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Kentucky basketball reshapes its roster and builds momentum for next season

Stories by Lexington Herald-Leader journalists, with AI summarization

This collection of reporting from the Lexington Herald-Leader covers key developments for Kentucky basketball as the 2025-26 season approaches.

Several articles detail the arrival of transfer Jayden Quaintance, who joins as a top defensive presence, and Malachi Moreno, who enters as Kentucky's newest in-state McDonald's All-American.

The coverage highlights how Jaland Lowe will lead as point guard and how Braydon Hawthorne has shifted his college commitment to Kentucky.

Other stories note Mouhamed Dioubate's transfer from Alabama, Otega Oweh's return after the NBA draft decision process, and how Coach Pope targets both defensive improvement and roster continuity.

Read the stories below.

Kentucky guard Otega Oweh averaged 16.2 points per game for the Wildcats during the 2024-25 season. By Ryan C. Hermens

NO. 1: HOW OTEGA OWEH PLANS TO BECOME AN EVEN BETTER PLAYER IN YEAR TWO AT KENTUCKY

Otega Oweh talks to the Herald-Leader about changes in his game going into his second season with the Kentucky Wildcats. | Published May 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ben Roberts

Apr 1, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; McDonald’s All American East center Malachi Moreno (23) blocks a shot by McDonald’s All American West guard Darryn Peterson (22) during the second half of the game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Pamela Smith-Imagn Images

NO. 2: HOW DID FUTURE UK BASKETBALL PLAYER MALACHI MORENO PLAY IN MCDONALD’S ALL-AMERICAN GAME?

Future Kentucky basketball player Malachi Moreno won a Sweet 16 state championship with Great Crossing. | Published April 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Drummond

Class of 2025 college basketball recruit Braydon Hawthorne poses for a photo in a Kentucky jersey while taking a recruiting visit to UK in April 2025.

NO. 3: KENTUCKY BASKETBALL ADDS ANOTHER HIGH SCHOOL RECRUIT TO NEXT SEASON’S TEAM

UK basketball gets commitment from high school senior who was previously signed to play at West Virginia. | Published May 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Drummond

Kentucky guard Collin Chandler gets a hug from UK coach Mark Pope during a game this past season. Chandler will return to the Cats for his sophomore year. By Ryan C. Hermens

NO. 4: YEAR ONE BEHIND HIM, COLLIN CHANDLER IS READY FOR MUCH MORE AT KENTUCKY

Kentucky basketball player Collin Chandler talks with the Herald-Leader about his first season at UK and why he’ll be back with the Wildcats for the 2025-26 campaign. | Published April 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ben Roberts

Arizona State forward Jayden Quaintance (21) gets around UCF forward Keyshawn Hall (4) during a game on Jan. 14, 2025, at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe, Arizona. By Michael Chow

NO. 5: THIS INCOMING UK BASKETBALL TRANSFER OFFERS THE MOST POTENTIAL FOR THE WILDCATS

Among Kentucky’s six incoming transfers for next season, former Arizona State big man Jayden Quaintance stands out. | Published May 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Drummond

Beyond the arc newsletter. By Ryan C. Hermens

NO. 6: KENTUCKY BASKETBALL LOOKS GOOD FOR 2025-26, BUT THE KEY WILL BE THE MESH

In an offseason press conference, Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope described his 2025-26 roster as “starving to test themselves.” | Published May 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by John Clay

Pittsburgh guard Jaland Lowe (15) drives to the basket against Notre Dame forward Tae Davis (7) during the first half of a game on March 11, 2025, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. By Jim Dedmon

NO. 7: WHAT IS THE OUTLOOK FOR KENTUCKY BASKETBALL’S POINT GUARD OF THE FUTURE?

Assessing the expectations for new UK basketball point guard Jaland Lowe, who previously played two seasons at Pittsburgh. | Published May 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Drummond

Jan 27, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide forward Mouhamed Dioubate (10) blocks the shot attempt of LSU Tigers forward Tyrell Ward (15) during the second half at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

NO. 8: TRANSFER PORTAL ADDITIONS GIVE MARK POPE’S SECOND UK BASKETBALL TEAM DEFENSIVE UPSIDE

Kentucky gained several elite defenders this offseason via the transfer portal. | Published June 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Drummond

Mouhamed Dioubate will play the 2025-26 season at Kentucky after competing for Alabama the past two seasons. By Will McLelland

NO. 9: EX-ALABAMA TEAMMATES EXPECT MOUHAMED DIOUBATE TO BE A BETTER PLAYER AT KENTUCKY

Alabama basketball standouts Mark Sears, Grant Nelson and Labaron Philon talked to the Herald-Leader about what Kentucky fans should expect from Mouhamed Dioubate. | Published May 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ben Roberts

Former Alabama basketball forward Mouhamed Dioubate poses for a photo while on a recruiting visit to Kentucky. Dioubate will play for the Wildcats next season after spending the first two seasons of his college career at Alabama.

NO. 10: TALENT IS A DEFINING FEATURE FOR KENTUCKY BASKETBALL’S 2025 NEWCOMERS

The Wildcats are projected to have one of the best groups of both incoming freshmen and transfers for the 2025-26 season. | Published May 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Drummond

Kentucky guard Otega Oweh, right, tries to steal the ball from Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier, who considered a transfer to UK last year. By Ryan C. Hermens

NO. 11: WHAT DO THE TWO BIGGEST MISSES OF THE MARK POPE ERA THINK OF THE KENTUCKY COACH?

Mark Pope and the UK men’s basketball staff have put together two of the best transfer portal classes in the country. Here’s what those who turned them down say. | Published June 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ben Roberts

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.