Brandon Garrison’s time at Kentucky has come to an end, and it’s hard to describe his stint as anything other than inconsistent. Over two seasons, he showed flashes of real potential—but just as often disappeared from games entirely. One week, he’d be benched over effort concerns; the next, he’d dominate with a breakout performance like his six-block showing in the NCAA Tournament. The talent was obvious, but the reliability never followed.
Now that Garrison has entered the transfer portal, Kentucky is left searching for someone to fill that 6-foot-10 void in the frontcourt. And according to early reports, Mark Pope may already have his eyes on a player who fits that mold almost perfectly—Oregon forward Kwame Evans Jr.
A Familiar Fit with Better Production
At first glance, Evans might not seem like a headline-grabbing addition. He’s not the type of player who instantly shifts national title odds or dominates recruiting headlines. But when you break down his game, the comparison to Garrison becomes clear—except Evans brings something Kentucky rarely got consistently: production.
The 6-foot-10 forward is coming off his most productive college season, averaging 13.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game while playing heavy minutes. He also knocked down nearly 80% of his free throws, showing a level of efficiency that would be a welcome addition to Kentucky’s frontcourt.
Compared to Garrison’s modest averages of 4 points and 4 rebounds, Evans represents a clear upgrade in terms of consistency and offensive contribution.
Not Flashy—But Effective
Evans isn’t a dominant rim protector or an elite rebounder for his size, which might raise some concerns. Ideally, you’d want a bigger impact in those areas from a player with his frame. Still, he does enough across the board to hold down the paint and keep the offense moving.
That’s where the real value lies. Kentucky doesn’t necessarily need a star at that spot—they need someone dependable.
A Role Kentucky Needs Filled
In many ways, Evans projects as the player Garrison was supposed to become: steady, reliable, and capable of contributing without needing to be the focal point. While Garrison’s highs were impressive, his lows often hurt the team. Evans, on the other hand, has shown he can maintain a solid baseline of performance.
If Kentucky lands him, the expectation wouldn’t be for Evans to carry the team. Instead, he’d likely slot into a complementary role—either backing up Malachi Moreno or providing stability in the rotation.
With Kentucky potentially losing a significant portion of its roster, players like Evans become even more valuable. He may not be a blockbuster addition, but he could be exactly the kind of piece Mark Pope needs to build a more balanced and dependable lineup.
And sometimes, that twist—getting consistency instead of chaos—is exactly what Kentucky needs.
