Jaland Lowe (JLo) finally made his debut in a Kentucky uniform, and Mark Pope's review was glowing. In 18 minutes, Lowe put up 6 points, 5 assists, and 0 turnovers, showing a flash of what makes him special.
But it wasn't just the stats; it was how he got them.
“I thought Jalen was great. He’s a 5-0 guy right on his first... game in a Kentucky uniform,” Pope said. “He can get wherever he wants to go on the floor... He’s just cat quick.” The 5-0 he mentions is the 5 assists, 0 turnovers
Then, Pope made a comparison that should have the rest of the SEC on high alert. He explained the difference between college and pro passers, and which side Lowe falls on.
Jaland Lowe can make plays not many in 'college basketball' can
“It’s NBA level. One of the difference between college guys and NBA guys is... college guys get in the lane and then they they kind of see and they deliver a pass to a to an area. JLo is delivering passes right into the pocket and they're 35 foot hook laser passes... it's off the move. It's just really impressive.” When you have a point guard out there on the court willing and able to make plays for your team, it allows everything to flow so much more smoothly.
Pope finished with the ultimate compliment.
“I don't think there's a lot of players in college basketball that can make the plays he makes... He’s going to be massively important in this team.”
And this was just his first taste of action. The one concern you have is the brace he wore on his shoulder, it looked an awful like Lamont Butler's last year. That kind of brace can limit some motion and cause some issues. For one night, it worked perfectly and that is all you can ask for, for now.
The Cats are back in action Tuesday against Louisville.
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