Mark Pope’s reputation as a sharp basketball strategist is well established. But if you want proof that he can also develop talent, just look at Collin Chandler.
Originally recruited by Pope to BYU, Chandler stepped away from the game for two years on a Mormon mission before making his return to college basketball. When he chose to transfer from BYU to Kentucky, he became Pope’s first major roster addition in Lexington.
Ranked No. 35 in the 2022 recruiting class, Chandler didn’t immediately live up to that billing. Early in his true freshman campaign, he looked uncomfortable — hesitant with the ball, uncertain in his decisions. But as injuries thinned the Kentucky backcourt, Chandler was thrown into the fire of SEC play, and he responded.
From February 22 through the end of the season, Chandler caught fire, hitting 54% of his three-point attempts. “He was pretty darn good defensively, then he started to figure it out offensively,” KSR’s Brandon Ramsey noted. “Hey, we got a real shot-maker, playmaker.” In the postseason, Chandler hit 7 of 13 from beyond the arc, showing the type of shot-making that gives Kentucky fans real hope.
“He’s exactly the kind of guard you want today: 6-foot-5, athletic, versatile. He can shoot, pass, and defend,” KSR’s Zack Geoghegan explained during a film breakdown. Beyond the stats, Chandler shows high-level instincts — particularly how he manipulates defenders with his eyes to create passing lanes. He’s long, quick, and disruptive defensively, making him an all-around impact player.
By the end of his freshman season, something clicked. The question now: just how good can he become as a sophomore?
“This is a future NBA player, no doubt about it,” Ramsey said. “I don’t know if it’ll be after this year, or in two or three years. I don’t know if he’ll be a lottery pick, a first-rounder, or second-rounder. But he’s going to play in the NBA for a long time. He’s got the skill, the athleticism — the whole package.”
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