Meet the 2025-26 Kentucky Wildcats: The Mark Pope Era Begins with Walker Horn, Without Andrija Jelavic

For the first time in over a decade and a half, Kentucky basketball is in the hands of someone other than John Calipari. With Mark Pope at the helm, the 2025-26 Wildcats promise to be a completely different kind of team, shaped by a blend of new-school tactics, transfer portal savvy, and a refreshing sense of continuity from Pope’s own brand of basketball success at BYU. Fans of Big Blue Nation find themselves bracing for the unexpected. And yet, even in this new era, familiar pressure remains. In Lexington, Final Fours are not aspirational—they’re expected. Championships aren’t dreams—they’re standards. Pope knows that. And he’s moving fast to build a team that doesn’t just fit the mold, but might break it altogether.

One of the most notable and sentimental early additions to Pope’s roster is his own son, Walker Horn. The former BYU walk-on isn’t expected to play a major on-court role, but his presence is symbolic. It’s Pope planting a family flag at Rupp Arena, bringing personal trust and cohesion into a locker room that’s undergone near-total transformation. Walker Horn is more than just a coach’s kid—he’s a representative of the cultural fabric Pope wants to weave through the Kentucky program.

Walker, a junior guard with a high basketball IQ and a deep understanding of his father’s system, transferred from BYU shortly after Pope took the Kentucky job. While his minutes may be limited, his presence could help facilitate the coach’s expectations both on and off the court. Pope has said repeatedly that culture matters as much as talent, especially during an era of portal-fueled instability. Walker Horn is a foundational piece in that regard, and his arrival signals a tone of accountability, familiarity, and unity that Pope is counting on as he tries to fast-track success.

Still, it’s not just about legacy kids and symbolic gestures. Kentucky’s new roster is taking shape rapidly, built primarily through the portal. Pope has emphasized versatility and shooting, hallmarks of his BYU teams, and that influence is already visible in the players who have committed.

Jaxson Robinson, a key player under Pope at BYU and one of the top shooters in the country, is expected to be a centerpiece if he pulls out of the NBA Draft. Though he declared for the draft while maintaining his college eligibility, Robinson’s return would give Kentucky a proven scorer who understands Pope’s system. His ability to stretch the floor with range and consistency is exactly the kind of skill Pope wants to weaponize.

In the frontcourt, the Wildcats have received a commitment from Amari Williams, the three-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year from Drexel. The 6-foot-10 big man brings elite rim protection, a physical presence in the paint, and a veteran mindset. Pope’s system at BYU leaned heavily on mobile bigs who could pass and defend—Williams fits that profile and adds instant experience in a post-Calipari program that had grown reliant on young five-star freshmen.

The guard play will look dramatically different, too. Lamont Butler, the former San Diego State star who hit the game-winner in the 2023 Final Four, has joined the roster. Known for his on-ball defense and clutch instincts, Butler gives the Wildcats a veteran floor general who won’t be intimidated by high expectations or big-game moments. He is battle-tested and brings an edge that Kentucky desperately needs in an SEC that continues to rise in competitiveness.

Tramon Mark, who transferred in from Arkansas, adds length, scoring, and defensive versatility. He’s been productive at every stop, from Houston to Fayetteville, and now comes to Lexington with an opportunity to be a high-usage wing in Pope’s movement-based offense. His ability to create off the dribble and hit contested shots makes him a key swing piece in Kentucky’s roster puzzle.

Koby Brea, the elite three-point marksman from Dayton, is another headline addition. He shot over 46% from beyond the arc last season and will likely serve as a floor-spacing sniper. Pope is building a roster that can hurt teams in multiple ways from the perimeter, and Brea might be the best pure shooter of the bunch.

Meanwhile, there’s still a question mark looming in the form of Andrija Jelavic. The 6-foot-10 Serbian prospect verbally committed to Kentucky in May but has yet to officially sign or enroll. There have been no public issues or decommitments reported, but his situation remains unresolved. Jelavic, a skilled international forward with pro experience overseas, would be a high-upside developmental piece. Kentucky fans are hoping the delay is merely administrative or logistical. Pope has left the door open, continuing to express interest, and the staff reportedly remains in contact. But for now, the roster must be considered without him.

Without Jelavic, the Wildcats will rely more heavily on veterans and shorter-term projects to hold down the interior. That may not be a bad thing—Pope’s system is as much about spacing and reads as it is about traditional post-ups. But Jelavic’s presence would certainly help, especially against longer SEC frontcourts.

What’s clear is that Pope is doing things his way. Gone are the days of top-ranked freshman classes dominating the headlines in April. Instead, Pope is relying on older, experienced players who have logged hundreds of college games. It’s a dramatic shift from the one-and-done factory Kentucky became under Calipari. That strategy delivered plenty of NBA talent, but often at the cost of cohesion and postseason consistency.

This roster already features more collegiate experience than several of Cal’s most recent teams combined. It’s filled with players who’ve played in the NCAA Tournament, who understand scouting reports, and who have had to earn minutes the hard way. That might not be as flashy as a top-3 recruiting class, but it could result in a more balanced, mentally tough squad when March rolls around.

Pope is also betting big on chemistry. Bringing in players from a wide array of systems—Arkansas, San Diego State, Dayton, BYU, Drexel—means there will be a learning curve. But it also means this group isn’t bound by ego. These are not teenagers expecting 30 minutes a night and lottery pick status. These are competitors looking to win now, and willing to buy in to Pope’s vision to do it.

Of course, the spotlight will still shine bright. Kentucky is Kentucky. Rupp Arena will still sell out. Every loss will still feel like a national tragedy. Pope knows the stakes. That’s why he hasn’t wasted time reshaping the roster into something he trusts.

He’s also reshaping expectations. Under Pope, player development is expected to become a real pillar of the program. It’s not about quick exits anymore; it’s about building winning habits and retaining talent long enough to let it flourish. The presence of Walker Horn on the roster, however symbolic, reminds everyone watching that this version of Kentucky is going to be about process, identity, and continuity.

It might not produce a No. 1 pick. But it could very well produce wins—more of them, when they matter most.

For now, the only thing truly missing is clarity on Andrija Jelavic. If he joins, Pope will have one more versatile big to shape. If he doesn’t, Pope has already built a capable and experienced roster that looks nothing like the Kentucky of the past—and maybe that’s the entire point.

As June rolls forward and the roster nears finalization, one thing is certain: this is Mark Pope’s Kentucky now. The names are different. The faces are older. The style is modern. And while the jerseys may be the same, the program’s soul is in transition. Whether that transition leads to banner No. 9 remains to be seen. But for the first time in years, Kentucky basketball is unpredictable again.

That might be exactly what it needs.