Mark Pope, the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats, isn’t mincing words when it comes to what he expects from sophomore center Brandon Garrison next season. Following a year of transition for the Wildcats and a roster influx due to the transfer portal, Pope has his eyes firmly set on player development—and Garrison stands at the heart of those plans.
“We need him to be great next year,” Pope stated during a recent offseason media availability. That’s not just coach speak. It’s a clear signal of both confidence and urgency—a coach sending a message to one of his most physically gifted players that his time is now.
Brandon Garrison arrived in Lexington as a former McDonald’s All-American and a highly-touted recruit out of Oklahoma. His freshman season was one of measured progress. While he didn’t post eye-popping numbers, Garrison showed flashes of why he was so heavily recruited—his ability to protect the rim, run the floor, and finish around the basket stood out in spurts. With a 6-foot-11 frame and a strong defensive instinct, Garrison looked like a piece that just needed time.
But time, in today’s college basketball landscape, is a luxury that programs like Kentucky rarely afford. Under Pope, who is set to begin his second year at the helm after taking over from John Calipari, the Wildcats are expected to retool quickly and contend immediately. That’s where Garrison’s importance becomes magnified.
“We’ve built a system that’s going to demand a lot of our bigs,” Pope explained. “And Brandon has the tools—he really does.
