Kentucky men’s basketball head coach Mark Pope recently joined Matt Norlander on the Eye on College Basketballpodcast, where he opened up about a wide range of topics, from the upcoming season to the construction of his 2025–26 roster.

One focus of the conversation was Kentucky’s incoming freshman class, and Pope didn’t hold back in his praise.

On Jasper Johnson, Pope said:
“Jasper is one of the best young men I’ve ever been around. He’s soft spoken off the court, but once the game starts, he becomes a completely different player. He’s a dangerous scorer — the type of guy who can put up 12 to 15 points in just a couple of minutes. He’s going to be a joy to coach, and he’s eager to keep improving.”

Next, Pope turned his attention to Malachi Moreno:
“I’ve watched him completely control the paint — both offensively and defensively — at the highest level for his age group. Coaching him with USA Basketball was incredible; his ability to dominate in that space was eye-opening. On top of that, he moves exceptionally well for his size.”

Finally, Pope addressed Brayden Hawthorne, a late addition to the roster:
“Brayden is one of the most unique coach’s kids I’ve ever worked with. I’m not sure what his ceiling is yet, but if I had to compare him to someone — and I say this with humility — he gives me shades of Tayshaun Prince. I don’t know how soon it will all click, but I believe he has the chance to be something special.”

It’s clear Pope is thrilled with the freshmen he’s bringing to Lexington. Each was highly rated coming out of high school, and if his evaluations prove correct, they could make an immediate impact for the Wildcats this season.

“Collin Chandler’s Year 2 at Kentucky Could Shock Everyone – Here’s Why”

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.”