The Kentucky Wildcats are once again holding their breath as star freshman guard Jaland Lowe faces another injury scare to the same shoulder he previously hurt in the Blue-White Game.
Lowe suffered what is believed to be a second partial shoulder dislocation during Thursday’s practice, only weeks after battling back from the first one. Kentucky has not issued an official diagnosis, but both Mark Pope and Lowe’s father have offered early insight into what comes next.
Pope: “It’s devastating.”
Before Friday’s matchup with Eastern Illinois, Pope addressed Lowe’s situation on the pregame radio show.
> “Jaland tweaked his shoulder again yesterday, so we’re in the process of figuring out what the next move is,” Pope said.
Pope didn’t hide how tough this blow is—for Lowe and for the team.
> “It’s devastating in the sense of, you work so hard to give yourself a chance and then…injuries are the worst. They’re tough. There’s nothing he can do but work to get healthy as soon as he can and move forward. He’s the last person in the world who wants to miss time.”
Lowe is widely considered one of the most important pieces on Kentucky’s roster. Losing him for any stretch would force major adjustments to the rotation and backcourt responsibilities.
Lowe’s Father: “Not at all” ruled out for the season
Marland Lowe, Jaland’s father, also spoke with the Herald-Leader’s Ben Roberts and provided a small but encouraging update.
> “There are a lot of possibilities, but right now, we’re just waiting to hear what they say,” he explained. “So we’ll know what the next move is.”
Despite the concern surrounding a second injury to the same shoulder, Marland made one thing clear: this is not currently viewed as a season-ending injury.
> “Not at all,” he said when asked if his son had been ruled out for the year. “He had an MRI, and nothing came back any worse than what it was before. So we just have to see what the doctors say.”
That MRI result is a major relief—indicating no additional structural damage beyond what was previously diagnosed.
What’s next?
For now, the Wildcats are waiting for doctors to determine the exact path forward. That could range from a short rest period to a more extended recovery plan, depending on how the shoulder responds to treatment.
Regardless of the timeline, this is a crushing setback for a player who had worked his way into a central role early in the season.
Kentucky fans and teammates alike will be hoping for good news soon as the program evaluates how long Lowe may be sidelined—and how quickly he can return to the court.
