Collin Chandler's film is popping ahead of regular season: "We're seeing really, really special signs"

If there was one wild card for Kentucky entering the season, it was Collin Chandler and the unique circumstances surrounding his return to basketball. Away from competitive play for two years, the 21-year-old freshman was a former top-35 recruit out of high school, but how quickly could he get back to game speed and would it be fast enough to find his way into the rotation as a rookie? The potential was never in question, but the rust and conditioning certainly were.

Chandler followed that up by scoring 19 points on 7-10 shooting and 4-7 from three to go with three rebounds, three assists and two steals in the Blue-White Preseason Event. Oh, and he did this.

Collin Chandler with the play of the night! ON HIS HEAD

He’s a STUD!!! pic.twitter.com/2YjBuzKx3b

— Mario A Maitland (@MarioMaitland_3) October 19, 2024

Quite the first impression, huh?

Then he went for six points, four assists and three rebounds in the first exhibition game vs. Kentucky Wesleyan, followed by a seven-point, four-rebound, three-assist effort in the second vs. Minnesota State. Not the double-digit scoring explosion we saw in the intrasquad scrimmage necessarily, but he still filled up the stat sheet off the bench.

Then Mark Pope dug into the film and came away even more impressed, specifically with his ability to process the game at a high level.

“I loved his film. I actually loved his film from this most recent exhibition, because you can just see him,” his head coach said Thursday. “When I recruited him — I’ve been recruiting for, it seems like 20 years, right? It’s been a long time. When we talk about deciders on the court all the time, his processing speed is really, really, really incredible. You started to see some of that in this most recent exhibition.”

Then there is the explosion — don’t forget about that poster in the Blue-White. That’s something this team admittedly doesn’t have a ton of, but he brings plenty. Sometimes you need athletes on the floor and Chandler adds that element.

“He’s got a burst that is a little bit unique on our team,” Pope added. “His ability to turn his hips and get downhill without even having an action, then the way he played off two feet in the second half? He had an unbelievable — the ball ended up in his hands, not as a pass-ahead, but as almost an outlet. And he raced down and got a quick in and out and got all the way downhill, drew two defenders, got both of them up in the air and just dished it off to Ansley (Almonor) for a nice little quick (bucket).

“He’s got an ability now to get from point A to point B on the court in a really, really special way.”

If there was one major hole in his game early on, it was on the defensive end of the floor. Pope is even seeing growth there — just add it to the list at this point. It’s why there is genuine excitement around the program about Chandler both now and in the future.

If he looks this good today, what can he be for this program down the road?

“Defensively, I think he’s taking massive strides. His ability to navigate bodies and to be there on the catch is really special,” Pope said. “I think he’s — man, he’s got a huge upside. We’re going to continue to watch him progress and progress and progress. I’ve coached these kids that have taken a two-year hiatus a lot, and it’s going to continue to be staggering to see how he develops over the course of the next six months as he fully gets his legs back and his timing back and his game back.

“We’re seeing really, really special signs for him right now.”