2025-26 Roster Chatter (UPDATE: Oweh Returns, Roster Complete)

[Bluesong]

Where is this rumor coming from?

I'm sure a lot of big schools have made offers to Oweh's agent, but Kentucky has a pile set aside for him to match.

Oweh was offered $4 million by LSU early last month but was rejected by Oweh.

In a recent interview, he described his first season at Kentucky as “the most fun I’ve had playing basketball ever,” attributing this to Coach Pope’s coaching style and the confidence instilled in the team.

[Joneslab]

I thought it was Auburn?

I'm sure Oweh has been offered by every school in America. Just the nature of the biz these days.

[George]

I wouldn’t be disappointed if we picked up Xaivian Lee

Florida.

[George]

Rumor is, Alabama offering Oweh 4 million to roll tide roll.

He’s returning to Kentucky.

[Joneslab]

Florida.

Interesting, because Lee is a (very watered down unless he really has improved) version of Walter Clayton Jr.

[Joneslab]

He’s returning to Kentucky.

Would be nice if we could get an announcement on this.

[KentuckyWild2020]

Would be nice if we could get an announcement on this.

Exactly. I won't feel comfortable in this free agency market until we hear it out the horse's mouth.

In my opinion, he is the most important piece of the puzzle.

[KentuckyWild2020]

Oweh was offered $4 million by LSU early last month but was rejected by Oweh.

In a recent interview, he described his first season at Kentucky as “the most fun I’ve had playing basketball ever,” attributing this to Coach Pope’s coaching style and the confidence instilled in the team.

We have to hope that he's true to that and stays on board at Kentucky.

[Mr.Nezzer]

Exactly. I won't feel comfortable in this free agency market until we hear it out the horse's mouth.

In my opinion, he is the most important piece of the puzzle.

Even then something can change...this whole "free agency" this is not good for CBB, IMO.
I love the fact that these kids get to make money for themselves but we went from 100% restrictions to 100% unrestricted.
Hopefully it will work itself out..

[justafan]

Meh - I'm not sure there is an upside to making an announcement. Then you have to announce BG is also coming back. And the other 3.

Then, if one backs out for any reason, you look like a liar.

What, are fans going to not watch next year because an announcement wasn't made 2 weeks into April?

[Joneslab]

Meh - I'm not sure there is an upside to making an announcement. Then you have to announce BG is also coming back. And the other 3.

Then, if one backs out for any reason, you look like a liar.

What, are fans going to not watch next year because an announcement wasn't made 2 weeks into April?

Just seems like almost every time, players make announcements. It's kind of been the way of the world for...25 years?

You rarely ever see D1 athletes just do stuff in the shadows.

[Joneslab]

^ Having said that, the fact that none of them have suggests it's probably part of a larger plan.

Might have to do with the way NIL is structured and once Oweh makes a formal announcement, his deal is locked in...making any part of that money unavailable to other prospective players in the portal.

With Garrison, I've just assumed he hasn't made an announcement about anything because he seems genuinely conflicted and/or is trying to milk out a larger deal (probably both).

[KentuckyWild2020]

Even then something can change...this whole "free agency" this is not good for CBB, IMO.
I love the fact that these kids get to make money for themselves but we went from 100% restrictions to 100% unrestricted.
Hopefully it will work itself out..

I agree, there needs to be some type of cap or restrictions in place.

I have no problem with players getting paid but if you transfer, maybe it's back to the old ways of sitting out a year ?

Maybe more two year deals instead of one, I don't know.

MLB is the only professional league with no limits, NFL NBA and others all have caps and restrictions to prevent the year to year chaos.

How many NCAA players are now making more than the coaches??

[justafan]

See this is where I differ (see: Fan investment) - I can come here and read "UK has signed so-and-so" and be content. But I can't spend any energy/time worried about what may or may not happen with a portal player, or current player, or HS player. Why hasn't Oweh made an announcement? To me there's no difference in the 5 potentially returning players. There's speculation about all of them. and many times conflicting - (Chandler unhappy, leaving - but his wife is moving to Lexington), (Garrison leaving, no he's not) (Oweh received $4M offer from [whichever schools], no he loves Uk and coach Pope and would never leave for another school).

You're right its the nature of the beast now-a-days. But, meh. I'll be excited when the players suit up in the Fall. I hope Oweh is leading them.

[justafan]

I agree, there needs to be some type of cap or restrictions in place.

I have no problem with players getting paid but if you transfer, maybe it's back to the old ways of sitting out a year ?

Maybe more two year deals instead of one, I don't know.

MLB is the only professional league with no limits, NFL NBA and others all have caps and restrictions to prevent the year to year chaos.

How many NCAA players are now making more than the coaches??

1) you'll see lawyers lined up to fight a "sitting out a year" rule - i.e basically a no-compete clause without a contract.
2) plenty of NBA players make more than the coach. NCAA is no different.....now.