Don't count out Mark Pope just yet
For over a decade, Kentucky basketball was synonymous with first-round NBA Draft picks, producing stars like John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Devin Booker, reigning MVP SGA, Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns from 2010 to 2024. This year, the streak snapped, with no Wildcats selected in the first round—a shock for a program that’s long been a pipeline to the pros. But head coach Mark Pope isn’t dwelling on the past. In just two months, he assembled a Sweet 16-caliber roster, and his 2025 recruiting class and returning talent signal a clear mission: get Kentucky back to pumping out elite NBA prospects. That is what the Cats must do and it is painfully obvious.
Pope’s roster is brimming with potential. Jasper Johnson, a five-star guard, headlines a recruiting class that includes rising four-star Braydon Hawthorne. Transfers Returners Otega Oweh and former McDonald's all-american Brandon Garrison have elite talent. Transfer Jaland Lowe is drawing NBA scouts’ attention with his athleticism, playmaking, and defense, while role players like Denzel Aberdeen, Brandon Garrison, and Kam Williams offer depth and upside.
Koby Brea, Kentucky’s highest-drafted player this year, went 41st overall in the 2nd round to the Suns, proving Pope’s system can still produce pros. The Athletic notes that this draft class is deep with wings and forwards, and Kentucky’s versatile roster aligns perfectly with NBA trends towards physical 3-and-D players.
Pope’s fast-paced, analytics-driven style is attracting top talent, and his ability to develop players like Oweh, who fits the 3-and-D wing perfectly, or Lowe, a dynamic guard, suggests the Wildcats are poised to restart their first-round streak in 2026.
Then you have 2026 no. 1 Tyran Stokes and others interested in the Cats in coming recruiting classes, and it hasn't taken long for Pope to prove he can recruit with the high major players in college basketball.
With Pope’s recruiting prowess and a loaded roster, Kentucky is back on track to dominate draft boards and Final Fours.