What Year 2 for Collin Chandler Could Look Like at Kentucky — The Making of a Modern NBA Guard
When Mark Pope took over at Kentucky, the college basketball world knew he was a sharp basketball mind. But could he take raw talent and turn it into elite-level production? If you want the answer, look no further than Collin Chandler.
Chandler’s journey is anything but conventional. Initially recruited by Pope during his BYU days, Chandler was the No. 35 player in the 2022 recruiting class a highly skilled, 6-foot-5 guard with a modern game built for today’s pace-and-space era. But instead of jumping into college basketball right away, Chandler embarked on a two-year Mormon mission trip, putting his career on pause while sharpening his discipline and perspective.
When Pope landed the Kentucky job, Chandler made the leap from BYU to Lexington, becoming the first high-profile addition of the new era. His debut season, however, wasn’t smooth sailing. Early on, he looked like a fish out of water hesitant with the ball, unsure of his reads, and too passive in attacking defenses. But circumstances forced him into the spotlight.
Injuries decimated Kentucky’s backcourt midway through the season, and Chandler was thrown into the fire of SEC play. The trial was brutal, but it forged something new. His defensive instincts emerged first pesky on-ball pressure, smart rotations, and a knack for staying in front of quicker guards. Then, something clicked offensively.
From February 22 until the season’s end, Chandler became one of the most dangerous shooters in the conference, hitting an eye-popping 54% from beyond the arc. “He was pretty darn good defensively, then he started to figure it out offensively,” said KSR’s Brandon Ramsey. “Hey, we got a real shot-maker, playmaker.”
The postseason was his coming-out party. Chandler buried 7 of 13 three-point attempts under the brightest lights, showing not just a hot hand but the confidence to take big shots when it mattered. He didn’t dominate entire games not yet but in key moments, you could see the flashes of a future star.
“He’s kind of what you’re looking for in a modern-day 2-guard,” said analyst Zack Geoghegan. “6-foot-5, athletic, can shoot, can pass, can defend.”
What sets Chandler apart isn’t just his physical tools it’s his vision. “My favorite part about Collin Chandler is how he uses his eyes,” Geoghegan continued. “That’s a real skill to be able to look off defenders and use your eyes to pass guys open. He’s so good at that. He’s an awesome defender, really fun, a long guy who’s quick.”
As he heads into Year 2 at Kentucky, Chandler will have the benefit of experience, a full offseason under Pope, and a defined role. The “lightbulb moment” at the end of his freshman year was just the start.
“This is a future NBA player, no doubt about it,” said Ramsey. “I don’t know if it’s going to be after this year, or two years, three years from now. I don’t know if it’s going to be as a lottery pick, first-round pick, or second-round pick. Whatever it’s going to be, this dude is going to play in the NBA for a long time. He has the talent, athleticism all that stuff.”
For Kentucky fans, the excitement isn’t just about what Chandler already is it’s about what he’s becoming. If Year 1 was about survival, Year 2 could be about arrival. With Pope guiding his development, Chandler could emerge as one of the SEC’s most versatile guards and, perhaps, the next great Kentucky guard to carve out a long NBA career.
And if the way last season ended is any indication, Collin Chandler’s sophomore year might be when the rest of the basketball world starts paying attention.
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