In Kentucky’s final exhibition before the start of the regular season, several transfers had strong performances in a 98-67 victory over Minnesota State. While Kentucky is usually monitored for its impressive freshmen, this new era will be highlighted by productive upperclassmen in the first season under coach Mark Pope. This article will look at the most impressive performances in the Wildcats’ blowout win and how these transfers could battle for draft positioning.

Jaxson Robinson enters the season with a chance to establish himself as one of the best three-point shooters in all of college basketball. He finished the game with 24 points, six rebounds and three assists while shooting 8 of 12 from deep. Since all of his points come from long range, it’s safe to assume his shooting will be an emphasis for Kentucky’s offense this year. He moves very well without the ball and the variety of jump shots he attempts and makes seem reminiscent of Buddy Hield. Robinson may not be on the same level as Hield, but his ability to make clean shots despite facing tough closeouts has been impressive and could translate well to the next level.

Otega Oweh is an explosive guard who works hard to make his impact felt on both ends of the floor. Ending this final display with 15 points, three rebounds, six assists and three steals, Oweh was everywhere and did a great job making quick decisions. His feel for the game seems much more fluid than in his first seasons at Oklahoma. He shot 7 of 8 from the field, and his only miss was from deep. While three-point shooting wasn’t a factor in this game, he was able to hit two in Kentucky’s previous matchup against Kentucky Wesleyan, so there is hope heading into the season. Oweh has also shown flashes of improvement in his play this season, and this game showed it by assisting on six field goals without committing a turnover. The athletic tools are there, but if his long-range shooting and play improve, he could quickly become a name to know heading into the 2025 NBA Draft.

Brandon Garrison did not start this game for the Wildcats, but he made his presence felt on the interior. Finishing with 12 points, four rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block, Garrison appears ready to make a leap from his freshman year at Oklahoma State. He plays a somewhat old-school game, but has the mobility to continue improving as a versatile defender. Garrison impressed last season with his footwork and soft touch inside, and looks ready to make a more consistent impact throughout this preseason. He exploded with a powerful dunk on an opponent in this matchup that highlighted his athleticism. His defensive instincts are solid, and as he continues to develop, it shouldn’t be too surprising to see his effectiveness on the interior expand closer to the perimeter. His mobility looked much better in this showing and should create an interesting story to monitor throughout the season.

Andrew Carr may not be on the same level as the other NBA prospects discussed here, but he has impressed with his play throughout the preseason. He added 14 points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block in his 17 minutes of action during this matchup. He has a versatile offensive game, but can sometimes struggle to consistently impact the defensive end. His motor and willingness to compete have stood out heading into the 2025 season and should help him fit perfectly into his role as the season gets underway. His post play and feel for outlet passes are underrated aspects of his game that should continue to be effective for the Wildcats. He’ll need to become more of a factor on the boards throughout the year, but he could create an opportunity for himself at the next level if he focuses on excelling at the little things.

Do you want to join the discussion? As Summary draft on facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date with the latest NBA Draft news. you can too meet the team behind cover.