Lowe, who will be a junior when he enrolls at Kentucky, entered the NCAA transfer portal Tuesday.
The loss of Lowe is a blow to the Pitt program by itself, but he is one of eight scholarship players — fifth via transfer — to announce plans to leave since the end of a disappointing 2024-25 season. Pitt started 12-2, but finished with an overall record of 17-15.
The news, initially reported by major outlets such as ESPN, 247Sports, and On3.com, was later confirmed by a source close to the program. Lowe had only entered the NCAA transfer portal on Tuesday, but it didn’t take long for a national powerhouse like Kentucky to move quickly and secure his services. When he arrives in Lexington, Lowe will be a junior with two years of collegiate experience already under his belt.
His departure is not only a major individual loss but also a broader symptom of a troubling trend for the Pitt program. Since the conclusion of what was ultimately a disappointing 2024–25 season, Lowe becomes the eighth scholarship player — and the fifth via transfer — to declare his intention to leave the team. Despite beginning the season with an impressive 12-2 record, the Panthers faded in the second half and closed the year at 17-15 overall, missing out on the NCAA Tournament and falling short of preseason expectations.
Lowe’s decision to leave stings even more because of the role he played during his time at Pitt. Widely regarded as one of the premier point guards currently in the transfer portal, he served as the engine behind the Panthers’ offense throughout his two seasons. Since arriving on campus for the 2023–24 season, he started in 50 of the 64 games in which he played and was the primary ball-handler and playmaker in the vast majority of offensive possessions. In the 2024–25 campaign, he led the team in nearly every major statistical category — scoring 16.8 points per game, dishing out 5.5 assists, and logging a remarkable 35.6 minutes per contest.
His leadership and consistency made him a fan favorite and a cornerstone of the team’s strategy. As a freshman, he formed a dynamic backcourt duo with Bub Carrington, helping the Panthers reach a second consecutive season with over 22 victories — something the program had not accomplished since the days before Jamie Dixon’s departure in 2016. That stretch represented a glimmer of hope for Pitt fans, who had endured several tough seasons and longed for a return to national relevance. However, Lowe’s departure now signals the beginning of yet another rebuilding phase.
Throughout his two-year stint in Pittsburgh, Lowe consistently praised Capel’s coaching and the opportunities he was given to grow as a player and as a leader. His average stat line of 13.1 points and 4.3 assists across two seasons speaks to his on-court value, but his intangible contributions — poise, competitiveness, and leadership — were just as vital to the team’s identity. He emerged as a trusted leader in the locker room and a steadying presence on the court, even during stretches of adversity.
However, the current state of college athletics has introduced new challenges, particularly for programs like Pitt that lack the resources and national pull of bigger-name schools. The NCAA’s transfer portal has made it easier than ever for players to change programs, and immediate eligibility means that athletes like Lowe can leave one program and step into a key role at another without delay. Add in the increasingly lucrative nature of name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals — which can amount to substantial earnings for top-tier athletes — and it becomes clear how difficult it is for mid-tier programs to hold onto their stars.
In Lowe’s case, these dynamics likely played a significant role in his decision. Now, he’s headed to a program with not just historical prestige, but also national visibility, deep resources, and championship aspirations. Kentucky, a school with eight NCAA national championships and a proud tradition of basketball excellence, represents a step onto the sport’s biggest stage. The Wildcats finished the 2024–25 season with a 24-12 overall record and went 10-8 in Southeastern Conference (SEC) play — a solid showing in what is currently considered the strongest basketball conference in the nation.
The SEC’s strength was clearly evident in this year’s NCAA Tournament, where a total of 14 SEC teams received invitations — a stark contrast to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), which sent only four. Adding to that, two SEC programs — Florida and Auburn — advanced all the way to the Final Four, highlighting the depth and competitive edge of the league Lowe is joining.
For Pitt and Coach Capel, Lowe’s exit forces yet another pivot in a program that had only recently begun showing signs of stability and progress. With the departure of so many scholarship players, the roster will require a significant overhaul before the next season begins. The staff will need to hit the transfer portal aggressively themselves to restock the team and identify new leaders who can fill the sizable void left by Lowe and others.
In the ever-evolving landscape of college basketball, where player movement and financial incentives shape team composition year to year, Pitt is facing the harsh reality that success is harder to sustain than ever. For now, Jaland Lowe’s decision to leave might be seen as a reflection of broader trends — but for those close to the program, it still feels like a personal loss.
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