With the 2025-26 Kentucky basketball season ended, attention has quickly turned to roster building for the 2026-27 season. That starts with the decision of the current players.

After talking to the players themselves and sources, we are here to provide where each player stands on their decisions and what that decision is likely to be.

Returning

Kentucky’s roster construction for next season will start with retention, something Mark Pope has highlighted as a big piece of his roster-building philosophy.

“I think retention is a win,” Pope said at the state of last season. “If you have guys that feel the program and want to stay and want to grow, I think that’s a real win.”

Many fans feel the desire to clean house, but it is important to note that 11 of the teams in the Sweet 16, nearly 70%, have at least three starters who began their career at that program. So retention does still matter in the age of NIL and the transfer portal. That being said, sources are confident that Kentucky stands to retain six players.

Reece Potter – CONFIRMED RETURN

Reece Potter, a Lexington native, transferred to Kentucky last offseason from Miami (OH) as a depth piece for the frontcourt. A preseason sickness led to the 7-footer losing most of his offseason training progress, and he made the decision to redshirt.

“I’m definitely looking forward to next year,” Potter told KY Insider at the NCAA Tournament.

“I just want to be a part of this group again,” Potter said. “Whatever Pope wants, I don’t really care. I’m here to do whatever he needs me to do.”

Potter is aware that he can play more minutes elsewhere, but growing up a Wildcat fan, he is enjoying his time in the blue and white.

Prediction: Stay
Confidence Level: High, 95%

Braydon Hawthorne

One of the last pieces added to last year’s roster, Braydon Hawthorne, was a high school prospect that Jason Hart identified in the Fall of 2024 when he was ranked outside of the top 150. As he quickly rose in the rankings, that early relationship helped give the Wildcats the edge despite other high-major programs recruiting him.

Redshirting this past season, Hawthorne’s mindset has been all about next season. He has added 30+ pounds to his thin frame, prioritized skill development with his training, and learned from his older teammates. There is something to be said for his comfort in the program as well.

“I want to come next year and be unstoppable,” Hawtorne said at the NCAA Tournament. “That’s my goal. I don’t want anybody to get in my way.”

Hawthorne has been approached by other programs, but the expectation is for him to stay and be a piece coming off the bench for the Wildcats next season.

Prediction: Stay
Confidence Level: High, 85%

Collin Chander

Collin Chandler undoubtedly had the biggest jump on the team from last season. Looking uncomfortable to even search for a shot at times a season ago, Chandler started 31 of 36 games this year, averaging near double-digits on more than 27 minutes per game. He was the Wildcats’ best three-point shooter at 41 percent, and one of the best in the SEC. He’s ready for more.

“I’m hungry to come back,” Chandler told KY Insider after the loss to Iowa State. “To be back in March Madness, to win more. Right now, the loss stings. I’m motivated to get back to a game like this.”

Chandler has an incredibly close relationship with Mark Pope, which is a big reason he got through his freshman season at Kentucky, despite being homesick. He believes that Pope will help him be most successful as a player and will find success at Kentucky.

“I’ve believed in Coach Pope since I was 15 years old. I know what he can do, what he can be. The type of person he is. A type of person like that finds success. I’m riding with Coach Pope.”

Prediction: Stay
Confidence Level: High, 85%

Kam Williams

Kam Williams was the first portal addition for the Wildcats last season. One of the best 3&D players in the country as a freshman, with NBA potential, but Williams’ year in Lexington didn’t go exactly as planned.

Through much of the non-conference, Williams struggled with his confidence and shot, shooting just 21 percent from deep through the first 11 games. However, he had a breakout against Bellarmine, a season-high 26 points on 8-10 shooting from three, which helped him find some confidence. He carried that into conference play and began to find a rhythm, then he broke his foot. Yet, he came back for the postseason, showing a lot about himself and how he feels about the program.

“That’s the plan,” Williams said of coming back for another season. “Obviously, I love it here, so definitely I would love to be back here.”

Other high-major programs are looking at Kam, but there is high mutual interest to keep him in Lexington.

Prediction: Stay
Confidence Level: Medium-High, 70%

Malachi Moreno – CONFIRMED RETURN, TESTING DRAFT WATERS

One of the bright spots of this season was Malachi Moreno. Coming into Kentucky, expected to be a bench piece for the frontcourt, he quickly assumed the starting spot and was the Wildcats’ lead big. Over the season, Moreno started 30 of 36 games, averaging 7.8 points and 6.3 rebounds and earning All-SEC Freshman honors.

An in-state kid who wants to play at Kentucky, with first-round upside, you have to retain him. Retaining Moreno would be cheaper than trying to replace a player with similar upside and production through the portal.

Other schools, including Duke, have made efforts, but Moreno has been made a priority for the Kentucky staff.

Prediction: Stay
Confidence Level: Medium-High, 70%

Andrija Jelavic – PORTAL, POSSIBLE RETURN

The final addition to last year’s roster, Andrija Jelavic, came from Croatia with some mystery. Averaging 10 points and 7 rebounds in one of Europe’s top leagues, he was seen as a cherry on top depth piece.

