Is Jaland Lowe Kentucky’s Next Star? Mark Pope Might Just Unlock His Full Potential”

“Is Jaland Lowe Kentucky’s Next Star? Mark Pope Might Just Unlock His Full Potential”

 

Jaland Lowe is ready to explode — and Mark Pope might be the one to light the fuse.

After a solid season at Pittsburgh, Lowe is heading to Lexington with more than just a transfer tag — he’s carrying expectations. The Kentucky Wildcats, led by newly installed head coach Mark Pope, are stacking their roster with talent, and Lowe might be the under-the-radar gem that turns into a backcourt nightmare for opponents.

With Pope now having a full

offseason to implement his system — unlike last year, when he took over after most high school commits had vanished — he’s targeting both elite recruits and top-tier transfer portal talent. Among them is five-star freshman Jasper Johnson and the versatile big man Malachi Moreno. But don’t sleep on Lowe. He might not be the flashiest name, but he could be the most dangerous.

Why? Because the system fits him perfectly.

According to CBS Sports’ Isaac Trotter, Lowe is primed to thrive in Pope’s up-tempo, dribble-handoff-heavy offense. It’s a complete 180 from Pitt’s slower pace — and that’s a huge deal for a player like Lowe, who is best when he’s attacking in rhythm.

“Pope should be able to play Lowe off the ball, where he can attack more long closeouts and put defenders in a bind,” Trotter notes. “Kentucky plays lightning fast. That’s money in the bank for the menacing Lowe.”

He averaged 16.8 points per game at Pitt — not bad for a sophomore — but did so on just 37.6% shooting. And while his three-point percentage (26.6%) needs work, he was elite as a driver, scoring 1.053 points per possession on 95 attempts. That’s rare for a guard who had to create so much offense on his own.

Now imagine what he can do with spacing, pace, and structure.

Kentucky’s famed “Chicago” action — a pindown into a dribble handoff — could be Lowe’s ticket to becoming one of the most efficient guards in the SEC. And don’t forget: Mark Pope just helped guys like Otega Oweh and Lamont Butler reach new efficiency highs. There’s no reason Lowe can’t be next.

So the question isn’t if Jaland Lowe will break out.

It’s when.

And for the Big Blue Nation? That answer might come sooner than anyone thinks.