Mark Pope has landed another major addition from the transfer portal. Pitt standout guard Jaland Lowe announced on Saturday that he is transferring to Kentucky, making the second portal commitment for the Wildcats this offseason. The 6-foot-3 sophomore guard brings experience, production, and a dynamic skillset to a retooling Kentucky roster.
Lowe played two seasons with the Panthers, and now he is taking his talents to one of college basketball’s most storied programs. He’s coming off an impressive 2024-25 campaign in which he was named Third Team All-ACC. His numbers speak for themselves: 16.8 points, 5.5 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game in 35.4 minutes.
Despite some inconsistency from the field-especially from beyond the arc-Lowe has shown flashes of elite shooting throughout his college career, particularly during his freshman season. Many believe that operating within a system better suited to his strengths could unlock a higher level of efficiency.
Opposing coaches certainly respected what Lowe brought to the floor, even when his stat lines weren’t at their flashiest. Ahead of a January matchup with Duke, Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer highlighted Lowe as a key player they focused on in their game plan.
“Lowe’s a really good player,” Scheyer told Pittsburgh Sports Now. “He can score in a variety of ways, he can shoot the 3, he can attack the basket, he can create and he plays pretty much the whole game… He’s going to continue to shoot no matter what’s happening and he has great next-play mentality in that regard.”
Even though Duke dominated that contest 76-47 and Lowe struggled-finishing with 8 points on 3-of-12 shooting-Scheyer’s remarks reflected the level of threat Lowe posed.
Louisville head coach Pat Kelsey also praised Lowe after facing him twice in ACC play, calling him a “dynamic guard” with elite quickness and playmaking ability.
“No. 15 is a dynamic guard,” Kelsey said after their March 1 win. “He puts fouls on you… We call it matrix, right?… He throws these passes that, if you ball watch, he’s going to find that dude.”
Lowe had a strong showing in that rematch, tallying a double-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists, despite a cold night from three (1-of-8).
With Kentucky looking to retool its roster under Pope, the addition of Lowe gives the Wildcats a proven high-major guard who can run the offense, create his own shot, and compete against the best in the country. And with coaches across the ACC already showing him the respect of a top-tier guard, Lowe’s arrival in Lexington could be a game-changer.
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