Arriving in Lexington in late August, Jelavic got a late start, and despite being 21 years old, still needed time to acclimate himself to Mark Pope’s system and adjust to college basketball. However, due to injuries, he was thrust into play earlier than expected and struggled, but he provided some good minutes at the four spot toward the end of the season, especially offensively.

Kentucky can’t bet on a big jump from Jelavic, but he’s not scared of competition. With a full offseason of training, getting stronger and improving his shot, he could be a productive piece for Kentucky, or at the very least, add some depth.

“Just talking to the coaching staff and see what they have for me,” Jelavic told KY Insider at the NCAA Tournament. “We’re going to be even hungrier next season. We’re going to come back stronger.”

Prediction: Stay
Confidence Level: Medium, 60%

Gone/Likely Gone

Given the outcome of the season, there is going to be a lot of change from this year’s Kentucky roster, and that is a good thing. Mark Pope and Co. can’t return a bulk of this team if they want to improve, and frankly, some players want to leave.

Let’s take a look.

Otega Oweh: Graduate

Denzel Aberdeen: Graduate

Jayden Quaintance

When looking at this year’s Kentucky roster, Jayden Quaintance was the lottery pick, the player who could raise the ceiling of the team. Battling back from an ACL, Quaintance only appeared in four games before knee swelling sidelined him for the rest of the season.

It may be smart for Quaintance to return to college with his falling draft stock and injury concerns. He is already going through workouts to prepare for the NBA Draft process, and he and his father made it clear through the season that this would be his last year of college basketball.

“This will likely be my last year of college. I’m just trying to absorb as much as I can,” Quaintance said at the NCAA Tournament.

Prediction: NBA Draft
Confidence Level: High, 99%

Jasper Johnson – CONFIRMED TRANSFER

Jasper Johnson is Kentucky’s highest-ranked recruit under Mark Pope, ranked 24th by 247Sports in the 2025 class. A Lexington kid, coming from a family of notable UK alums, it seemed like a match in heaven.

With a 15-point showing to start his Kentucky career in an exhibition against Purdue, the freshman looked capable of making an impact this season, but that didn’t carry through to the season.

Johnson had some moments, such as a 12-point first half on the road against Tennessee, but those moments came few and far between. His fate seemed pretty decided over the last month and a half of the season, not playing more than 17 minutes and only scoring more than five points once.

Unfortunately, a fresh start is best for both parties.

Prediction: Transfer
Confidence Level: High, 95%

Brandon Garrison – CONFIRMED TRANSFER

Brandon Garrison came to Kentucky in 2024 as a former McDonald’s All-American. With the physical tools and flashes of high-level play at Oklahoma State, including scoring 20 against a then-Mark Pope-led BYU team, the hope was that he could put it all together after learning from Amari Williams.

Pope went into this season with the belief that Garrison would be a starting-caliber big man for the Wildcats. After two seasons, Garrison matured on and off the court, but the flashes never turned into consistent play.

Kentucky has to find more proven frontcourt production, and with just one year of eligibility left, Garrison is going to want a bigger role than Kentucky can offer.

Prediction: Transfer
Confidence Level: Medium-High, 75%

Difficult Decisions

Trent Noah

Trent Noah was born and raised a Kentucky fan, so when the opportunity for him to join the program opened in 2024, he jumped at it.

After a freshman season where he was thrust into minutes due to injuries, the hope for a big sophomore leap was there. With injuries, the early-season opportunities were there, but he didn’t make the best of them. Consistently, he looked like he lacked confidence to shoot it. We went the entire month of February without making a field goal.

Kentucky would welcome Noah back in a depth role, but if he is looking for an expanded role for his final two seasons of eligibility, it will likely be elsewhere. Then again, he has more NIL opportunities at Kentucky than he would almost anywhere else in the country.

Prediction: Transfer
Confidence Level: Medium, 60%

Jaland Lowe – CONFIRMED TRANSFER

Jaland Lowe was recruited as PG1, with some great reviews from the summer; it looked like he was going to be the leader for this year’s Kentucky team. Dislocating his shoulder during the blue-white game, that plan was derailed. Battling through two more dislocations, Lowe played just nine games before electing to have surgery.

“I’m going to have to talk to my family, talk to my coaches. I love playing for Kentucky,” Lowe said in the season-ending locker room.

That said, Kentucky would welcome Lowe back as a rotational guard, but not as the lead point guard due to injury concerns. Lowe will likely enter the portal and look elsewhere to retain a PG1 role.

Prediction: Transfer
Confidence Level: Medium, 65%

Mo Dioubate – CONFIRMED TRANSFER

Mo Dioubate has one of the best motors in college basketball, an elite dirty work guy. However, he is a very poor shooter, and while the hope was that weakness would be disguised by the shooting of others, that wasn’t the case as often as Mark Pope and the staff had hoped for.

Dioubate found a rhythm toward the end of Kentucky’s season, proving vital in several games down the stretch. With one season of eligibility, Kentucky would welcome him back, but he could be a better fit and get more money elsewhere. St. John’s is a school to watch if he does enter the portal.

“I’m still thinking about. I’m still processing everything,” Dioubate said at the NCAA Tournament.

Prediction: Transfer
Confidence Level: Medium, 65%