It’s that time of year again. The buzz is building, and this Friday night, fans will get their first real look at the 2025-26 Wildcats during the Blue-White Scrimmage inside historic Memorial Coliseum.
As preseason lists begin to drop, College Basketball Report unveiled its Top 25 Frontcourts in the nation. The Wildcats landed at No. 12—a respectable spot, but one that feels like it might be underestimating the sheer depth and talent Mark Pope has assembled.
A surprising preseason ranking
While Kentucky’s No. 12 ranking places them among the nation's best, it also puts them behind several notable programs. Florida, Purdue, and Michigan claimed the top spots in the report, with SEC rivals Tennessee (No. 15) and Auburn (No. 16) also making the list.
The top 25 frontcourts in college basketball 🏀 pic.twitter.com/5cOrQXKPZk
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) October 9, 2025
Given the firepower in Lexington, a No. 12 ranking feels more like a starting point than a final destination. And even then I think it's too low.
Loaded with depth and NBA potential
When you look at Kentucky’s roster, it’s easy to see why expectations are so high. The front line of Andrija Jelavic, Trent Noah, Brandon Garrison, Jayden Quaintance, Mo Dioubate, and Malachi Moreno is tall, tough, and tailor-made for the modern game.
Few programs can roll out six legitimate rotation-caliber forwards, and even fewer can say four of them are underclassmen with NBA ceilings. Jelavic’s mobility and Garrison’s SEC-ready frame provide a versatile starting combo. Quaintance, the sophomore phenom, brings elite defense and a game-changing 7-foot wingspan. Add in Noah’s floor-spacing, Dioubate’s toughness, and Moreno’s blue-collar presence, and you have a frontcourt that can attack opponents in waves and different ways.
The case for a top-five climb
Is Kentucky really only the 12th-best frontcourt? On paper, perhaps. But talent, depth, and player development can shift rankings fast. Mark Pope’s system is built to feature the frontcourt in transition, spacing, and half-court balance.
Don’t be surprised if this group plays its way into the top five before Christmas.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion