How about that for timing? We knew Brandon Garrison and Collin Chandler were officially back, but what about the other three in Otega Oweh, Trent Noah and Travis Perry? We got fairly significant hints about two of those guys this week as Mark Pope made his way to Glasgow on Thursday.
Friend of the program Kelly Craft invited Pope and his wife, Lee Anne, to the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Glasgow-Barren County Boys and Girls Club. There, the Kentucky head coach brought two very special visitors with him in Garrison and Noah — both decked out in UK gear.
WNKY’s Samantha Money shared some sights and sounds from the event, including a few quotes from the Wildcats in attendance.
“It’s Kentucky’s team, so trying to interact with them and meet so many amazing members of BBN. That’s special,” Noah said.
“Like he said, they always made us feel at home ever since we said we were coming here. So we just appreciate the fans. They show mad love,” Garrison added.
Some special guests paid a visit to the Boys and Girls Club of Glasgow-Barren County earlier today.
Hint: They wear blue and white while playing basketball.
News 40’s @SamanthaMoney8 has the scoop. pic.twitter.com/W4Dq6weE0q
— News 40 Sports | WNKY (@News40Sports) April 18, 2025
We know Garrison is back for the Wildcats, but Noah hadn’t made any official announcement — even if the assumption was that he’d return for his sophomore campaign rather than explore his options ahead of the April 22 transfer portal deadline. That lined up with what the Harlan County native said after the season came to a close in the NCAA Tournament.
“Kentucky, this is my dream school,” he told Ryan Black of The Courier Journal. “I don’t want to put on any other jersey besides this one. So, yeah, (being back next season) is the plan, for sure.”
Then came the official announcement on Friday, Noah going public with his return in blue and white.
“Still chasing 9,” he wrote on social media.
still chasing 9 pic.twitter.com/jfiAerbcYH
— Trent Noah (@trentnoah2_) April 18, 2025
That makes three.
How about Travis Perry? He was the only player after the Tennessee loss to confirm right away he wasn’t leaving — “Yeah, certainly,” he said. “Certainly.”
No worries there — but, like Noah, we should expect some sort of announcement to get fans ready for year two of the state’s all-time leading scorer out of high school.
That leaves Otega Oweh as the lone decision still technically up in the air, the rising senior announcing Tuesday evening he would be testing the draft waters while maintaining his college eligibility. Should he decide to pull his name out and return to school, as expected, though, will it be at Kentucky?
The All-SEC guard checked in with his coach and teammates via FaceTime at the event — with a new haircut! — if that tells you anything.
Pope showed the kids at the event Oweh’s trim while the Kentucky star briefly chatted with them at the Boys and Girls Club. It was a sweet moment they certainly won’t forget.
Sweet moment the kids at the Boys and Girls Club in Glasgow, Ky got to say hi to Otega Oweh on facetime with Mark Pope.
Gotta call coach to show off a new haircut, duh.
I think the kids approve! pic.twitter.com/EHpbqOEVhA
— Samantha Money (@SamanthaMoney8) April 17, 2025
To put it simply, things are looking good for fans hoping Kentucky returns all five of Oweh, Garrison, Chandler, Noah and Perry. We’re already 60 percent of the way there.
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