When Mark Pope compared Jaland Lowe’s developmental path to Lamont Butler’s rise at San Diego State, the parallels felt hopeful — until they became a little too real. Butler battled through injuries during his short Kentucky stint, and now Lowe finds himself in a similar spot, sidelined with a shoulder issue just weeks before the season opener.
Pope insists the outlook is positive. Lowe has made “huge strides” in recovery and is “in really good shape,” but Kentucky plans to “proceed with caution.” Whether that means holding him out until the Nov. 4 opener against Nicholls State — or waiting even longer — remains to be seen. Either way, the Wildcats will need someone to take the reins at point guard in the meantime.
Here’s a look at the leading candidates to run the show until Lowe returns.
Denzel Aberdeen
The most obvious answer might also be the most reliable. Aberdeen, the former Florida Gator who helped his team win a national title, was expected to share the backcourt with Lowe anyway. Now, he may get his chance to start as Kentucky’s lead guard.
Aberdeen is comfortable on the ball — he entered college as a point guard — and proved last season that he can step up when needed. In five starts for Florida, he averaged 14.4 points while hitting 41.4% from three, highlighted by 22-point and 20-point outings against SEC opponents.
Pope raves about his leadership and experience: “Denzel’s been unbelievable for us at the point guard spot… he’s done it all, seen it all.”
The concern? Playmaking. Aberdeen has just 80 assists in 83 career games and a 1.4-to-1.0 assist-to-turnover ratio. Still, his defense, maturity, and championship pedigree make him the favorite to hold down the fort early.
Jasper Johnson
If Kentucky wants to look to the future, Jasper Johnson might be the move. The five-star freshman from Lexington has been earning praise for his poise and versatility in camp. He’s traditionally a scorer — a knockdown shooter and transition threat — but he’s also been getting serious reps at point guard during practice.
Johnson showed flashes in the Blue-White Game, posting 10 points on 4-for-7 shooting and looking comfortable initiating the offense.
“I’m very comfortable,” Johnson said. “I know everybody’s willing to step up. Jaland’s a big part of our team, but we’ll do whatever we need to do to win.”
Pope has been equally impressed: “The intensity with which he’s trying to grow in places that might not have been his strengths — it’s really impressive. He’s digging in on the defensive side and doing an unbelievable job.”
Collin Chandler
A year ago, Collin Chandler was still finding his footing. This season, he might be ready to take another leap. The former top-40 recruit has been working on his handle all summer, determined to become more comfortable with the ball in his hands.
“He’s made massive progress — it’s really stunning,” Pope said.
Chandler’s confidence soared late last season, and he’s been quietly logging minutes at the point in recent practices. While turnovers were an issue early in his career, his improved ball control could make him a steady option in short spurts.
Otega Oweh
And then there’s the wildcard. Oweh, Kentucky’s returning All-SEC star and the league’s Preseason Player of the Year, has been mentioned by Pope as another possible on-ball option.
Last season, Oweh often became the offense’s go-to scorer — sometimes the entire plan was “get Otega the ball and get out of the way.” He delivered, hitting multiple game-winners and carrying the offense in clutch moments.
Pope said the team won’t face the same backcourt shortage it dealt with last year, but Oweh’s ability to handle the ball gives Kentucky flexibility if needed. “Otega’s played some minutes at the one,” Pope noted — an interesting wrinkle for a player who thrives creating his own shot.
Who’s Not in the Mix?
Pope was quick to note that nearly everyone on the roster wants a piece of the point guard duties — except for one man.
“Andrija Jelavic knows he’s not allowed to dribble,” Pope joked. “He’s only allowed to shoot.”
