Kentucky Basketball Roster Update: Walker Horn and Zach Tow Return as Wildcats Finalize 2025–26 Team
Mark Pope’s second Kentucky basketball team is beginning to take on its final shape, and two familiar faces will once again be part of the roster. The University of Kentucky officially updated its men’s basketball roster for the 2025–26 season, confirming the returns of senior guard Walker Horn and senior forward Zach Tow. Both players were walk-ons for last year’s Wildcats team, and their inclusion means Kentucky will have six returning players from the 2024–25 squad that finished with a 24–12 record and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Horn and Tow will join fellow returnees Otega Oweh (senior guard), Collin Chandler (sophomore guard), Trent Noah (sophomore forward), and Brandon Garrison (junior forward). In total, there are now 16 players listed on Kentucky’s official roster heading into the new campaign. With the roster and schedule both finalized, Pope and his staff now have a clearer picture of the group they will take into what promises to be a pivotal season in Lexington.
Walker Horn’s Steady Presence
For many Kentucky fans, Horn’s return brings a sense of continuity. The son of Northern Kentucky men’s basketball head coach Darrin Horn, Walker has been with the Wildcats since 2021 and has become a respected locker-room presence despite limited playing time.
Horn is listed as a senior guard and will wear the No. 11 jersey this season. That number carries some significance in recent Kentucky history—last year, it was worn by Travis Perry, the all-time leading scorer in Kentucky high school basketball. Perry transferred to Ole Miss in the offseason, leaving Horn to inherit the number. In prior years, Horn donned both No. 21 and No. 22 while at Kentucky.
Statistically, Horn has seen action in 13 games across three seasons, typically appearing in the closing moments of non-conference blowouts or on Senior Night occasions. While his box score contributions may be minimal, his value to the program has often been described in terms of leadership, consistency, and dedication. Players and coaches alike have praised Horn’s commitment to practice and his willingness to embrace the demanding role of a walk-on at one of the nation’s most scrutinized programs.
Kentucky Basketball Roster Update: Walker Horn and Zach Tow Return as Wildcats Finalize 2025–26 Team
Mark Pope’s second Kentucky basketball team is beginning to take on its final shape, and two familiar faces will once again be part of the roster. The University of Kentucky officially updated its men’s basketball roster for the 2025–26 season, confirming the returns of senior guard Walker Horn and senior forward Zach Tow. Both players were walk-ons for last year’s Wildcats team, and their inclusion means Kentucky will have six returning players from the 2024–25 squad that finished with a 24–12 record and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Horn and Tow will join fellow returnees Otega Oweh (senior guard), Collin Chandler (sophomore guard), Trent Noah (sophomore forward), and Brandon Garrison (junior forward). In total, there are now 16 players listed on Kentucky’s official roster heading into the new campaign. With the roster and schedule both finalized, Pope and his staff now have a clearer picture of the group they will take into what promises to be a pivotal season in Lexington.
Walker Horn’s Steady Presence
For many Kentucky fans, Horn’s return brings a sense of continuity. The son of Northern Kentucky men’s basketball head coach Darrin Horn, Walker has been with the Wildcats since 2021 and has become a respected locker-room presence despite limited playing time.
Horn is listed as a senior guard and will wear the No. 11 jersey this season. That number carries some significance in recent Kentucky history—last year, it was worn by Travis Perry, the all-time leading scorer in Kentucky high school basketball. Perry transferred to Ole Miss in the offseason, leaving Horn to inherit the number. In prior years, Horn donned both No. 21 and No. 22 while at Kentucky.
Statistically, Horn has seen action in 13 games across three seasons, typically appearing in the closing moments of non-conference blowouts or on Senior Night occasions. While his box score contributions may be minimal, his value to the program has often been described in terms of leadership, consistency, and dedication. Players and coaches alike have praised Horn’s commitment to practice and his willingness to embrace the demanding role of a walk-on at one of the nation’s most scrutinized programs.
Zach Tow’s Inspirational Journey
While Horn’s presence is familiar, Tow’s story has the qualities of a feel-good sports narrative. A native of Madisonville, Kentucky, Tow joined the Wildcats through the school’s open tryout process, where any student enrolled at UK has the opportunity to compete for a roster spot.
Tow impressed enough to not only secure a place on the team but also earn respect from his coaches and teammates. A former standout at Madisonville-North Hopkins High School, he averaged a double-double as a senior in the 2021–22 season before enrolling at Kentucky as a regular student.
His dream of wearing the blue and white became reality in 2024–25 when he made his college debut on Senior Night against LSU. Although his playing time was limited to just two appearances last season, his work ethic has become legendary within the program.
Head coach Mark Pope praised Tow after that LSU game, highlighting the qualities that made him valuable beyond the court. “He showed up and he fought through 60 guys in a bunch of workouts and then earned the right to come to practice and be on a one-day contract throughout the entire course of the season,” Pope said. “He came and battled every single day, never said a word, never missed a rep, never missed a practice, never was an issue, never asked for anything. Just came and fought every single day.”
Tow will once again wear the No. 20 jersey this season, continuing a journey that demonstrates the pride and perseverance of walk-ons at the highest level of college basketball.
Walk-On Tradition at Kentucky
Horn and Tow were part of a trio of walk-ons last season that also included Grant Darbyshire, a junior guard who transferred to Cincinnati during the offseason. While walk-ons rarely feature in headlines compared to scholarship players, their roles at Kentucky have historically been important.
They push starters in practice, fill in during scrimmages, and embody the “team-first” mentality that Pope has emphasized since taking over the program. Horn’s long-term loyalty and Tow’s underdog determination provide examples of how the Wildcats’ culture extends beyond just NBA-bound stars.
Roster and Schedule Now Set
With Horn and Tow officially back, Kentucky’s roster appears locked in at 16 players. The team has a mix of returning veterans, high-profile recruits, and transfer additions that Pope and his staff secured during a busy offseason.
Equally important, Kentucky’s 2025–26 schedule is now finalized. All 31 regular-season games have been announced, along with two exhibitions at Rupp Arena against Purdue and Georgetown. The anticipation is already building for Big Blue Madness, expected to take place the weekend of October 10, followed by the traditional Blue-White scrimmage the following week.
These events will mark the first public look at Pope’s revamped squad and will give fans a glimpse of how the returning core—including Horn, Tow, Oweh, Chandler, Noah, and Garrison—fits alongside the newcomers.
Continuity Amid Change
For a program like Kentucky, where roster turnover is often the norm, having six returning players represents a measure of continuity. Pope’s first team made a respectable run to the Sweet 16, and building on that foundation with a mix of veterans and fresh talent could make the Wildcats one of the more intriguing teams in the SEC this season.
Horn and Tow may not be the names that dominate the stat sheets, but their decision to return ensures that the Wildcats will have leaders who understand the expectations and culture of Kentucky basketball. For Pope, that’s a valuable asset as he works to establish his identity in his second year at the helm.
