If Kentucky’s summer practices are any indication, Coach Mark Pope has a great problem on his hands — too much talent. With so many pieces fighting for playing time, one thing is clear:
There’s a storm brewing over the starting five.
And everyone’s asking the big question:
Who’s really going to start?
Right now, four names are making the strongest early impressions:
Collin Chandler, the dynamic guard who’s pushing the pace and knocking down shots
Trent Noah, a 6-foot-6 forward with a reliable stroke and underrated toughness
Brandon Garrison, the powerful 6-foot-11 center who’s anchoring the paint
And Otega Oweh, the tenacious two-way guard making life miserable for anyone with the ball
But that’s just the beginning.
Braydon Hawthorne, the lanky 6-foot-8 freshman from West Virginia, is flying around in drills and flashing long-term upside.
Reece Potter, a 7-footer from Miami (OH), has impressed with his mobility and touch.
Denzel Aberdeen, a transfer from Florida, has been fearless in scrimmages — scoring in bunches.
Andrija Jelavic, the 6-foot-11 Croatian forward, is still raw, but showing flashes of international polish.
And don’t forget the physicality and effort of Jayden Quaintance, the Alabama transfer Mo Dioubate, and the smooth court control from Jaland Lowe, a 6-foot-3 playmaker from Pittsburgh. Kam Williams, the 6-foot-8 guard from Tulane, has shown versatility, while Jasper Johnson, the hometown freshman, is earning praise for his poise beyond his years.
> “There are 15 guys who could see real minutes,” one staffer said. “It’s open season in every drill. No one’s job is safe — not even close.”
Clips from practice have shown Pope experimenting with big lineups, five-out spacing, and even positionless rotations. In one session, Chandler, Noah, Oweh, and Garrison shared the floor — and dominated both ends. Moments later, a second unit with Quaintance, Dioubate, and Lowe made a run of their own.
The message? Kentucky doesn’t just have a starting five — it has a full platoon.
> “Coach Pope’s not handing out spots,” said one source. “You earn it here. And with this group? You fight for it.”
With the season still months away, the final lineup is anyone’s guess — but from the looks of it, Kentucky has depth, versatility, and firepower to overwhelm teams from Day 1.
So… who’s starting?
Right now, even the players don’t know — and that’s exactly how Pope wants it.
