Reece Potter is being very clear about his plans at Kentucky. The Lexington native wants to hang another banner in the Rupp Arena rafters.
“My goal is to win number nine,” he told reporters Monday. “Just trying to grow every single day.”
Potter wasn’t short of confidence when talking with the media. Born and raised a Kentucky fan, the 7-foot-1 rising junior is living out a dream. After making a name for himself at Lexington Catholic High School and spending two seasons at Miami (OH), Potter only needed one FaceTime call with Mark Pope to know where his next home would be.
Once the kid who was watching his favorite Kentucky Wildcats win at the highest level, Potter wants to be on the other end of that experience. He believes Kentucky has the squad to make it happen in 2025-26.
“We always say we’re the deepest team in the country, one through 15 guys, everybody can probably play anywhere in the country,” Potter said. “Every single day, it’s a challenge. Every single day, everybody is trying to bring it, fighting for spots. Our whole team can go.”
The regular season doesn’t begin for another few months, but Potter might not be exaggerating about Kentucky having the deepest roster in all of college basketball. We won’t know for sure until the ball is finally tipped and we’re several weeks — at minimum — into the schedule, but it’s clear the talent level in Lexington is a step up from what it was in 2024-25 in year one under Pope.
And even that team, which fought through seemingly endless injury issues, went 11 players deep.
“I feel like it is an SEC game every single day in practice,” Potter said. “Every guy is going as hard as possible, our coaches push us every single day. I feel like the biggest thing right now is we push each other. I feel like that’s what is gonna make us a national championship (team). How much we gel off the court and how much we push each other.”
Depth is expected to be one of Kentucky’s strengths in 2025-26. Four rotation players return from last season, headlined by All-SEC Second Team performer Otega Oweh. Four more transferred in as rotational pieces at high-major schools. Two others came over as important players from mid-majors. All three incoming freshmen were four-star recruits, while the international addition, Andrija Jelavić, is a 21-year-old with multiple years of experience against grown men.
So let’s quickly recap Potter’s expectations in his debut season as a Wildcat: Goals of winning number nine? Check. Deepest team in the country? Check.
Anything else?
“We’re gonna be the best defensive team in the country, I’d probably say,” Potter added. “It’s gonna be a battle, who’s gonna be the Defensive Player of the Year in the SEC, because it could probably be anybody (from Kentucky). Teams are going to have a tough time.”
Now we’re talking.
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