From Kentucky Roots to National Spotlights: 21 Hoops Headlines as 2025 Winds Down
As the final seconds tick off the 2025 calendar, it’s a good time to check in on some familiar names - and a few rising ones - making waves across the college basketball landscape. From former Wildcats finding their stride elsewhere to Kentucky high school legends turning heads on new stages, here are 21 fast-break storylines to know as we head into 2026.
21. Jordan Burks is Balling Out at UCF
After a quiet stint at Kentucky, Jordan Burks is making a whole lot of noise in Orlando. The 6-foot-9 junior forward is leading a surging UCF squad (11-1) and proving he’s more than just a role player.
He’s emerged as the Knights’ top scorer, averaging 13.8 points per game and showing off a well-rounded offensive arsenal.
20. Signature Wins, Solid Numbers
Burks has helped UCF to wins over Texas A&M (SEC) and Pittsburgh (ACC), and his 21-point performance at A&M on Nov. 14 was a breakout moment. That night, he looked every bit like a go-to guy - confident, efficient, and aggressive.
19. Limited Run at Kentucky
Before his rise at UCF, Burks had a short and quiet stay in Lexington. In the 2023-24 season, he logged just 140 minutes across 19 games, finishing with 37 points and 33 rebounds.
Not much opportunity, but clearly, the talent was there - it just needed the right setting.
18. Sharpshooting Emergence
Now under Johnny Dawkins at UCF, Burks is thriving. Through 12 games, he’s shooting 49.1% from the field, 39.6% from deep, and a stellar 86.5% at the line.
He’s not just scoring - he’s doing it efficiently and with confidence.
17. Even Duke Took Notice
One of Burks’ best performances came in an exhibition against Duke. Sure, it didn’t count in the standings, but it said a lot about his growth.
He dropped 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Against that kind of competition, that kind of showing turns heads.
16. Big 12 Proving Ground Ahead
The real test is coming. UCF is about to dive into the gauntlet that is Big 12 play, starting with a visit from No.
17 Kansas this Saturday. If Burks keeps this up against the likes of Kansas, Baylor, and Houston, his stock’s only going to rise.
15. Travis Perry Finding His Touch at Ole Miss
It was a rocky start to the season for former Kentucky guard Travis Perry. In his first seven games with Ole Miss, the 6-1 sophomore shot just 7-for-36 from the field.
But lately, the jumper’s starting to fall.
14. Heating Up in December
Over his last five games, Perry’s flipped the script, hitting 15 of 29 shots. That includes a 21-point outing against NC State on Dec. 21, where he knocked down 5 of 11 from three.
It’s the kind of rhythm that could carry him into SEC play with momentum.
13. Return to Rupp Looms
Circle Jan. 24 on the calendar - that’s when Perry and the Rebels visit Rupp Arena. It’ll be a homecoming of sorts for the former Lyon County star, and a chance for Big Blue Nation to see how far he’s come since transferring out.
12. Armelo Boone Lighting It Up at WKU
Freshman guard Armelo Boone is off to a blazing start at Western Kentucky. The former Frederick Douglass and Woodford County standout has already claimed Conference USA Freshman of the Week honors four times - and we’re not even into January yet.
11. Consistent Production
Through 11 games, Boone has scored in double digits eight times, including a 22-point effort in a win over Wichita State on Nov. 28.
He’s averaging 12 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists - numbers that show he’s contributing across the board.
10. Teagan Moore Leading the Way at WKU
Boone isn’t the only in-state product shining for the Hilltoppers. Redshirt sophomore Teagan Moore, who missed last season with a hip injury, has come back strong.
The 6-5 wing from Owen County is averaging a team-best 17.4 points, along with 5.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists. He’s been the engine for WKU’s offense.
9. Matthew Mitchell’s New Chapter at Houston
Former Kentucky women’s coach Matthew Mitchell is back on the sidelines, now leading the Houston Cougars. In his first season, he’s already matched - and surpassed - last year’s win total.
The Cougars are 6-6 heading into a tough matchup with undefeated No. 10 Iowa State on New Year’s Eve.
8. Reality Check in Big 12 Play
Houston’s Big 12 debut was a rough one - a 101-46 loss at West Virginia. With four Big 12 teams in the AP Top 25 and three more receiving votes, it’s clear Mitchell has a mountain to climb.
But he’s no stranger to rebuilding jobs.
7. Honoring a Kentucky Trailblazer: Ceal Barry
Ceal Barry, a Louisville native and former Kentucky women’s basketball captain in the 1970s, left a massive mark on the sport. Her coaching run at Colorado (1983-2005) included 422 wins, 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, and three trips to the Elite Eight.
In 2018, she was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
6. A Lasting Legacy at Colorado
On Jan. 25, Colorado will honor Barry’s impact by naming the west plaza outside the CU Events Center after her.
Athletic Director Rick George called her “the personification of everything that CU athletics and our university stand for.” Hard to argue with that.
5. ZaKiyah Johnson: A Kentucky Legend Doing Big Things at LSU
ZaKiyah Johnson’s high school résumé reads like a basketball fairy tale: four-time state champ, four-time state tourney MVP, four-time Gatorade Kentucky Player of the Year, 2025 Miss Basketball, and a McDonald’s All-American. No one in Kentucky girls basketball history has done it quite like her.
4. Making an Instant Impact in Baton Rouge
Now at LSU under Kim Mulkey, the 6-foot wing is off to a strong start. Through 14 games, Johnson is averaging 12.2 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting an eye-popping 64.4% from the field.
She’s not just adjusting to the college game - she’s thriving in it.
3. A Bittersweet Matchup on the Horizon
Kentucky fans will get a front-row seat to Johnson’s next chapter when No. 11 UK travels to No.
5 LSU to open SEC play. It’s a must-watch game, but also a bittersweet one - seeing a homegrown star suit up for the other side will sting a little.
2. Kentucky Women Ready for the Challenge
The Wildcats enter that SEC opener at 13-1, while LSU stands unbeaten at 14-0. It’s a heavyweight clash right out of the gate - and with Johnson on the floor, there’s even more intrigue.
1. A New Year, New Opportunities
As 2026 arrives, Kentucky basketball - both men's and women's, and across all levels - finds itself at a fascinating crossroads. Whether it’s former Wildcats finding new life elsewhere, in-state talent blossoming in other uniforms, or legends being honored for their past, the storylines are rich, emotional, and deeply tied to hoops culture in the Bluegrass.
So as the ball drops in Times Square, keep an eye on the hardwood - because the next chapter in Kentucky basketball is already being written.