The NCAA Tournament may have crowned its champion, but the real madness is just getting started—and it’s not on the hardwood. The transfer portal has erupted into a frenzy of uncertainty and opportunity, with nearly 2,000 men’s college basketball players tossing their names into the hat of chaos, reshaping the sport’s landscape one move at a time. And now, one of Kentucky’s own may be the next domino to fall.
Brandon Garrison Wipes Kentucky Clean from His Instagram – Is He Gone for Good?
If you blinked while scrolling through Brandon Garrison’s Instagram, you might have missed the biggest clue of the Wildcats’ offseason: his silent scrubbing of all things Kentucky from his profile. No UK logos. No team photos. No #BBN hashtags. Just digital silence.
According to Bleed Blue Network, this isn’t just a coincidence—it’s a storm warning. In the age of NIL and brand-awareness, when a player wipes a team from their social presence, it’s rarely for aesthetic purposes. It’s the digital version of packing your bags and not looking back.
This subtle-but-seismic move has the Wildcat faithful in a frenzy. Is Garrison already halfway out the door?
From Stillwater to Lexington: Garrison’s Rocky Road to Kentucky
Garrison’s time in the Bluegrass State was brief but loaded with emotion. After spending his freshman year at Oklahoma State—where he was a starter in 29 of 32 games, averaging 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds—the firing of beloved head coach Mike Boynton shook Garrison to the core. He was, as The Oklahoman reported, “deeply attached” to Boynton, and the sudden leadership vacuum sent him soul-searching. That journey led him to Lexington.
But what followed in Kentucky was…underwhelming.
In 35 games for the Wildcats, Garrison didn’t start a single one. His numbers dipped across the board—5.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. The explosive confidence he carried at Oklahoma State seemed to fizzle under Kentucky’s crowded rotation and unpredictable lineup shifts.
Still, Mark Pope saw the glimmer. “Brandon is fun—he’s fearless, even if he’s not always right,” Pope said in March. “His float game is solid, his range is stretching, and he’s developing into something special.”
But was that praise enough to keep Garrison grounded? Or was it too little, too late?
Pope’s Not Waiting—He’s Already on the Hunt for the Next Star
Whether Garrison is actually gone or merely flirting with the idea, one thing’s clear: Mark Pope is already moving pieces behind the curtain.
Enter Lamar Wilkerson, the electric 6’5 guard out of Sam Houston who’s suddenly at the center of Kentucky’s recruitment radar. According to ABC 36’s Chris Beasmore, Wilkerson is scheduled for a high-stakes visit to Lexington this weekend. But the Wildcats aren’t the only suitors—Indiana, Auburn, and Ole Miss are also rolling out the red carpet.
Make no mistake: Wilkerson is not your average transfer. He’s a walking highlight reel. In 32 games this past season, he started every single one, pouring in 20.5 points per game with laser efficiency—47.7% from the field, 44.5% from beyond the arc, and 82.2% from the stripe. He’s not just a shooter. He’s a sniper.
Add to that 4.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals, and you’ve got a guard built for the SEC gauntlet.
The Missing Piece in Pope’s Portal Puzzle?
Mark Pope isn’t waiting for the offseason dust to settle. He’s already reloaded the Wildcats’ arsenal with a slew of new weapons via the portal:
- Jaland Lowe, a pure floor general with a knack for controlling pace.
- Kam Williams, a versatile 6’8 wing with through-the-roof potential.
- Mouhamed Dioubatea, a gritty four with a motor that won’t quit.
- Jayden Quaintance, a towering shot-blocking force in the paint.
But there’s still a glaring void: a go-to scorer who can stretch defenses, bury triples in clutch moments, and bring swagger to the wing.
That’s where Lamar Wilkerson enters the frame.
Smoke Signals, Speculation & a Program in Flux
Kentucky is teetering between rebuilding and reloading, and every move counts. If Brandon Garrison is indeed on his way out, Pope needs to hit the portal jackpot—and fast. But with Wilkerson’s stat line, skillset, and SEC-ready body, he may be the difference between a team that hopes to contend and one that actually does.
Meanwhile, fans are left to decode Instagram breadcrumbs and coaching quotes, trying to piece together a puzzle that seems to change by the hour.
Is Garrison preparing for a second departure in two seasons? Can Pope out-charm the competition and land Wilkerson? One thing’s for sure:
Kentucky basketball isn’t just reloading—it’s rewriting its future in real time. And the drama? It’s just getting started.
