The Kentucky Wildcats had a disappointing 2025-26 men’s college basketball season under head coach Mark Pope, finishing with a 22-14 record and losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to Iowa State.
The performance was seen as a failure for the SEC team, especially since they reached the Sweet 16 during Pope’s first season as coach and had substantial NIL resources, reportedly around $22 million. The roster will undergo major changes in the offseason, with Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen graduating and several players, including Brandon Garrison, announcing their plans to explore the transfer portal.
What Brandon Garrison Entering the Transfer Portal Means for Kentucky
The 6-foot-10 Garrison announced his decision on Friday evening, a few days after finishing his 2025-26 season with a quiet performance, contributing just 1 point and 6 rebounds in 22 minutes as the Wildcats lost to the Cyclones, 82-63.
NEWS: Kentucky’s Brandon Garrison will enter the transfer portal, per multiple reports.
The 6-10 junior big man and Oklahoma City native averaged 4.7 ppg/4.1 rpg for the Wildcats. Started career at Oklahoma State in 23-24 before transferring to Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/9ICsQT5mKr
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) April 3, 2026
The former McDonald’s All-American transferred to Kentucky for the 2024-25 season after spending a year at Oklahoma State. Garrison was an effective contributor off the bench for Pope’s team, delivering solid performances.
Garrison scored a season-high 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the Wildcats’ 94-78 victory over Oklahoma on Feb. 4. More than a month later, he added 17 points in the team’s 87-82 win against LSU in the first round of the SEC Tournament.
MORE: College Basketball 2026 Transfer Portal Tracker: Complete List of Players Who Are Available
Kentucky made the NCAA Tournament after the selection committee granted the Wildcats an at-large bid. Garrison demonstrated his versatility on both ends of the court in the team’s 89-84 first-round win over Santa Clara. He scored 10 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, dished out 1 assist, and blocked a whopping 6 shots.
After the game, Pope praised the forward’s efforts, calling him the “best switching five man” in the country.
“His discipline, his stance, his mobility, his ability to contest shots legal was brilliant. So it was an unbelievable performance by BG,” Pope said.
The forward had another opportunity to match or exceed his performance in the second round against Iowa State. However, the Cyclones contained him and prevented him from scoring in the paint.
Garrison is not the only Wildcat deciding to try out the portal. Jaland Lowe announced on March 28 that he listed his name in the transfer portal. Jasper Johnson also decided on Friday to do the same.
Before finally committing to Oklahoma State for his first season, Garrison received offers from Power 4 schools, including Kansas, Arkansas, Florida, Texas A&M, and Houston. His season with the Cowboys didn’t go as planned, and he decided to enter the transfer portal for the first time, eventually choosing Kentucky.
Similar Power 4 programs may try to secure Garrison’s commitment, as the big man is nearing his fourth season in college basketball. His NIL rate for his third team will likely come under scrutiny given his performances over the past three seasons.
