Tuesday Headlines: Collin Chandler excited for Year 2 with Kentucky Basketball

Fans could see a big jump in his second year.

Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball is gearing up for the program’s second year under the leadership and guidance of head coach Mark Pope.

With that, the program also has a few players from last year’s team returning to school to play at least one more season for Pope and Kentucky.

One of those players — Collin Chandler — has a chance to really pop this coming season.

Chandler was on a mission trip the year before last, which caused him to miss the 2022-23 and 2023-24 basketball seasons at BYU.

Even a professional athlete coming back from that much time away from the game would be expected to have some rust, but Chandler actually played considerably well toward the end of the year.

His ability to handle the basketball, play defense, finish inside, and make three-pointers was all on display as Kentucky wrapped up its 2024-25 season.

Chandler is now becoming more comfortable in Pope’s offense, per Jeff Drummond of Cats Illustrated.

“I feel like I know my environment a little bit better,” he said. “I was coming in a little bit blind last year of what to expect from just coming home as a missionary, kind of a whirlwind of life-changing, and playing basketball for the first time at an extremely high level. I really didn’t know what to expect, how to go about it.

“This year, the offseason, I know exactly what I’m supposed to be working on. I know what I can do. I have a lot of experience on the court for what I can do and things I need to be working on. I think I have a lot better vision of what I need to do. That’s the biggest difference.”

With a full off-season to continue working with the program and more continuity with several of last year’s teammates joining him on this team, Chandler is primed for a breakout season.

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