Kentucky basketball is one step closer to being healthy for the 2025-26 season
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Otega Oweh returned to full, unrestricted practice after a turf toe absence.
- Coach Mark Pope expects Oweh to compete in drills and lead team practices.
- Jayden Quaintance remains sidelined after ACL surgery with uncertain start date.
Otega Oweh is back on the basketball court.
Kentucky’s leading scorer from last season — and the newly minted SEC preseason player of the year for this one — returned to the Wildcats’ practice sessions Monday with no limitations for the first time in several weeks.
And he made quite an impression.
“He actually was in practice (Monday) in his first live scrimmage — really his first possession of live scrimmage — so we’re all kind of walking on eggshells,” UK coach Mark Pope said Tuesday at SEC Media Days. “And he got a steal and raced down the floor and took off from outside the free throw line and dunked it. And as he did it, as a coach, you just shake your head and be like, ‘Young people. We love these young people.’”
Pope was likely exaggerating about Oweh dunking from behind the free throw line, but the rest apparently happened pretty much as described.
Oweh, who’s been dealing with a turf toe injury since the end of summer practices, confirmed that he made his full return to the court Monday, and though he said he felt “a little sore” when he woke up Tuesday morning, it’s all systems go for Kentucky’s top returning player.
“Yeah, I’m feeling good,” Oweh said Tuesday. “No restrictions, so that’s a blessing. I’m just grateful that it was just this type of injury and nothing more. But, yeah, I’m getting back in the flow of it. I’m in every drill, every competition, rep — so I’m happy.”
Oweh suffered the turf toe injury as UK’s summer session was wrapping up, and he was in a protective walking boot as the team broke for a couple of weeks off in August, though he did not require surgery. This marks week four of Kentucky’s fall workouts — when teams are allowed to practice up to 20 hours per week — and Oweh expects to have no limitations moving forward.
“I was just happy to be there,” he said. “We did a couple scrimmages in practice the other day, and just being able to bump and compete with the guys. Because it’s kind of like what Coach Pope says — this group is so competitive and full of energy. Obviously, watching from the sideline, it was entertaining, but now being a part of it did feel good.”
Oweh grinned at the mention of the rumor that he posterized a teammate with that scrimmage-opening steal and slam. He confirmed that happened, though he didn’t name the Wildcat who was victimized at the rim.
“I just had to test it to see if I still have my legs after a couple months,” he said. “But yeah, it’s still there.”
Oweh told the Herald-Leader a couple of weeks ago that he was progressing well. He said then that he expected to be “active” during the following week’s UK Pro Day event — an opportunity to perform in front of scouts from all 30 NBA teams — but once that showcase rolled around last Tuesday night, his activity was limited to dribbling a ball on the side and encouraging his teammates from the bench.
He’s back now, though, and that’s what matters to this Kentucky team, which will compete in its annual Blue-White scrimmage Friday night in Memorial Coliseum before high-profile exhibition games against No. 1-ranked Purdue on Oct. 24 and Georgetown University on Oct. 30 in Rupp Arena.
Pope has no concerns regarding his star player being sidelined for a large chunk of the fall.
“Well, if you’re going to have a guy miss the first couple weeks of practice — and he’s been out for almost 10 weeks now — he’s the guy to do it,” he said. “... Otega is a guy where you just cannot turn off his competitive motor. And so he’s been through this. He understands it. He knows what he’s in for. He understands the pressure of the moment. He understands everything that Kentucky is. He embraces it. He can’t get enough of it. And so I don’t have a lot of concerns about him.”
Jayden Quaintance injury update
With Oweh back on the court, Jayden Quaintance is now the only Wildcat on the shelf.
Quaintance, a 6-10 sophomore and projected NBA lottery pick for 2026, is still recovering from March surgery for a torn ACL, and Pope has not put a firm timetable on his return to the court.
The 18-year-old is expected to miss the start of the regular season — Kentucky’s first game is set for Nov. 4 against Nicholls in Rupp Arena — and it’s possible his absence could stretch through the nonconference portion of UK’s schedule all the way into January.
There have been fears in fan circles that Quaintance might not play at all during the 2025-26 season, and Pope was asked about that possibility Tuesday evening.
“He is racing back to health at light speed right now. It is remarkable what he’s doing,” he said. “We’re all kind of shaking our heads and feeling like, ‘How is this humanly possible?’ He feels like he’s on the verge of being ready to go. And we’re just hitting the brakes full time right now to make sure, because his future is going to be incredibly bright in this game.
“I’m not sure exactly how long the wait is, but I don’t think there’s a chance we could keep him from playing this year. He’s too excited, too talented, worked too hard to get back. He’s going to be really special.”
Senior guard Denzel Aberdeen, a transfer from Florida, also expects Quaintance to be back on the court, perhaps sooner than many are expecting. Whenever that return happens, Aberdeen expressed no doubts that his new teammate is fully planning to play for the Cats this season.
“Jayden is working very hard to get back,” Aberdeen said Tuesday. “He’s someone that loves the game of basketball. Just loves being around it. And he’s been in and out of the treatment room, doing what he has to do to get back fast and quick. From 7 a.m., he doesn’t leave until about 6 or 7 p.m. He’s someone that’s always hardworking, dedicated. He’s just a great person to be around. He’s always happy, always cheering us on in practices, even though he knows he wants to get out there and compete.
“He’s going to be back real soon, and when he does, he’s going to be great for us.”
This story was originally published October 14, 2025 at 7:35 PM.
