Headband Brandon Garrison and Trent Noah are putting in postseason work at the Joe Craft Center

Is it the postseason? Offseason? Preseason? Whatever it is, two of Kentucky‘s returning players are putting in work during it at the Joe Craft Center — a sight Big Blue Nation will certainly enjoy as we move past the roster construction stage of the spring and focus on 2025-26.

Brandon Garrison was the first to announce he was returning for his junior season and second in blue and white, making it official on April 12 with the greatest ‘unfinished business’ declaration of all time. I mean, the hype video started with the 6-10 forward fighting the entire Louisville bench by himself, for crying out loud.

Brandon Garrison’s return announcement starts with him fighting the entire Louisville bench by himself

If this doesn’t get you hyped, check your pulse.

BG YEAR TWO LET’S GOOOOOOOOO https://t.co/pK6F2D5QRd pic.twitter.com/eJmgb4vQ3v

— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) April 12, 2025

Collin Chandler did the same on April 17 with a simple John Wick clip making it clear he had no plans to explore other options this offseason — he’s busy finding a house in Lexington and planning for his wedding in May. The soon-to-be sophomore has plenty on his plate right now.

Then just a day later, Trent Noah became the third Wildcat to announce he’d be returning to Kentucky.

“Still chasing 9,” the forward out of Harlan wrote.

Chandler will be joining them after the dust settles on getting hitched, but until then, Garrison and Noah are putting in work at the Joe Craft Center — the former in a headband!

“April work,” the Kentucky basketball program shared on social media, including a 30-second clip of the returning Wildcats splashing 3-pointers and throwing down dunks in the practice gym. It’s just a month after the team’s Sweet 16 appearance and six months away from Big Blue Madness, but there is no such thing as too much work when your goal is banner No. 9.

Garrison and Noah had all of the student managers and assistant coach Mikhail McLean joining them in the spring workout, preparing for a big year two in Lexington.

April work 💪 pic.twitter.com/Yz1yy6pwgj

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) April 25, 2025

Noah meets with Kentucky basketball royalty

Off the floor, Noah also met with Kentucky basketball royalty — a heartfelt moment from one No. 9 to the family of another No. 9.

Capt. Kenneth England, who suited up for the Wildcats from 1940-42, died in World War II on April 15, 1945 — one of 25 UK athletes taken from the school during WWII. He was awarded a Bronze Star, Silver Star and Purple Heart fighting for the United States. Before that, though, the native of Campbellsburg scored 154 points at Kentucky under Adolph Rupp as a member of the 1942 Final Four squad that also won SEC Tournament and regular season titles. A gold star recognizes him in the lobby of Historic Memorial Coliseum.

Noah sat down with Captain England’s family on Saturday to bring generations of Kentucky basketball together.

Doesn’t get much better than that.

Future Wildcats arrive for their official visits

Speaking of next year’s roster, several members of that 2025-26 group were in Lexington this weekend for their official visits — their first trips to see their new home since signing with Kentucky out of the transfer portal.

Florida transfer Denzel Aberdeen was met by Kentucky assistants McLean and Mark Fox at the airport.

They weren’t pictured, but Alabama transfer Mo Dioubate, Pittsburgh transfer Jaland Lowe and Tulane transfer Kam Williams all shared their own photos from the Joe Craft Center as they toured campus for the very first time.

This is just a temporary visit, but everyone will be back on campus in early June to get summer workouts started in Lexington.

Things will be quiet in May, but from there, the fun begins as year one for Mark Pope transitions to year two.