After entering the transfer portal on April 9, 2026, former Kentucky guard Collin Chandler released a statement to Big Blue Nation addressing his decision to leave Lexington and return to BYU
“To Big Blue Nation,
First, thank you. Thank you for welcoming me with open arms from the moment I stepped on campus. Wearing Kentucky across my chest was a dream I’ve had since I was a kid, and getting to live that dream even for one season is something I’ll never forget.
Coach Pope believed in me when I was a high school kid in Utah. He believed in me again when I came home from my mission. I’ll always be grateful for his trust, his mentorship, and for the way he and his staff poured into me this year. I’m a better player and a better man because of my time at Kentucky.
This past year didn’t go exactly how any of us drew it up. Injuries, roles, rotations it’s part of basketball. But I learned so much from guys like Lamont, Jaxson, and the rest of the locker room. I grew. I competed. I got to run out of that tunnel at Rupp. That’s something nobody can ever take away.
After a lot of prayer, conversations with my family, and long talks with Coach Pope, I’ve made the decision to enter the transfer portal and continue my college career at BYU. This isn’t about leaving Kentucky. It’s about following the path I feel is right for me, my faith, and my future. BYU is where my journey started, and it’s where I feel called to go finish what we started.
BBN, you showed me love when I was coming off a mission and hadn’t played a game in two years. You cheered for me when I was just figuring it out again. You’ll always have my respect and my gratitude. I hope you’ll understand this decision and know it wasn’t made lightly.
I’m not closing the door on Kentucky this place will always be family. But right now, I need to go where I can grow the most, on and off the court.
Thank you for everything. I love you guys.
Chandler, a 6-foot-5 guard from Farmington, Utah, was the first commitment of the Mark Pope era at Kentucky. He was a four-star prospect in the 2022 class and Utah’s Gatorade Player of the Year before serving a two-year LDS mission. He played 30 games as a freshman at UK in 2024-25, averaging 2.7 points per game. He was expected to compete for the starting point guard job in 2026-27 before entering the portal. His statement confirms he will transfer to BYU, the school he originally signed with out of high school.
