Kentucky Basketball Roster Tracker: Andrija Jelavic and Brandon Garrison complete the frontcourt

It’s a double-boom kind of day for Big Blue Nation, Kentucky adding not one, but two additions to the frontcourt for 2025-26. The first is a brand-new name for fans, one not even remotely on our radars. Out of the blue, Croatian big man Andrija Jelavic announced his commitment to the Wildcats, giving the blue and white the stretch four they had been looking for with Andrew Carr and Ansley Almonor on their way out.

Jelavic, a 6-11 forward, averaged 10.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.2 assists per contest this past season suiting up for Mega Superbet in Serbia. With a 7-2 wingspan and 52 made 3-pointers in 53 games over the last two years, he emerged as one of the top European prospects in his age group, set to play his freshman season in college at 21 years old.

That was the first BOOM announced by Kentucky assistant coach Cody Fueger. Then came another, just hours later.

Like the first, no one saw the next coming — but they were plenty familiar with the name. Brandon Garrison, who provided just as much fight as he did energy in his debut season in Lexington, announced he would be returning for his junior year as a Wildcat.

With the opportunity to enter the transfer portal or test the draft waters, the 6-10, 250-pound forward instead decided to run it back under Mark Pope to solidify one of the deepest, most talented frontcourts in college basketball. He wrapped up his first season at Kentucky averaging 5.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 17.3 minutes per contest, showing unreal flashes of potential as a former McDonald’s All-American.

Jelavic and Garrison join a frontcourt that includes Alabama transfer Mo Dioubate, Arizona State transfer Jayden Quaintance and blue-chip freshman Malachi Moreno.

Elsewhere, Pittsburgh transfer Jaland Lowe and Tulane transfer Kam Williams are signed on for next year, as is five-star freshman Jasper Johnson while Acaden Lewis decommitted from the program this past week. From there, Otega Oweh, Collin Chandler, Trent Noah and Travis Perry all have remaining eligibility, but have yet to make a public announcement on their respective futures — though optimism remains high the Wildcats will get all of them back.

How could Pope wrap things up? Lamar Wilkerson of Sam Houston State is set to visit Lexington on Sunday while 2025 four-star forward Braydon Hawthorne will be taking an official on Wednesday.

KSR is tracking the latest on additions and departures as we dig into Pope’s first full offseason cycle as head coach.

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GRADUATED: Lamont Butler, Jaxson Robinson, Koby Brea, Andrew Carr, Ansley Almonor, Amari Williams

PORTAL DEPARTURES: Kerr Kriisa

REMAINING ELIGIBILITY: Otega Oweh, Collin Chandler, Trent Noah, Travis Perry

CONFIRMED RETURNS: Brandon Garrison

HS SIGNEES: Jasper Johnson, Malachi Moreno

PORTAL ADDITIONS: Kam Williams, Jaland Lowe, Mo Dioubate, Jayden Quaintance

INTERNATIONAL ADDITIONS: Andrija Jelavic

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IMPORTANT DATES

• April 22: Transfer Portal Closes
• April 26: NBA Early Entry Eligibility Deadline (11:59 p.m. ET)
• May 12: NBA Draft Lottery
• May 11-18: NBA Combine
• May 28: NCAA Early Entry Withdrawal Deadline (11:59 pm ET)
• June 15: NBA Draft Early Entry Withdrawal Deadline (5 p.m. ET)
• June 25: NBA Draft 2025 First Round
• June 26: NBA Draft 2025 Second Round

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UPDATES

April 12: Brandon Garrison returns to Kentucky

• Averaged 5.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 17.3 minutes per contest as a sophomore at UK

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

April 12: Andrija Jelavic commits to Kentucky

• Averaged 10.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game over the past two seasons playing for Mega Superbet in Serbia
• Made 52 3-pointers in 53 games over the past two seasons
• Considered one of the top European prospects in his age group

April 10: Kentucky signee Acaden Lewis reopens recruitment

• “It is clear Kentucky is a special place with an amazing fanbase, but as I reflect on what is best for my future, I have decided to re-open my recruitment,” he told ESPN. “This was an incredibly difficult decision, but after a lot of discussion with my family and people I trust, I feel this is necessary.”
• Lewis is rated as the No. 32 prospect and No. 5 point guard, according to the On3 Industry Ranking

April 8: Arizona State transfer Jayden Quaintance commits to Kentucky

• Averaged 9.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.6 BPG on 52.5 FG% in ’24-25
• Coming off a torn ACL, surgery on March 19
• Committed to Kentucky over Auburn, USC, Kansas and Ohio State, among others.
• “I look forward to having a real chance to win it next year. I feel like that’s going to be another really big part of going to Kentucky. So, we have a real shot to win the national championship,” he told KSR.

