Collin Chandler has a Huge Upside

Collin Chandler could develop into a fan favorite at Kentucky. (Vicky Graff Photo)

The player with the biggest upside on coach Mark Pope’s basketball team is freshman guard Collin Chandler, a former top 30 ranked recruit who spent the previous two years on a church mission trip overseas.

“I have been recruiting him for what seems like 20 years,” Pope said. “We talk about deciders on the court and his processing speed is incredible. He has a burst that is a little unique on our team.”

Pope likes that Chandler can get “from point A to point B in a special way” unlike any other player at UK.

“He has taken massive strides defensively,” the UK coach said. “He really has a huge upside. We are going to watch him progress and progress. I have coached kids who have taken a two-year hiatus a lot and it will be staggering how he develops the next six months as he gets his legs, timing and game back.”

Chandler said he normally goes against Jaxson Robinson, Koby Brea and Travis Perry in practice.

“That has been a big blessing for me playing against them and trying to guard them. I feel very confident guarding anybody in the country after guarding them,” he said. “You find out what you need to work on but also things that you are good at and things that work. If something works against Lamont Butler, it will work against a lot of people in the country.”

Butler is a lockdown defender that Pope believes is one of the best perimeter defenders in the country and Chandler certainly agrees.

“It is a great challenge that any competitor wants to try to score against him. He is very physical, very fast and great at anticipating,” Chandler said. “Lamont is known to be that guy on defense. Kind of like nothing to lose. Just go at him and hope it goes well and learn what you can if it does not go well.”