday night, explaining that sitting Lowe out was purely precautionary.
“(Lowe) tweaked his shoulder, so we’ll see,” Pope said. “We sat him down out of precaution.… We’ll see how it responds tomorrow. He’s an incredibly tough young man, so I’m sure whatever it is, he’ll battle it well.”
Before the injury, Lowe was in total control of the offense. He scored a team-high nine points on 3-of-6 shooting — including a made three-pointer — while adding two rebounds and an assist in just 12 minutes.
Lowe’s leadership and poise have already made him one of the most important players in Kentucky’s early rotation. Should he miss limited time, Denzel Aberdeen, Collin Chandler, and Jasper Johnson are expected to handle ball-handling duties in his absence.
For now, though, Kentucky can celebrate the best possible news — no long-term damage and a quick path to recovery for their floor general.
