#Kentucky basketball professional
#Kentucky basketball free

With Sahvir Wheeler, he’s widely expected to be back for his senior season, though I would expect Kentucky to show interest in other potential point guard options to make sure there’s enough depth there.Īs for Lance Ware, it’s been relatively quiet regarding his status, but he came to Kentucky knowing it was going to take several seasons to develop to the point he was ready to play heavy minutes at a school like Kentucky. He didn’t officially graduate till December, but he had the credits needed to graduate in time to be eligible for this year’s draft.Īs long as Sharpe is eligible to be in this year’s draft, expect him to not be in Lexington this fall. NBA rules state players must be one NBA season removed from high school graduation to be eligible. The issue right now is if Sharpe will actually be eligible. We can pretty much pencil in Shaedon Sharpe to the ‘Testing the NBA Draft’ section, though he has yet to publicly announce he’ll test the NBA waters. So, since all the buzz recently has been positive regarding Toppin returning, I’ll predict Brooks to be elsewhere come this fall, whether that’s in the pros or at another school.

#Kentucky basketball free

It just doesn’t feel like there’s enough room for both players to remain on the roster and have the kind of role they’ll want in their likely final season of college hoops (both do have a free COVID-19 season they can still use to return for the 2023-24 season). If that happens, it could spell the end of Keion Brooks’ time in Lexington. While Keion Brooks and Jacob Toppin are both going through the NBA process, Toppin is expected to return next season. That’s over 30 points per game that Kentucky will have to replace in just the backcourt alone.Įven if Sahvir Wheeler returns, I fully expect Kentucky to add at least one more guard this offseason, possibly two if Shaedon Sharpe leaves (more on him later). Kentucky’s backcourt will be undergoing a major shakeup with Kellan Grady, Davion Mintz and TyTy Washington departing. The question will be if John Calipari can find the best way to utilize Livingston. Wherever he plays, Livingston is a tremendous talent who also should be one and done. While many have thought Chris Livingston could play the 4 in college, NBA personnel actually see him as a 2 or 3 guard, according to KSR’s Jack Pilgrim. I would look for him to be the starting 2 guard when the season opens with Sahivr Wheeler running the point. With the backcourt set to at least five scholarship players, combo guard Cason Wallace is primed for a major role next season and will likely be a one-and-done. It’s worth mentioning since NIL will pay him more than any second-round contract will if he doesn’t raise his stock.Įven with Oscar back, Daimion Collins looked poised for a huge jump in Year 2 that should get the freakish athlete back in first-round discussion, even if he is coming off the bench next season.ĬJ Fredrick is one of the best shooters in all of college hoops when healthy, but his injury history makes him very hard to rely on to log starter minutes for 30+ games, making it likely Kentucky adds at least one backcourt transfer, even if Shaedon Sharpe shocks everyone and returns for next season. If Big O can expand his offense and keep improving his mid-range jumper, he could find himself firmly projected into the first round of the 2023 draft.Īnd while I don’t see this happening, Oscar still has a free COVID-19 year he could use and return as a fifth-year senior in 2023-24. He was being projected as an early-to-middle second-round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

#Kentucky basketball professional

Confirmed to ReturnĪs mentioned above, Oscar will wait at least another year to begin his professional career. With that in mind, here is my first projection for what I believe the 2022-23 Kentucky Wildcats Basketball roster will look like. With several Wildcats testing the NBA waters, that means we probably won’t have complete roster clarity until June 1st at the earliest and likely later depending on what transfer options Kentucky pursues. The deadline to enter the NBA Draft is this Sunday, April 24th, and the NCAA deadline to withdraw from it is June 1st. We already know Daimion Collins and CJ Fredrick will also return, while it’s also likely that Sahvir Wheeler and Jacob Toppin join them. Of course, one man, even one as incredible as Oscar, does not make a roster. That’s because reigning National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe will be returning to Lexington for his senior year, paving the way for the Wildcats to be among the trendy national title picks next season.

As of April 20th, 2022, the 2022-23 Kentucky Wildcats are all but guaranteed to open next season with a top-five team.