Kentucky sophomore guard Collin Chandler is close to transferring to BYU, according to multiple reports circulating Tuesday night, with social media posts citing a $3.2 million NIL deal as part of the move. Chandler entered the NCAA transfer portal on April 9, 2026, after one season with the Wildcats.
Chandler is a 6-foot-5 guard from Farmington, Utah. He was a four-star prospect in the 2022 class, ranked No. 37 nationally and No. 1 in Utah by the 247Sports Composite. He originally signed with BYU in 2022 when Mark Pope was head coach there. Chandler then served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sierra Leone and London from July 2022 to May 2024. After Pope left BYU to take the Kentucky job in April 2024, Chandler was released from his national letter of intent with the Cougars and committed to Kentucky on April 16, 2024. He became the first commitment of the Pope era at Kentucky.
At Kentucky, Chandler played in 30 games off the bench as a freshman during the 2024-25 season. He averaged 2.7 points per game and saw increased minutes late in the year, playing 10 or more minutes in eight of the team’s final nine games. He had four years of eligibility remaining after returning from his mission. Pope called Chandler “one of the most talented high school players in the country” with “a silky-smooth jumper, a slippery ability to get to the rim, an explosive burst and incredible processing speed”.
Chandler was expected to compete for the starting point guard role for Kentucky in 2026-27 after Jaland Lowe suffered an injury. With Kerr Kriisa no longer on the roster, Kentucky’s point guard depth is limited. If Chandler departs, Pope would need to use the transfer portal to add a lead guard.
BYU has ties to Chandler through Pope and through the state of Utah. The Cougars are losing guards Dallin Hall and Richie Saunders, which would open immediate minutes in the Big 12. BYU’s NIL collective has been active in high-level recruitments and was involved in the pursuit of five-star AJ Dybantsa last cycle.
The $3.2 million figure linked to Chandler this week has not been confirmed by _On3_, _247Sports_, or _ESPN_. The only verified $3.2 million tied to Chandler in recent reports is a separate story from _Luxury Blogs_ stating that Chandler plans to transform a home in his hometown into “Chandler House,” a $3.2 million recovery shelter for women and children battling homelessness and addiction. That project was described as a personal philanthropic effort, not an NIL payment.
Chandler scored 1,587 career points and made 135 three-pointers at Farmington High School. He was a three-time first-team all-state selection and the 2022 Gatorade Player of the Year in Utah after averaging 21.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game as a senior.
The transfer portal window remains open until May 6. Chandler can still withdraw from the portal and return to Kentucky. As of April 9, 2026, no official commitment to BYU has been announced by Chandler or either school.
If the transfer goes through, it would reunite Chandler with Pope and return him to the program he originally signed with out of high school. For Kentucky, it would mark the loss of a guard who was projected to play a larger role next season.
