Men's Basketball

John Calipari Believes “A Couple Guys” Should Return Next Season

Published

1 year ago

March 5, 2024

John Calipari believes he has a couple players that should return to Kentucky next season.

Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

There is still a lot to be played for this season, but with such a beloved team, that isn’t stopping people from looking ahead to the player decisions that will be made at the end of the season. While most of those decisions have yet to be made, John Calipari believes he has some players that should return next season.

Talking with John Wall on his podcast, Point Game, John Calipari said, “I have a couple guys on this year’s team that could probably use another year.”

Talking about the NBA, using his acronym “no boys allowed”, Calipari explained two requirements. “There’s two things. Are you mentally ready? Are you physically ready?”

Calipari didn’t mention any names, but some names can be safely removed from consideration and some educated guesses can be made of who he is referring to.

Expected to Leave

Tre Mitchell and Antonio Reeves will be gone after this season after exhausting their eligibility, and Rob Dillingham is a Top 10 lock.

As much as folks don’t want to hear it, Reed Sheppard is unlikely to return, as his stock will never be higher, currently listed as a top-five prospect by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. That would grant him a $15-$20 million rookie contract, not including endorsements, multiple times more than we would earn at Kentucky in NIL.

That still leaves a lot of names

Likely to Leave/Stay

D.J. Wagner, currently projected as a late-first-round pick, already has a deal with Nike and NBA connections given his father. Calipari didn’t expect him for longer than a season.

Ugonna Onyenso entered the transfer portal last season and could do the same this season, if he does not remain in the draft. ” Jordan Burks could enter the NBA conversation next season, impressing scouts at Kentucky’s Pro Day back in October, but could also take a look at the transfer portal.

Adou Thiero could play his way into a first-round pick as a junior. Calipari said just last week, ” The things he’s got to tackle are all effort-based.”

The Hard Decisions

That leaves Aaron Bradshaw, Justin Edwards, and Zvonimir Ivisic, whom I believe Calipari is referring to. All have shown potential this season, but have just been too inconsistent.

Edwards is the only one of the three still projected to be drafted in ESPN’s latest two-round mock draft from late February, going 51st to the Indiana Pacers. Recently, Calipari has praised him for the amount of work he has put in the gym, and mentally to turn around his season, but it may still be too late. Represented by Klutch, they may be able to get a draft promise, but I don’t foresee one in the first round. Given an improved mindset and play, with another season, he could play his way back into the lottery conversation. We saw a similar situation with Chris Livingston last season.

For Aaron Bradshaw and Zvonimir Ivisic, they have both really enjoyed their time at Kentucky despite facing hardships, and have actually leaned on one another. While neither planned to stay longer than a season, they are not physically ready for the NBA, with Calipari challenging their physicality multiple times this season. Kentucky does have two more bigs coming in Somto Cyril and Jayden Quaintance, but the competition in the NBA isn’t any lesser.

One thing to consider is that all three players would likely make more with NIL than they would as second-round draft picks. As pointed out by Givony, more teams are looking for more proven players in the second round, rather than taking risks on potential.

Until official announcements are made, it is all just speculation. Calipari says he supports his players, “whatever their decision is,” but he will ask those who can help themselves with an extra year, “Are you sure?”

There will be some players asked that question this offseason.

Men's Basketball

Kentucky Basketball’s Practice Facility Sees Major Makeover

The Joe Craft Center, after years of casual criticism from Wildcats fans, has finally been given an upgrade.

Published

3 hours ago

June 21, 2025

Lane Mills

UK Athletics

Maybe the weirdest qualm of many that plagued John Calipari’s tenure at Kentucky were the consistent complaints about the team’s practice facility, the Joe Craft Center.

From exaggerated rumors about leaks in the ceiling to general observations made about the court and facilities, fans, especially towards the end of that era, pointed to the Craft Center’s age as one of many signs of the times. Even in spite of occasional, supposed changes now and again.

In only his second year, Mark Pope has seemingly already addressed that complaint — at least to an extent.

The official Kentucky men’s basketball account recently posted a video across all social media platforms of the team during summer practice, featuring and obviously removed Craft Center court.

