The Kentucky Wildcats might no longer be at the top of the recruiting rankings. Nevertheless, even in the NIL era and without John Calipari, they’re still a force to be reckoned with.
Coach Mark Pope has taken an interesting approach to recruiting and roster-building, and he’s landed some intriguing prospects in his short time in charge of the program.
With that in mind, ESPN analyst Jeff Borzello believes that transfer guard Jaland Lowe is about to take college basketball by storm and be the Wildcats’ X-Factor this season.
Jaland Lowe will have a big role in Kentucky
“Jayden Quaintance is the highest-ranked transfer arriving in Lexington, but there are questions about his availability after he suffered a torn ACL in late February. So, we’re going with Lowe, a third-team All-ACC selection at Pitt last season who will have to adjust his game in coach Mark Pope’s offense. Surrounded by a slew of shooters, however, he’s likely to be more efficient,” he wrote.
Of course, this is just a projection. He needs to stay healthy first and foremost, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see him be one of the team’s primary offensive forces right out of the gate.
The Wildcats might not be the highest-ranked team in the pre-season rankings, but they’re the last team anybody will want to come across in a win-or-go-home situation.