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UK basketball retools its roster and faces fresh challenges for 2025-26 season

Stories by Lexington Herald-Leader journalists, with AI summarization

This collection of stories explores the roster changes and challenges faced by the Kentucky basketball team for the 2025-26 season under Coach Mark Pope.

The stories delve into the addition of players like Braydon Hawthorne, a high school recruit who changed his commitment from West Virginia to Kentucky, and highlight the return of Otega Oweh, who decided to withdraw from the NBA draft and continue playing for Kentucky.

Further examination includes the Kentucky-Indiana rivalry renewal and how Pope anticipates the impact of international player Andrija Jelavic, a Croatian recruit bringing professional experience to the Wildcats' roster.

Additionally, former Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen's transfer to Kentucky brings a championship pedigree to the team.

Read the stories below.

Mark Pope led Kentucky to a 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and an appearance in the Sweet 16 during his first season as head coach of the Wildcats. By Ryan C. Hermens

NO. 1: MARK POPE DIDN’T LIKE ONE STAT FROM LAST SEASON. CAN HE FIX IT IN YEAR TWO?

A key aspect of Mark Pope’s plan for the 2024-25 Kentucky basketball season did not come to fruition. | Published June 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ben Roberts

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. 2: 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

Braden Smith was a first-team All-American point guard for the Purdue Boilermakers during the 2024-25 season. By Alex Martin/Journal and Courier

NO. 3: A TOP NCAA TITLE CONTENDER HAS BEEN ADDED TO KENTUCKY’S RUPP ARENA SCHEDULE

An NCAA rule change will allow Kentucky to play regular exhibition games against high-major programs, and Mark Pope has a big one lined up for next season. | Published May 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ben Roberts

Lexington Catholic Reece Potter (34) celebrates scoring against Lexington Christian during the 43rd region championship game at Lexington Catholic High School in Lexington, Ky., Friday, February 24, 2023. By Silas Walker

NO. 4: MARK POPE PRAISES THE FORMER LEXINGTON CATHOLIC STAR WHO IS TRANSFERRING TO UK

Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope says Reece Potter “is a Lexington Catholic legend.” | Published May 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Drummond

New UK men’s basketball player Andrija Jelavic is set to become the second Croatian to suit up for the Wildcats.

NO. 5: MARK POPE EXPECTS BIG THINGS FROM THIS INTERNATIONAL ADDITION TO UK BASKETBALL

Kentucky’s new international player for next season is a versatile big man with professional playing experience in Europe. | Published May 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Drummond

Kentucky guard Koby Brea shot 43.5% from 3-point range during the 2024-25 season. By Ryan C. Hermens

NO. 6: KOBY BREA WEARS HIS LOVE FOR KENTUCKY ON HIS SLEEVE, EVEN AT THE NBA COMBINE

Former Kentucky basketball player Koby Brea sat down with the Herald-Leader at the NBA Combine to talk about what being a Wildcat meant to him. | Published May 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ben Roberts

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. 7: 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

Denzel Aberdeen won a national title with the Florida Gators last season, and he’ll finish his career with the Kentucky Wildcats. By Matt Pendleton

NO. 8: WHAT DID DENZEL ABERDEEN’S FLORIDA TEAMMATES THINK OF HIS TRANSFER TO KENTUCKY?

Walter Clayton Jr., Alex Condon and Alijah Martin talk to the Herald-Leader about their former teammate Denzel Aberdeen’s decision to transfer to Kentucky. | Published May 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ben Roberts

Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh (00) shoots the ball in front of LSU Tigers forward Robert Miller III (6) and LSU Tigers guard Cam Carter (5) during a game at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. By Ryan C. Hermens

NO. 9: UK BASKETBALL ANNOUNCES ANOTHER MARQUEE OPPONENT FOR ITS EXHIBITION SCHEDULE

Kentucky basketball will take on a school from the Big East Conference in an exhibition game this October at Rupp Arena. | Published May 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Drummond

Kentucky head coach Mark Pope is introduced during Big Blue Madness at Rupp Arena on Oct. 11, 2024. By Ryan C. Hermens

NO. 10: KENTUCKY BASKETBALL ANNOUNCES NEW NONCONFERENCE GAMES FOR 2025-26 SEASON

The Wildcats have announced five new home games for their 2025-26 schedule. | Published May 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Drummond

Todd Golden has a 76-33 record in three years as the head coach of the Florida Gators, who were 36-4 and won the national championship this past season. By Bob Donnan

NO. 11: THE NEW KING OF SEC BASKETBALL? ONE OF KENTUCKY’S RIVALS CAN STAKE THAT CLAIM

The 2025-26 SEC men’s basketball season projects as another gauntlet. Where does Kentucky stack up with the top teams? | Published June 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ben Roberts

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. 12: 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

Jaland Lowe, who transferred from Pittsburgh to Kentucky this offseason, drives to the basket as Duke forward Cooper Flagg defends during a game this past season. By Rob Kinnan

NO. 13: MARK POPE BUILT A SPECIAL ROSTER FOR YEAR TWO. WHY UK’S FUTURE IS EVEN BRIGHTER

The majority of players on Kentucky’s 2025-26 roster have something in common. And it’s a great sign for the future of Mark Pope’s program. | Published June 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ben Roberts

Otega Oweh talks to reporters in Lexington on Tuesday, a week before UK’s summer practice schedule is set to begin. By Tasha Poullard

NO. 14: THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF OTEGA OWEH’S KENTUCKY BASKETBALL CAREER STARTS NOW

Otega Oweh is back in Lexington and looking forward to his senior season with Kentucky, but he’ll be a different player in year two. | Published June 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ben Roberts

Beyond the arc newsletter. By Ryan C. Hermens

NO. 15: KENTUCKY’S ACC/SEC CHALLENGE GAME IS OFFICIAL. NORTH CAROLINA IS COMING TO RUPP

UK men’s basketball will host a fellow blue blood, according to the official release from the two leagues Thursday. | Published June 11, 2025 | Read Full Story

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.