Collin Chandler is primed for a breakout sophomore season

Collin Chandler is officially coming back to Kentucky for a second season. The 6-foot-5 sophomore guard announced the news Thursday on social media with a John Wick GIF — “Yeah, I’m thinking I’m back.”

Chandler’s return was assumed, but in today’s lawless college basketball landscape, we all need reassurance from the horse’s mouth. Especially when he figures to play a pertinent role on Mark Pope‘s second Kentucky team. If the last few weeks of the 2024-25 season were any indication, Chandler is primed for a breakout sophomore campaign in Lexington.

It’s easy to forget that Chandler took two full years off from playing basketball after high school. The 2022 Utah Gatorade Player of the Year and a top 35 national recruit, he went on a lengthy mission trip that took him completely away from the game. Upon his return last summer, he struggled to get his feet under him. The coaching staff, which has dealt with players in Chandler’s situation before, eased him back in. Conditioning was the first priority before even worrying about picking up a basketball. He tweaked his hamstring in August, causing a minor setback.

“With these guys coming off a two-year service, their on-ramp is incredibly — it’s massively important. We have to go really slow,” Pope said on KSR in September.

Chandler quickly recovered, even winning the Dunk Contest at Big Blue Madness and scoring 19 points in the annual Blue-White Scrimmage. He played at least 11 minutes in four of Kentucky’s first five games against mostly inferior opponents. There were flashes, certainly (remember his between-the-legs pass to Amari Williams on a fastbreak?), but a lack of consistency and some questionable ball-handling.

As the non-conference schedule toiled along, Chandler’s minutes shrank.

Down, Set, Hut! Collin Chandler to Amari Williams. pic.twitter.com/beNRMdRmRg

— Rare Rookies #BBN (@rarerookies) November 20, 2024

His first real breakthrough came early in SEC play — a road game against rival Tennessee on Jan. 28. Injuries to his backcourt teammates allowed for an opportunity. And while Chandler didn’t score in that win over the Volunteers, his 15 minutes of action did not go unnoticed, particularly on the defensive end.

“Collin Chandler had his best night of the season by far. This kid is incredibly special,” Pope said after the win. “He’s just been off of his feet for two years and you think about him in this environment, in this situation, against this team in particular, for him to fulfill the defensive assignments he had tonight was incredible. It was so beautiful. He was doing such a good job I could put him back in and put him back in and put him back in. I thought he had a brilliant effort.”

As Chandler continued to find a groove on the floor, Pope continued to feed him minutes. The potential began to shine at home against Vanderbilt: seven points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 15 minutes. He had five points, two steals, and one assist in the next game out against Alabama on the road. A couple of weeks later, it was an 11-point, four-rebound, four-assist performance against LSU.

It was finally beginning to come together for the 21-year-old “freshman”. More importantly, he was enjoying basketball again.

“I think I’ve grown a lot mentally,” Chandler said in February. “I thought I was mentally tough coming in, but it’s been a lot of learning, a lot of patience. Just coming in the summer and not being able to play right away, trying to get used to everything, it’s been an experience that has been full of frustration. It’s helped me a lot and I’m gonna continue to grow.

“Basketball is a game of frustration, so I’m going to continue to try to respond to that.”

Chandler was playing his way into a regular rotational role. He and sophomore center Brandon Garrison were the first ones off the bench down the stretch of the season. The difference between Chandler’s play early in the season compared to late was excitingly noticeable. He saw double-digit minutes in each of Kentucky’s final eight games. Chandler was a brand-new player — one making winning plays on both ends of the floor.

“He’s getting more and more comfortable on the floor,” Pope said ahead of Chandler ahead of the postseason. “He gives us some things that we don’t have a lot of on the roster.”

• First 19 games: 1.2 PPG, 0.5 RPG, 0.5 APG, 0.5 SPG, 26.7 FG%, 15.0 3PT% | 7.6 MPG
• Final 11 games: 5.5 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.9 SPG, 43.9 FG%, 48.3 3PT% | 15.1 MPG

Chandler was playing his best basketball at the best time of the season for Kentucky. He had nine points in the NCAA Tournament opener against Troy. He went for six points and three steals in the Round of 32 against Illinois. On the biggest stage, Chandler proved he can show up and produce.

By coming back to the Wildcats for a second season, Chandler isn’t planning to start from square one like he did nearly a full year ago. He’s coming back with the goal of earning a starting spot, even with the portal additions and incoming high school recruits. There will be no two-year layoff this offseason. A big jump in his game is on the way.