Kentucky Basketball Star Collin Chandler Enters Transfer Portal
Collin Chandler, a key guard for Kentucky basketball, has added his name to the transfer portal, according to multiple reports. He was the first player to commit to coach Mark Pope after Pope took over the Wildcats program.
Transfer details
Chandler is listed at 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds. He will be a junior in the 2026-27 season. The move was reported by several outlets late in the offseason window.
2025-26 season review
Chandler averaged 9.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and roughly 1.2 steals per game last season. He was Kentucky’s most accurate 3-point shooter, converting 41 percent on 73-of-178 attempts. His 73 made triples led the team.
He began the season as a starter for the first 14 games. Chandler came off the bench for a five-game stretch in January. He returned to the starting lineup on Jan. 24 against Ole Miss and stayed there the rest of the year.
His career-high performance came on Feb. 28 against Vanderbilt. Chandler scored 23 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 6-of-8 from long range. He also won the dunk contest at Kentucky’s Big Blue Madness for two straight years.
One highlight was a one-handed dunk over Nicholls forward Grant Sanders. That play earned top billing on SportsCenter’s daily top-10 on Nov. 4.
Early career and recruiting
Chandler originally signed with BYU when Mark Pope was the Cougars’ coach. He then completed a two-year mission before flipping his commitment to Kentucky and enrolling in 2024. As a freshman in 2024-25, he played in 30 games without a start.
He was a four-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting cycle, according to the 247Sports Composite. The composite ranked him No. 37 nationally and No. 6 at his position. He was listed as Utah’s top recruit in 2022.
In high school, Chandler was a three-time first-team all-state player. He also earned the 2022 Gatorade Player of the Year award in Utah after averaging 21.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.7 steals.
Impact on Kentucky
Chandler’s departure will affect perimeter spacing and three-point production. His shooting and athleticism were key elements of the rotation.
Filmogaz.com will monitor transfer updates and report further developments. Interested programs and timelines have not been confirmed publicly.
