The Kentucky Wildcats had a terrible 2025-26 men’s college basketball season under head coach Mark Pope, finishing with a 22-14 record and falling in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to Iowa State.
The performance was regarded as a disappointment for the SEC club, particularly since they advanced to the Sweet 16 in Pope’s first season as coach and had significant NIL funding, estimated to be approximately $22 million. The roster will see substantial changes in the offseason, with Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen graduating and several players, including Brandon Garrison, indicating intentions to investigate the transfer market.
What Brandon Garrison’s decision to join the transfer portal means for Kentucky
The 6-foot-10 Garrison announced his decision on Friday night, just days after finishing his 2025-26 season with a lackluster performance, scoring only one point and six rebounds in 22 minutes as the Wildcats fell to the Cyclones, 82-63.
After spending a year at Oklahoma State, the former McDonald’s All-American has relocated to Kentucky for the 2024-25 season. Garrison made significant contributions from the bench for Pope’s squad, providing consistent performances.
Garrison had a season-high 20 points and 11 rebounds in the Wildcats’ 94-78 triumph against Oklahoma on Feb. 4. More than a month later, he scored 17 points in the team’s 87-82 victory over LSU in the first round of the SEC Tournament.
Kentucky qualified for the NCAA Tournament when the selection panel awarded the Wildcats an at-large bid. Garrison displayed his flexibility on both sides of the court in the team’s 89-84 first-round victory over Santa Clara. He had 10 points, seven rebounds, one assist, and six blocked shots.
After the game, Pope appreciated the forward’s efforts, labeling him the “best switching five man” in the country.
“His discipline, stance, mobility, and ability to challenge shots legally were outstanding. So it was an incredible performance by BG,” Pope remarked.
The forward had a chance to match or outperform his second-round effort against Iowa State. The Cyclones, on the other hand, controlled him and kept him from scoring in the lane.
Garrison is not the only Wildcat who has chosen to explore the portal. Jaland Lowe announced on March 28 that he had placed his name in the transfer portal. Jasper Johnson has also decided to take the same action on Friday.
Before eventually committing to Oklahoma State for his first season, Garrison had offers from Power Four institutions such as Kansas, Arkansas, Florida, Texas A&M, and Houston. His term with the Cowboys did not go as planned, so he decided to join the transfer gate for the first time, finally selecting Kentucky.
Other Power 4 programs may seek to gain Garrison’s commitment as the huge man approaches his fourth season in college basketball. His NIL rate for his third team is likely to be reviewed in light of his previous three seasons’ performance.
