When Jaland Lowe entered the transfer portal, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope acted swiftly to make his interest clear. Without wasting any time, Pope flew to Minnesota to meet Lowe face-to-face at his hotel—just a day after Lowe had arrived. During a recent media appearance, Lowe recounted what Pope had to say during that early meeting.
At the time, Lowe was still focused on his NBA aspirations and preparing for the NBA Combine. But the encounter with Pope made a lasting impression. The former All-ACC standout explained that Pope laid out a detailed vision for how he’d fit into the Kentucky system. The coach emphasized player development, the high-level talent surrounding him, and the prestige of representing a program as storied as Kentucky.
“Coach Pope met me in Minnesota shortly after I transferred,” Lowe shared. “He showed up at my hotel and really surprised me. He explained how I would fit into his game plan, how committed he was to helping me grow, and how great the environment would be with the other guys. And of course, the Kentucky name—that’s huge. I was still laser-focused on the NBA at that point, but I started thinking, ‘If I do go to college, this feels right.’ And over time, it became clear—Kentucky was the choice.”
Lowe’s decision wasn’t based solely on Pope’s pitch. While at the NBA Combine, he ran into several future Kentucky teammates—Amari Williams, Lamont Butler, and Andrew Carr—who were also exploring their professional options. Their input helped reinforce his decision.
“I met Coach Pope and Coach Brooks in Minnesota first,” Lowe said. “Then, at the Combine, I bumped into Andrew Carr, worked out with Amari Williams, and spoke with Lamont Butler. They all spoke highly of Kentucky. They said I’d thrive there, that I’d love the atmosphere, and that being part of the program would be something special.”
Though Lowe hasn’t suited up for a game yet, he’s already getting a feel for what it means to be part of the Kentucky basketball tradition. And if his early impressions are any indication, he believes he’s right where he belongs.
