Justin McBride has quietly become one of the more talked about players in Kentucky’s early preseason practices. After losing roughly 20 pounds during his transition to Lexington, he has been rumored as one of the better conditioned players on the team.
McBride arrives after averaging 15.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game at James Madison. He also shot 40% from three.
Whats stood out the most isn’t his skillset, but his athletic ability. McBride has pointed out how important it was to lose weight and improve his endurance against other high level athletes coming in to Kentucky this year:
“I just wanted to get in the best shape of my life before I got here,” McBride said. “Everything moves faster at this level, and I wanted to be ready for that.”
That adjustment is important in Kentucky’s system, where players in the front court must be able to operate in space, and consistently run the floor. Whether he’s playing as a wing or forward, McBride’s frame has helped him become more active in those areas during practice sessions.
“There’s a lot more movement, a lot more pace,” he added. “You can’t really take plays off here [at Kentucky].”
For Kentucky, McBride profiles as a rotation forward who can play on the wing or at the power-forward spot when needed. Particularly in lineups that benefit from shooting at the four spot. While he isn’t expected to be a focal point offensively, his efficiency and improved conditioning have made him one of the more intriguing early developments in camp.
If the shooting carries over and the conditioning holds through SEC play, McBride has a chance to be one of those understated additions similar to Ansley Almonor, who played a crucial role in many wins during the 2024-25 season.
Make sure to check out the full interview here:
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