Kentucky basketball's Brandon Garrison leaving Lexington?

The Kentucky Wildcats’ 2024-25 season has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows under first-year head coach Mark Pope, and sophomore big man Brandon Garrison has been a key piece of the puzzle. A former McDonald’s All-American who transferred from Oklahoma State, Garrison has brought energy and potential to Lexington as a backup to starting center Amari Williams. But a recent TikTok post from the 6-foot-11 forward—"Last home game in Rupp"—has ignited a firestorm of speculation about his future with the program. With two years of eligibility remaining, could Garrison really be considering an exit?

Garrison arrived at Kentucky with a pedigree that turned heads. As a freshman at Oklahoma State, he started 29 of 32 games, averaging 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 block per game while shooting an efficient 57% from the field. Now, in his sophomore season with the Wildcats, he’s settled into a reserve role behind Williams, logging 17 minutes a game. Scoring 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists shows he is still grasping the nuances of the Pope system but has the tools to really excel as he grows as a player. With a 52% field goal percentage and a knack for playmaking unusual for a big man, Garrison’s versatility has been a boon for Pope’s fast-paced system.

Yet, the TikTok message posted after the senior night rout of LSU at Rupp Arena has BBN buzzing. Was it a cryptic message aimed at goodbye? A moment of raw emotion for a season coming to a close? Or simply a misunderstanding of his intent? Rumors of Garrison potentially leaving Lexington have swirled since January, though no concrete evidence has surfaced. The post does nothing to dispel those.

The Transfer Rumor Mill

College basketball’s transfer portal era means no player’s tenure is guaranteed, and Garrison’s name has popped up in whispers for months. As a former top-50 recruit with NBA upside—highlighted by his agility, rim protection, and soft hands—he’s the kind of talent that would draw interest from programs nationwide.

If Garrison were to depart, it would leave Kentucky’s frontcourt painfully thin. With Amari Williams in his final year of eligibility and Andrew Carr also a senior, the Wildcats’ only returning big man with meaningful minutes would be Trent Noah, a freshman forward averaging just 10.9 minutes and 2.6 points per game. Losing him could force Pope to hit the portal hard again, a prospect that might not sit well with a fanbase eager for stability after John Calipari’s exit to Arkansas.

The TikTok post could mean many things of course. Maybe it was an emotional reaction to a tough loss or a senior night that hit harder than expected as the team will no longer come to Rupp the same. Perhaps Garrison, at 20 years old, is simply the “little brother” of this veteran-heavy roster—seven of Kentucky’s ten-man rotation are seniors—venting his feelings as a young player in a high-pressure environment. After all, he’s the youngest in that group, with a ceiling that Pope himself has called “incredibly high.”

Statistically, Garrison’s role as Williams’ backup hasn’t dimmed his impact. Garrison’s numbers are modest, but his efficiency and hustle have earned him praise.

Kentucky’s roster is a fascinating mix of experience and youth, with Garrison as its highest-upside underclassman. The Wildcats’ team stats—85.6 points, 38.7 rebounds, and 17.1 assists per game—reflect a balanced attack, but the frontcourt depth hinges on players like him sticking around. If Garrison stays, he could step into a starring role in 2025-26, anchoring a retooled squad. If he goes, Pope faces a rebuild in the paint, a daunting task in the brutal SEC.

For now, the TikTok message remains a mystery. Was it a farewell to Rupp Arena or just a sophomore grappling with the grind of a long season? Garrison’s eligibility gives him options—two more years to grow into the star many believe he can be. Kentucky fans will hope he sees Lexington as the place to make that happen, heartbreak emojis and all.