Kentucky's media day offered an exciting glimpse into the Wildcats' roster, with two names consistently emerging as significant surprises and potential breakout stars: Denzel Aberdeen and Trent Noah. Teammates couldn't stop raving about their impact and talent.
Denzel Aberdeen: A threat unleashed
Denzel, a transfer from Florida, is ready to showcase his full potential. "I was familiar with Denzel when he was at Florida. I played him my freshman year. Um, always thought he was he was pretty good, but then like of course he was on that championship team, but I feel like they they never really gave him his his chance to really shine," Jaland Lowe revealed. Since arriving at Kentucky, his talent has been undeniable. "Since he's been here, I I see how how much of a of a threat he is, how how hard he works. And um, he's he's going to surprise a lot of people this year and just how much he's able to do" Lowe continued.
Whie a championship already in his tool belt, Aberdeen will look to impart wisdom on what it took to get to the title on this team that is still developing. He will be key all season long, but especially early in the year.
Trent Noah: The unstoppable shooter
Perhaps the most eye-popping revelation was about sophomore Trent Noah's incredible shooting prowess. "Trent Noah, I told people earlier when I first came here in the summer, I think it's my first time I ever spoke to the media, but he's he's definitely one of the best shooters I've ever seen, I think," Jaland Lowe stated. His accuracy in practice has become legendary. "Coach coach gave out a. uh I think he he said that if um the next person to make Trent Noah miss in practice gets a gets a gift card... he was shooting like 90% in practice like over the last two weeks" Lowe revealed. He did confirm that Kam Williams eventually made him miss, earning the coveted gift card but he wasn't sure how much it was for.
Having a guy who can shoot that well in practice, and also do all the little things that are needed to win is exactly the player you need.
BG's impactful screens
Another player showing out so far is Brandon Garrison, or BG. The team really spoke highly of him and he was highlighted for his exceptional screening ability, a crucial but often overlooked aspect of offense. "BG's really good at setting hard screens and things like that... It's just the will to want to do everything at a high level from sprinting to a screen to calling out a screen to send a great screen that all leads to winning," point guard Jaland Lowe shared.
Having a big man who can pick and roll, and know when to do either is a great skill to have. Using these veterans in the gameplan will bring a nice balance to the youth of Kentuky's overall team.
Conclusion: A brighter future for the Wildcats
The early impressions of Denzel and Trent Noah, combined with the foundational work of players like Garrison, indicate a team with exciting offensive potential and depth. These rising stars are poised to make a significant impact on Kentucky's season.
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