Collin Chandler going into the transfer portal feels like one of those moves that just kind of happened. There wasn’t much build-up and, as of two weeks ago, he was expected to return to Kentucky.
Instead, this is the new age of college sports where you expect the unexpected, and he’s moving on. His “do not contact” tag makes this more interesting than a typical transfer. Usually, that means a player already knows where he’s likely to go, or at least has it narrowed down, so it’s time to speculate. This probably won’t drag out for long.
Possible Destinations for Kentucky’s Collin Chandler
BYU Cougars
BYU is the one that just makes too much sense to ignore. They’ve got openings in the backcourt with Robert Wright III and AJ Dybantsa likely gone, and he’d have every chance to step in to take on a bigger role right away.
Add in the fact that he’s from Utah, and it kind of lines up naturally, making this landing spot the early favorite. Sometimes these decisions really do come down to comfort and fit more than anything complicated.
Utah Utes
Utah is another easy option to connect with. Same home-state angle, same opportunity to have the ball a lot. The difference is the situation.
Utah’s coming off a rough season of being 10-22 and hasn’t had many winning seasons in its recent memory, so it really depends on what Chandler is looking for.
If he wants to win right now, that might not be the spot. If he likes the idea of being a centerpiece and being a part of a program turnaround, then this would be the way he leans.
St. John’s Red Storm
St. John’s would be a completely out-of-left-field move, but one they can definitely make happen. That’s more about stepping into a program that’s already rolling.
Playing for legendary head coach Rick Pitino could be too enticing for his development curve to pass up. Playing in big games and being in that kind of spotlight would present a different kind of opportunity.
If the goal is his development and proving himself on a bigger stage, St. John’s certainly makes sense.
Kentucky Wildcats
And then there’s Kentucky. Just because he’s in the portal doesn’t mean that door is fully closed. It happens all the time: guys test things out, see what their value looks like, and then circle back. If something changes on either side, it wouldn’t be shocking.
It’s worth noting that Chandler reportedly opted to enter the transfer portal after requesting the second-highest NIL amount ever handed out by the university to a student-athlete, so Chandler is also trying to cash in. But if he’s not able to get the kind of money he wants in the portal, perhaps he has a change of heart.
Right now, though, it feels like this is already leaning somewhere. The “do not contact” tag kind of gives that away. It’s probably just a matter of when, not if, we find out where he’s going.