The court itself has been redone, in addition to the graphics and banners on the wall. Alongside the hanging threads celebrating the program’s eight national championships, a ninth one has been tacked onto the end.

It simply reads: “#9 – The Assignment.” If fans weren’t already excited enough for Coach Pope’s sophomore season, a ninth title banner being fixed in the renovation’s spotlight should send folks through the roof.

It may seem like a small thing, but given the program’s track record in the last few years, it’s the small things that feel the biggest. Mark Pope not only understands the assignment, but he’s making sure his team does, too.

Men's Basketball

Jasper Johnson Makes Final U19 USA Roster Under Coach Mark Pope

Jasper Johnson has advanced in the U19 USA camp for the second time alongside the nation’s best recruits, and under Mark Pope’s wing.

Published

1 day ago

June 20, 2025

Lane Mills

Instagram: @bruhjasperj (UK Athletics)

In a surprisingly relevant development smack dab in the middle of the offseason, Jasper Johnson has yet again advanced in the pool of players participating in the USA U19 camp.

The program, which could be a described as a sort of extension of the Team USA that just took home the gold in 2024, is comprised of some of the nation’s most anticipated talents set to take collegiate courts in the next couple of seasons.

Blue Gets In

Among them is Kentucky native and commit Johnson, and was also incoming Cat Malachi Moreno, before the latter was cut as a result of a mild injury he obtained throughout the camp’s course. Despite Moreno’s exit, his future teammate continues to impress.

Under the wing of Coach Mark Pope, who’s helmed the team in the camp up to this point, Johnson has now made the final cut after multiple roster slashes – he and only 11 other players remain in the minority that will go forward to actually compete for the team in the 2025 FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup, which will take place June 28 through July 6 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The pre-competition camp serves not only as a trial of play before these athletes disperse to their own respective rosters this fall and next, but for Johnson, as a preview of what it’s like to play under Coach Pope. If his current success is any indicator, Kentucky fans may be in for something special when the pair tackle opposing teams together for the blue and white.

In similar noteworthy news, also attending the event are Taylen Kinney and Tyran Stokes, two Kentucky-born athletes with ties to Kentucky that the program is heavily recruiting. Jasper’s strong performance, combined with Coach Pope’s presence, can only help the Wildcats’ chances on that front, too.

To say the least, Mark Pope has found a way to facilitate Kentucky’s influence far beyond the boundaries of Lexington. He and Johnson, for the time being, will continue to press turn heads on the national stage, and it’s very likely that fans aren’t the only ones paying attention.

Men's Basketball

Archie Goodwin and Kahlil Whitney Set to Join La Familia This Summer

La Familia continues to add more firepower to the 2025 roster.

Published

2 days ago

June 19, 2025

Kai McClelland

James Crisp (Left), Adam Hunger (Right) | Associated Press

As the start of the 2025 TBT Tournament inches closer, La Familia has been slowly but surely adding star Wildcats to the roster.

Usually, we see announcements for new additions to the squad roll out on social media in some form, whether it be a post from La Familia’s official accounts or in form of Ansley Almonor’s announcement, which took place on BBN Tonight.

However, this time, Archie Goodwin and Kahlil “The Dragon” Whitney were added to the roster on the TBT website without any announcement, surprising Big Blue Nation as the news leaked and began to circulate.

They were removed from the website afterwards, but as of Thursday, June 19, appear on the website as listed members of the roster.

Goodwin has been an active member for years, highlighted by his semifinals appearance last year where he averaged 13.8 points per game en route.

Whitney is a name that may cause some to shed a tear, with so much potential surrounding the former five-star leading up to his debut. Ultimately, he left the program after appearing in just 18 games for Kentucky.

La Familia is competitive as all get out, shown by chippy play with guys who have nothing to lose but everything to win for the place they call home. Goodwin and Whitney, now added to that list of guys, will look to redeem themselves with one goal in mind. Win.

The official La Familia roster as of June 19:

– Willie Cauley-Stein (2012-15)

– Doron Lamb (2010-12)

– DeAndre Liggins (2008-11)

– Aaron Harrison (2013-15)

– Andrew Harrison (2013-15)

– Ansley Almonor (2024-25)

– Archie Goodwin (2012-13)

– Kahlil Whitney (2019-20)