Jaland projected to be kentucky's impact newcomer 2025-2026 season

[Jeffky62]

https://www.aseaofblue.com/2025/7/12/24460595/jaland-lowe-kentucky-wildcats-impact-newcomer-2025-26-season-espn-uk-basketball

Per ESPN

[KYJeff1]

I didn't read the article, but this is one of those things where if you polled 100 people, I think it would be split pretty evenly between 5 guys.
Aberdeen, Mo D, the 2 frosh and Kam Williams would/should get a ton of votes for that award.
Personally, I think Aberdeen will make the biggest impact among the newcomers. It's in his DNA, I mean, l0ok what his sister did in those Hunger Games movies. 😉

[Los Gatos]

I didn't read the article, but this is one of those things where if you polled 100 people, I think it would be split pretty evenly between 5 guys.
Aberdeen, Mo D, the 2 frosh and Kam Williams would/should get a ton of votes for that award.
Personally, I think Aberdeen will make the biggest impact among the newcomers. It's in his DNA, I mean, l0ok what his sister did in those Hunger Games movies. 😉

Good one! Have you read the books?

[South jones]

Great guard play is a huge factor in the team's success especially during tourney time.

[bucsrule8872]

I believe what makes or breaks us this coming season is the health of Quaintance.

If he comes back 100%, he’s a difference maker, especially on defense. Pair him with Mo D inside and we could have an elite level frontline on the defensive end.

[KYJeff1]

Good one! Have you read the books?

No, just saw the movies, which are extremely long. I bet the books are 4" thick.

[KYNomad]

No, just saw the movies, which are extremely long. I bet the books are 4" thick.

I can help measure 4”. Well, actually, I can help measure 2”, but that’s easy enough to double.

[JHannibalSmith]

I believe what makes or breaks us this coming season is the health of Quaintance.

If he comes back 100%, he’s a difference maker, especially on defense. Pair him with Mo D inside and we could have an elite level frontline on the defensive end.

Agree completely. Although, I’ll add that there shouldn’t be a HUGE drop off, defensively, when Jelavic is at the 4, assuming he’s eventually cleared. Really, I’d feel comfortable with any of our top 5 post players on the floor. Any combination of JQ, Garrison, Moreno, Dioubate & Jelavic should be effective.

And, Potter might even be adequate. I just haven’t seen enough of him to form an opinion. But, I agree that JQ/Dioubate is, easily, the best option in the post, defensively. I’m hoping to see a lockdown lineup of Aberdeen, Oweh, Williams, Dioubate & JQ, too. Good luck scoring on that group.

[UK Cowboys]

Only of JQ doesn't make it back healthy...

[bucsrule8872]

Agree completely. Although, I’ll add that there shouldn’t be a HUGE drop off, defensively, when Jelavic is at the 4, assuming he’s eventually cleared. Really, I’d feel comfortable with any of our top 5 post players on the floor. Any combination of JQ, Garrison, Moreno, Dioubate & Jelavic should be effective.

And, Potter might even be adequate. I just haven’t seen enough of him to form an opinion. But, I agree that JQ/Dioubate is, easily, the best option in the post, defensively. I’m hoping to see a lockdown lineup of Aberdeen, Oweh, Williams, Dioubate & JQ, too. Good luck scoring on that group.

I wonder who will be the odd man out once JQ breaks into the rotation? I suspect that Pope will want to play mainly 10 guys in the rotation, basically two at every position. Once JQ returns, we will have him, with Mo D and Garrison as three of the four guys at the 4/5. So who will it be as the fourth? Will it be Moreno, who has been with the team since the beginning of summer or will it be Jelavic, who is older and more experienced, but hasn’t stepped foot on campus and it’s already the middle of July? I think both will play, but I wonder which one will assert themselves and end up as a main rotation player. There’s really not enough minutes for both to play a significant role.

[Pobilly]

No way to really make a prediction this year. Too many new guys that can make a difference from day 1 they play, JQ / AJ / DA / MD / JL / KW / JJ / MM / BH. Yeah the last 3 are a longer shot but no way to tell. OO / CC / TN / BG call all be a difference maker as well. RP might be a full year away.

If we are only talking guys that did not play last year for UK then the first 6 all have a legit shot. Should drive practice hard this year.

[bucsrule8872]

No way to really make a prediction this year. Too many new guys that can make a difference from day 1 they play, JQ / AJ / DA / MD / JL / KW / JJ / MM / BH. Yeah the last 3 are a longer shot but no way to tell. OO / CC / TN / BG call all be a difference maker as well. RP might be a full year away.

If we are only talking guys that did not play last year for UK then the first 6 all have a legit shot. Should drive practice hard this year.

Wouldn’t be surprised if RP redshirts. Especially if JQ is back at the start of the season.

[Pobilly]

Wouldn’t be surprised if RP redshirts. Especially if JQ is back at the start of the season.

Agree could very well happen that he is a break glass in case of too many injuries type of season for RP. I think he can play in some games and still be a RS. Might see him in some of the blowout early games.

[WeWant9]

Wouldn’t be surprised if RP redshirts. Especially if JQ is back at the start of the season.

I’m trying to think and probably just overlooking someone, but when was the last time UK had a guy redshirt?

[bucsrule8872]

I’m trying to think and probably just overlooking someone, but when was the last time UK had a guy redshirt?

Cal did not believe in redshirting. He was adamantly against it.

I don’t know if BCG ever had the opportunity/roster to redshirt, and I don’t remember Tubby ever using redshirts.

So probably Pitino with Sheppard in ‘97.

That turned out to be the right choice, I think, for both the player and the program. 😎