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CJ Fredrick Announces Transfer from Kentucky, Considering Professional Options

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2 years ago

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© Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

Another decision has been made to give a better idea of Kentucky’s roster next season. This time it is from CJ Fredrick, who announced on Friday morning that he will be entering his name into the transfer portal and evaluating professional options, mostly overseas.

With three freshman guards coming in to play alongside Adou Thiero and likely Antonio Reeves, there was no clear role or minutes available for Fredrick next season. Given where he is at in his career, this does not come as a surprise and was even predicted by KY Insider at the end of the season.

After two seasons at Iowa, creating the reputation as one of the best three-point shooters in the country with a career 47% three-point percentage at the time, CJ Fredrick elected to transfer. From Covington (KY) Fredrick transferred to Kentucky in the summer of 2021, looking to fulfilling his dream of playing for his homeschool.

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However, his two seasons at Kentucky were from ideal. While he said he was living “his dream” by playing in a Kentucky uniform, that dream has come with a lot of unexpected baggage.

After suffering a foot injury in the summer of 2021, followed by a hamstring injury in the fall, Fredrick did not play a single minute at Kentucky in his first year. He watched from the sidelines as Kentucky’s season ended in an upset loss to Saint Peter’s.

Rather than looking at the situation as a negative, he turned it into an opportunity to get into the best shape of his life, which he did this past summer. Fredrick’s hard work paid off, starting in 12 of Kentucky’s first 20 games, Fredrick provided 7.7 points and was valuable as a leader.

Then the injury bug hit once again, putting Fredrick out for several weeks toward the end of the season with a cracked rib in a freak accident after falling on camera on a fastbreak. Upon his return, he was just never comfortable, averaging just 1.6 points per game and hitting only two threes in his final seven games.

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Fredrick does have one year of eligibility remaining, and potentially two if he wishes to apply for a medical waiver. However, he has played his last game in a Kentucky uniform, and following the loss to Kansas State, he told KY Insider he wouldn’t change anything. “All the injuries, everything, I wouldn’t change it. It’s made me a better person,” he said.

In December, Fredrick did get engaged to Kentucky women’s basketball player Blair Green who is looking to attend graduate school, so expect that to hold some weight in his decision.

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Men's Basketball

Kentucky Basketball Players Say They Think About Winning National Championship “Every Second”

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3 days ago

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November 18, 2024

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Kentucky basketball players celebrate after their big over Duke.
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The expectations at Kentucky are the highest of any school in the country, and there is good reason why. The winningest college program ever. Eight national titles, under five different coaches. Seventeen Final Four appearances. You get it, a lot of success.

Fans want the players to have those same expectations. Despite not having the elite talent or preseason hype of great Kentucky teams past, this year’s team still has their eyes set on doing something “people will remember forever”, winning a national championship.

Asked on social media, if hanging banner #9 was all the players thought about “every second”, Ansley Almonor had a response.

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“We do.”

It takes a lot to win a national championship, including some luck, but this team is certainly going to be loved for their desire to live out their dream of playing at Kentucky and their unselfishness. Those two things can take them a long way this season .

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Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart Seemingly Takes Shot at John Calipari, “Anybody Can Recruit”

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5 days ago

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November 16, 2024

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Mitch Barnhart sitting next to basketball coach John Calipari.
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John Calipari and Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart had their differences over fifteen years, but success can hide a lot of things. Not that they hated each other, but they each had vastly different personalities. As that success weaned towards the end of Calipari’s tenure, those issues started to be noticed publically.

If you need evidence of that, despite their efforts to dispute it, there is the infamous press conference where Barnhart talked about “entitled” coaches, shortly after Calipari publicly called for a new practice facility. Then, there were multiple times when Calipari expressed that the administration was not on the same page and that he was facing “headwinds”.

That said, Calipari is now at Arkansas, but those differences and some disdain remain. During an interview on the Kentucky Football pregame show, Barnhart seemingly took a shot at Calipari when asked about Mark Pope’s recruiting philosophy and prioritizing fit.

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“I tell people all the time, ‘Anybody can recruit, not everybody can evaluate,’” Barnhart said. “You can recruit. You can be phenomenal at bringing people to your program. But if it does not fit you, it’s really not helpful.”

Of course, Calipari is one of the best, if not the best, recruiters in college basketball history. At times, he prioritized talent and athleticism over fit.

Quite the coincidence.

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ESPN’s Jay Williams Gives Message to Kentucky Fans, “You’re Not Going to Like It…”

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6 days ago

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November 15, 2024

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ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Williams gives a message to Kentucky fans after the Wildcats win over Duke. "You won't like it."
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Back in April, opposing fanbases like Duke, told Kentucky fans to “cope with Pope” following the hire of Mark Pope and the corresponding initial shock. On Tuesday, those same fanbases had to watch as Mark Pope outcoached Jon Scheyer and Duke in the final minutes of the Champion’s Classic to get his first marque win in just his third game at Kentucky.

Of course, shortly after the game, Duke fans began to rationalize the loss by highlighting their team’s youth. While true, it sounded like an echo chamber of what Kentucky fans said for years under John Calipari. One notable example was former Blue Devil Jay Williams.

At halftime, while Duke was leading 46-37, Williams called this year’s Duke team the most talented since the 2001 team that he was a part of at halftime. To his credit, he complimented Kentucky on the comeback victory, specifically on their offense and maturity, but then 36 hours later he posted a message to Kentucky fans on social media.

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“Let me put you on to something,” Williams started. “Whether you like it or not, networks are going to sell Cooper Flagg. He’s going to be the number one pick in the draft. You’re going to talk about whether he won the or whether he lost the game, regardless of the outcome.”

“You’re not going to like it. There should be more kudos to Mark Pope and Kentucky,” Williams continued. “Regardless of whether you won the game or not, they’re still going to sell Cooper Flagg because he is selling the sport. Sorry.”

William’s statement is true. That said, it comes off as ‘sour grapes’ about losing. Cooper Flagg is a great talent and will likely be the first pick in the NBA Draft, but most Kentucky fans would say they would much rather have the win than the marketing.

Futhermore, Kentucky and its ‘brand’ has raised the level of multiple players and coaches, and will continue to do so. A deeper impact than Cooper Flagg will have on Duke in just one season.

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