Kentucky’s Jaland Lowe Praises Teammate as the Greatest Shooter He’s Ever Seen, Raising Expectations Around Wildcats’ Backcourt This Season
Jaland Lowe hasn’t been in Lexington long, but it hasn’t taken him much time to make headlines—both for his own talent and for the bold praise he recently offered about one of his teammates. In a summer workout interview, Lowe—who transferred to Kentucky from Pittsburgh—caught the attention of fans and media alike by calling one of his fellow Wildcats “the best shooter I’ve ever seen.” Coming from a floor general who’s played elite high school and ACC basketball, that statement holds weight. It’s not just praise—it’s a spotlight.
Lowe’s words weren’t thrown around casually. He’s known as a thoughtful, composed player, not one prone to exaggeration. For him to single out a teammate with such definitive conviction signals something special brewing in the Kentucky locker room. While he didn’t name the teammate publicly in that moment, speculation immediately swirled among fans and analysts, with many pointing to names like Jasper Johnson, Kerr Kriisa, or Travis Perry—players known for their shooting acumen.
Regardless of who Lowe was referring to, the comment itself says just as much about the culture of this year’s Kentucky squad as it does about one player’s shooting ability. It reveals a team environment full of talent, competition, and mutual respect. It suggests that practices have been intense, shots are falling at a high clip, and this roster might just possess a kind of perimeter firepower that hasn’t always been Kentucky’s calling card in recent years.
For context, Kentucky has not consistently ranked among the nation’s best three-point shooting teams over the last several seasons. While the Wildcats have had elite talent at nearly every position, perimeter shooting has often been a weakness, particularly in close tournament games. Players like Tyler Herro and Malik Monk lit up the scoreboard from deep, but there’s been a stretch since where long-range shooting has been inconsistent.
That might be changing this season—and Lowe’s comment may be the first public glimpse of that evolution.
Lowe himself is a cerebral point guard known for his passing instincts and high basketball IQ. At Pitt, he earned praise for his ability to orchestrate an offense and stay composed under pressure. He doesn’t just see the game—he feels it. So when he recognizes a teammate as a next-level shooter, it’s likely based on hundreds of reps, floor spacing, timing, and how those shots affect the flow of play.
Consider Jasper Johnson, a five-star recruit with one of the purest left-handed strokes in the class of 2025. Johnson is long, poised, and confident beyond the arc. His mechanics are clean, and he can shoot off the catch or the dribble. If he’s the teammate Lowe referred to, then the praise lines up with scouting reports and recruiting buzz. Johnson has drawn comparisons to elite shooters already in the NBA pipeline, and if he translates his shooting touch to the college level, Kentucky’s offense instantly becomes more dynamic.
Then there’s Travis Perry, the all-time leading scorer in Kentucky high school basketball history. Known for his deep range, quick release, and confidence shooting from nearly anywhere, Perry is the type of player who can stretch defenses just by standing beyond the arc. While he may not have the same national reputation as some five-stars, Perry’s shot-making ability has been tested under pressure time and again. He’s earned the respect of teammates, fans, and opponents across the state. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Lowe were referring to him.
Kerr Kriisa is another possible candidate. The senior transfer from West Virginia (and previously Arizona) brings experience, swagger, and serious range. He’s known for hitting big shots and playing with flair. He also brings a unique international style that adds flavor to Kentucky’s guard rotation. His ability to pull up from deep—especially in transition or late-clock situations—makes him a threat that defenses must respect.
Regardless of who Lowe meant, the broader implication is this: Kentucky is loaded with shooters. And when a point guard like Lowe makes it his mission to find them, the offense can become deadly. This version of the Wildcats may be built differently from the inside-out approach of years past. Rather than relying on dominant post play or dribble drives, this group could be far more perimeter-oriented, with spacing and tempo defining their identity.
Head coach Mark Pope’s offensive philosophy plays right into that. Known for his modern, spacing-first, fast-paced system, Pope encourages his players to let it fly from deep, stretch defenses, and keep the ball moving. That’s a system where great shooters thrive—and where someone who might be “the best shooter” Lowe’s ever seen could truly shine.
What makes Lowe’s statement particularly exciting for Kentucky fans is what it says about chemistry. When a point guard believes in his shooters, it builds confidence. It means shots will come in rhythm, possessions will be unselfish, and players will feel empowered. That belief often leads to better efficiency, higher shooting percentages, and greater trust on the floor.
It also means opposing defenses will have a serious problem. If Kentucky can roll out multiple guards and wings who shoot over 40 percent from deep, they become almost impossible to guard. Add in a skilled passer like Lowe running the show, and bigs who can finish or space the floor, and this team could generate one of the most balanced offenses in recent program history.
Beyond the X’s and O’s, Lowe’s comment speaks to a deeper narrative about Kentucky basketball this year—a team that is unified, competitive, and focused. Instead of egos and individual agendas, this team appears built on belief in one another. For a newcomer to so quickly elevate a teammate with such high praise says a lot about the energy inside the locker room. There’s no jealousy, no resentment. Just respect.
Lowe, by all accounts, is not the kind of player to speak loosely. His journey from Fort Bend Marshall High School in Texas, to Pitt, and now to Kentucky has been marked by maturity and thoughtful decisions. For him, coming to Kentucky wasn’t just about a bigger spotlight—it was about surrounding himself with talent, being pushed daily, and developing into a complete player. That’s the environment Coach Pope is building, and it’s the environment where elite shooters—and elite teammates—thrive.
As the season nears, all eyes will be on how this praise manifests on the court. Will the Wildcats become a top-five three-point shooting team? Will one of Lowe’s teammates break Kentucky’s single-season three-point record? Will the Wildcats finally shake the criticism of perimeter inconsistency that has haunted them in recent years?
Time will tell, but the early signs are promising.
Jaland Lowe’s endorsement might seem like just a simple quote, but in reality, it could be the spark of something much bigger—a shift in how Kentucky plays, how opponents scout them, and how the season unfolds. If that shooter he spoke about lives up to the hype, Kentucky will not only be dangerous. They’ll be nearly unguardable.
And in the end, that’s what Kentucky basketball is all about. Excellence, talent, and the pursuit of greatness. Jaland Lowe knows it. And thanks to his comment, so do we.
