Brandon Garrison Embraces Year Two Under Mark Pope, Ready to Lead Kentucky’s Revamped Frontcourt
In an offseason where many players chose to hit the transfer portal in search of fresh starts or guaranteed minutes, Brandon Garrison looked around and decided to stay.
For the rising junior big man, Kentucky wasn’t just another stop on his basketball journey. It’s where he found trust. It’s where he found belief. It’s where he found purpose. And now, it’s where he’s ready to fight for his future.
“I talked it over with my agent, talked it over with Coach Pope,” Garrison said on Tuesday. “Just felt like it was still home. My head was still playing for Coach Pope another year at Kentucky.”
That decision came on the heels of an aggressive frontcourt reload by Kentucky head coach Mark Pope. With several veteran contributors departing after the 2024–25 season, Pope restocked the roster with an influx of size and skill: Arizona State transfer Jayden Quaintance, Alabama bruiser Mouhamed Dioubate, international standout Andrija Jelavić, high-upside freshman Malachi Moreno, and late arrival Reece Potter from Miami (OH).
For Garrison, the path forward got a little more crowded and a lot more competitive.
He could’ve run from the challenge. He could’ve chased easier minutes elsewhere. He didn’t.
Instead, the former Oklahoma State transfer chose continuity, growth, and the opportunity to build something special in Lexington.
A Player Growing into Himself
Garrison’s sophomore season at Kentucky didn’t light up the stat sheet, but those inside the program including Pope and his staff saw clear signs of growth. His decision-making sharpened. His feel for the game matured. And he stretched the floor in ways that weren’t part of his repertoire at Oklahoma State.
His presence was pivotal in signature wins over Gonzaga, Louisville, and Oklahoma, and he played a crucial role in Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament victory over Troy. Garrison didn’t need 20 points per game to make his presence felt he anchored possessions, moved without the ball, and adapted on both ends.
“It wasn’t a perfect season,” he acknowledged. “But I got better. I know how to play in this system now. And now it’s about being more consistent and helping these new guys learn the ropes.”
Year Two Under Pope: The Breakout?
For all the noise surrounding Kentucky’s deep roster and new faces, Pope has emphasized one thing over and over: development happens in year two.
And Garrison believes it.
“I got a good feel for (Pope’s coaching style),” he said. “So I can teach the incoming guys how things work around here.”
It’s not just the system Garrison understands it’s the expectations. Kentucky is always under a national microscope. It’s a place where roles are earned daily and nothing is handed out.
Garrison is ready to embrace that pressure and thrive in it.
Leadership, Loyalty, and Legacy
When Garrison committed to Kentucky a year ago, few imagined he’d become a voice of stability for a team in flux. But that’s exactly what he is now a returning big man with experience, grit, and loyalty in a world where those traits are increasingly rare.
With one of the deepest frontcourts in college basketball, minutes won’t be promised in 2025–26. But Garrison’s commitment to the jersey, to his coaches, and to his own growth says everything you need to know about where his head is at.
“I’m not afraid of the competition,” Garrison said. “I’m excited for it. That’s how we get better. I’ve got big goals. I want to win. I want to lead. And I want to leave a mark here.”
And so, as Mark Pope’s second year in Lexington begins to take shape, one thing is clear Brandon Garrison isn’t just staying at Kentucky.
He’s about to rise at Kentucky.
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