April 7: Alabama transfer Mouhamed Dioubate commits to Kentucky

• Averaged 7.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.1 APG on 61.7% FG and 46.2% 3PT in ’24-25
• Committed to Kentucky over the likes of Louisville, Michigan, Mississippi State, North Carolina, NC State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Providence, Vanderbilt and Villanova, among others.

April 6: Kentucky transfer Kerr Kriisa commits to Cincinnati

• “I’m pretty sure it’s my last year of eligibility (for real this time). Excited to be a Bearcat!!” Kriisa posted on social media.
• Kriisa averaged 4.4 points and 3.8 assists per contest in his lone season at Kentucky.

April 5: Pittsburgh transfer Jaland Lowe commits to Kentucky

• Averaged 16.8 PPG, 5.5 APG, 4.2 RPG, 1.8 SPG on 37.6% FG and 26.6% 3PT in ’24-25
• Selected to the All-ACC Third Team as a breakout star in the conference

March 31: Mark Pope comments on Travis Perry, Trent Noah

During his final call-in radio show of the season, Pope shared brief updates on Kentucky’s in-state freshmen and their futures in blue and white — a sign both will be back for their sophomore seasons.

• “Travis Perry is really special, man. What an unbelievable young man. He is going to carry this Kentucky banner,” he said. “He’s pretty extraordinary.”
• “Trent and I met for a long time (Sunday). Man, he’s just special. He is special,” Pope said of Noah.
  “… That’s an incredible transformation as a freshman at this level, playing against the teams he played against with the players he played against, with the stakes so high. I expect him to continue to get better and better. … He’s going to be a tremendous player.”

March 31: Kerr Kriisa enters the transfer portal

• “To Coach Pope and the UK coaching staff — it has been an absolute dream to play for the University of Kentucky. Thank you for your continued support,” Kriisa wrote on social media. “I will always cherish my time in the Blue Grass State, and I wish Kentucky Basketball all the best in the future.”
• The 6-3 guard averaged 4.4 points and 3.8 assists in 17.4 minutes per contest in nine games as a Wildcat
• Kriisa underwent season-ending foot surgery following Kentucky’s win over Gonzaga on Dec. 7
• He will apply for a medical redshirt, giving him a sixth and final season of eligibility

March 28: Kentucky players with remaining eligibility discuss future plans

Immediately after the team’s loss to Tennessee in the Sweet 16, the Wildcats with remaining eligibility shared their first updates on their respective futures at Kentucky.

• Otega Oweh: “I haven’t thought about none of that.”
• Brandon Garrison: “I’m gonna talk to Coach Pope and the staff and see what’s next for me, my family and my agent and stuff.”
• Collin Chandler: “Yeah, I haven’t thought about that whatsoever. I know it’s probably chaos out there right now, but we’ve been focused on what we’re doing and being present with this group, focusing on the goal that we’ve had.”
• Travis Perry: “Yeah, certainly (I’m planning to return). Certainly.”
• Trent Noah: “I love playing for Coach Pope, he’s such an incredible person, as well. That’s what makes this so special, the bond that we have. He’s a great basketball coach, but you can put that part aside because he’s a great human being. He’s someone you want to play for.”

March 28: Tulane transfer Kam Williams commits to Kentucky

• Picked Kentucky over Florida, Louisville, Baylor, Texas, LSU, Texas Tech, Arkansas and USC
• “With opportunities like that, regardless of whether I’ve seen it or not, that caliber of school is something you can’t pass on. It was really the culture, the play style, and the background they have. They’ve sent multiple players to the NBA, and my goal is to make the NBA. It was really a no-brainer,” he told Jacob Polacheck of KSR+.
• Averaged 9.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.3 APG on 48.5% FG and 41.2% 3PT in ’24-25