Is This Guy Better Now That Koby Brea Is Gone? During summer practice, one Kentucky Wildcat is turning heads. Fans are beginning to believe, coaches are giddy, and teammates are shaken. Could the next Kentucky

During the heat of summer practices, as sweat pools on the hardwood floor and competition intensifies with each drill, one Kentucky Wildcat is beginning to separate himself from the pack. With Koby Brea’s departure, an unexpected vacuum has formed — and it’s being filled in dramatic fashion. Coaches are giddy, teammates are shaken, and fans are already whispering that they might be witnessing the rise of the next Kentucky star.

Koby Brea’s impact on the Wildcats, though relatively brief, was profound. Known for his deep shooting range and high basketball IQ, Brea became a stabilizing presence on the court and a mentor off of it. While he wasn’t always the first name in headlines, insiders understood his value. When he transferred out this offseason, many worried that Kentucky would suffer from his absence — particularly on the perimeter. Who would replace those reliable minutes, that consistent shot, that calming presence in crunch time?

But in the crucible of Kentucky’s summer sessions, a new name has emerged — and with it, a sense of possibility.

Jordan Mills wasn’t a household name last season. In fact, some questioned whether he’d ever carve out a serious role on a program as stacked as Kentucky. Standing at 6’5”, Mills had the physical profile of a college combo guard but hadn’t yet found the consistency to match his tools. Last year, he flashed occasionally in mop-up minutes — a heat-check three here, a crafty finish there — but he didn’t string together the kind of performances that made you think this guy is ready.

Fast forward to this July, and the narrative has changed completely.

Coaches are raving about Mills’ transformation. One insider described it like this:

Teammates have echoed that sentiment. According to sophomore forward Malik Thomas:

What changed?

Word is, Mills spent his summer in two places: the gym and the weight room. He added ten pounds of lean muscle, tightened his handle, and worked relentlessly on his jumper. According to reports, he’s hitting upwards of 75% of his catch-and-shoot threes in practice settings — and he’s expanded his range well beyond the college three-point line.

More impressive, however, is how he’s improved as a playmaker.

Last season, Mills often looked rushed when initiating offense. His decisions were tentative. But now, with the added strength and experience, he’s seeing the game at a slower pace. Coaches say his reads have improved dramatically — he’s finding shooters in the corners, hitting bigs on pocket passes, and controlling tempo like a seasoned veteran.

This evolution couldn’t have come at a better time.

Kentucky’s 2025 squad is loaded with talent — as usual. The Wildcats boast one of the top freshman classes in the country, including several five-star recruits who will undoubtedly make early contributions. But with youth comes inconsistency, and John Calipari (or his successor, depending on where things stand with UK leadership) will need veteran voices who can stabilize the lineup.

Enter Mills.

He may not have the same vertical pop as some of the incoming freshmen or the flashy mixtape highlights that light up social media, but he’s proving to be the glue guy — and more importantly, the go-to guy — that Kentucky sorely needs.

Especially with Brea gone.

Let’s be clear: Koby Brea wasn’t just a shooter — he was a connector. He spaced the floor, rarely turned the ball over, and played solid positional defense. His gravity on offense opened lanes for others to attack, and his ability to stay within himself helped balance a roster full of high-usage players.

Without Brea, there was a risk that Kentucky would become too chaotic, too reliant on iso-heavy play. That’s where Mills steps in.

Mills doesn’t just replicate Brea’s skill set — he expands on it. He can shoot like Brea, yes. But he can also put the ball on the floor, initiate pick-and-rolls, and guard multiple positions. In a way, Mills might offer a more dynamic version of what Brea brought to the table — and that has the staff thrilled.

One assistant put it this way:

Wildcat Nation is famously passionate, and word travels fast in Lexington. Videos from closed scrimmages have leaked. Rumors have swirled. Message boards are buzzing with the name Mills. Some fans are already drawing comparisons to past Kentucky greats who came out of nowhere — guys like Doron Lamb, Darius Miller, or even Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Is that premature? Probably.

But the signs are hard to ignore.

In an era where college basketball is increasingly defined by portal movement and one-and-done headlines, there’s something satisfying about watching a player develop. Not transfer. Not get plucked from a top-10 list. But grind, improve, and earn it. That’s the kind of story that fans can rally around. And that’s exactly what Mills is offering.

As it stands, the Kentucky backcourt is crowded. Incoming freshman phenom Tyrese Holden is expected to start from Day One. Veteran point guard Elijah Forde is back for his fifth year. And combo guard Dre Williams, a top-50 recruit from two years ago, is healthy and hungry.

But none of them are doing what Mills is doing right now.

Don’t be surprised if, by the time the season tips off in November, Mills is not only in the rotation — he’s starting. He gives Kentucky a steady hand, a versatile skill set, and perhaps most importantly, a chip on his shoulder. He’s playing like a guy who knows this is his moment. He’s not waiting for an opportunity anymore — he’s taking it.

And in a program like Kentucky, that’s exactly the kind of edge that earns you minutes.

There’s one more piece to this puzzle, and it might be the most important: confidence.

Multiple reports suggest that Mills has emerged as one of the vocal leaders during practices. He’s directing traffic, encouraging younger players, and setting the tone defensively. He’s talking trash — the good kind — and backing it up.

His energy is contagious. His belief is palpable. And it’s lifting the entire team.

Senior center Micah Bell summed it up like this:

So the question remains: could Jordan Mills be the guy for this Kentucky team?

The answer is: why not?

Every few years, a player like this rises from relative obscurity and captures the imagination of fans and coaches alike. Think of Josh Harrellson’s breakout season. Or Tyler Ulis taking over in his sophomore year. Or the meteoric rise of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from a backup to a lottery pick.

Could Mills be the next in that lineage?

If his summer trajectory continues, absolutely.

He has the skills. He has the body. He has the work ethic. And now, without Brea ahead of him in the rotation, he has the opportunity.

And that might be the most dangerous thing of all.

Every season, Kentucky enters the national spotlight with immense expectations. Titles are always the goal. But within that pressure-cooker environment, stories like this one — of development, of grit, of seizing the moment — are what make college basketball special.

Jordan Mills isn’t a five-star. He didn’t transfer in with flashy accolades. But he might just be the answer Kentucky didn’t know it had.

And with Koby Brea gone, the door is wide open.

Don’t be surprised if Mills kicks it off the hinges.