Kentucky Basketball practice highlights

The trio flashes growth and confidence in early offseason workouts.

Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball is already turning heads in April, as a new round of offseason workout highlights gave Big Blue Nation a taste of what’s to come in the 2025-26 season.

Rising junior big man Brandon Garrison and rising sophomore forward Trent Noah were the stars of the footage shared by the team. Garrison, now donning a headband, looked every bit the part of a breakout big man. He was aggressive on the glass, finishing with emphatic putback dunks and showcasing improved floor spacing by knocking down corner threes with confidence.

Garrison appeared in 35 games last season, averaging 5.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.6 blocks in just over 17 minutes per game. He shot 50.9% from the field and connected on 30% of his threes. His top performance came against Oklahoma when he posted 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks.

Head coach Mark Pope has long seen Garrison’s potential as a stretch big, even saying this in January.

“Ton of credit to (Garrison), ton of credit to (assistant) Mikhail McLean, who’s working with him every day,” Pope said. “He’s going to be a big-time shooter. I’m telling you, it’s in his future. I think we felt that way since the summer. He’s got a poise and a presentness about him, fearlessness about him when he shoots the ball. And he’s got really terrific touch, he gets great rotation, he’s patient enough to make sure that his balance is solid every single time. He’s got all the ingredients.”

Meanwhile, Trent Noah was seen developing as a versatile scorer. The 6-foot-5 forward drilled catch-and-shoot threes, finished strong at the rim using crafty footwork and spin moves, and made tough shots with defenders in his face. Noah filled in admirably during the 2024-25 season when Kentucky dealt with injuries, averaging 2.7 points and 1.9 rebounds in 24 games while shooting 33.3% from three. His breakout came in a home game vs. Tennessee, where he dropped 11 points.

Elsewhere, Kentucky signee Jasper Johnson lit up recent 5-on-5 runs with Overtime Elite. The dynamic guard looked nearly unstoppable, effortlessly slicing through defenses to finish at the rim—either with emphatic dunks or acrobatic layups. He also showcased his elite shot-making, knocking down threes in every way imaginable: contested, off the dribble, and in catch-and-shoot situations.

What was missing from the OTE footage, you may ask? His playmaking. But under Mark Pope’s offense, Johnson should have no problem developing that part of his game quickly.

With Garrison, Noah, and Johnson all showing early flashes, Kentucky’s future is looking bright.