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Men's Basketball

Kentucky Leave/Stay Predictions Following Player Meetings

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10 months ago

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John Calipari says this Kentucky team is playing with "supreme confidence" and he has never had this many players "live in the gym".
IMAGN-USA Today Network

The 2023-24 Kentucky basketball season is over, meaning it is time to prepare for the 2024-25 season. The first step in that is the decision of the current players to leave/return, which they will announce over the coming days and weeks.

John Calipari met with each player last week to discuss their future and their options. Let’s look at where things stand with each of them.

Gone/Likely Gone

Graduates

Kentucky will have two key contributors graduating as fifth-year seniors this season, Antonio Reeves and Tre Mitchell. Unfortunately, their college careers are over.

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Rob Dillingham

Rob Dillingham came to Kentucky as their 4th highest-ranked recruit last season. Despite some offseason hopes that he could be a two-year player, he has worked and played his into a projected Top 5 pick, and could be Kentucky’s first since De’Aaron Fox in 2017.

Prediction: NBA Draft
Confidence Level: High, 100%

Ugonna Onyenso

Ugonna Onyenso entered the transfer portal last season, not really on his own accord. This time it is a little different. He wasn’t sure how he would fit in the lineup coming back from injury. When he did, he had his moments, he was inconsistent.

That said, Oneysno had the second-highest block percentage in the country this season (14.8%). Many schools will pursue a 7-foot, elite shot blocker.

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Prediction: Transfer
Confidence Level: High, 90%

Aaron Bradshaw

For a time, Aaron Bradshaw was the No. 1 recruit in the 2023 class. Unfortunately, in his freshman season at Kentucky, there were only flashes of that and by the end was only getting spot minutes.

Bradshaw’s name is no longer featured on NBA Draft Boards and he and those around him are interested in a fresh start. That said, he was one of the emotional players in the locker room after the loss to Oakland.

Prediction: Transfer
Confidence Level: Medium-High, 75%

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Reed Sheppard

A product of London, Kentucky, Reed Sheppard was a McDonald’s All-American and was believed to be a 2-3 year player. Then he went on to have one of the most efficient seasons in program history and won National Freshman of the Year, even surprising himself to an extent.

Sheppard is in a unique situation, being an in-state talent and loving this program, but also being a projected Top 10 pick. The NIL money (estimated $3-$ million) will be there if he returns. However, Sheppard’s draft stock will never be higher and he will be risking A LOT with a return.

Prediction: NBA Draft
Confidence Level: Medium-High, 70%

Difficult Decisions

Adou Thiero

Since the end of the season, John Calipari has expressed a desire to get older and more physical. Both characteristics fit Adou Thiero. However, last week Thiero announced that he will be going through the draft process and also entering the transfer portal, keeping all his options open, including a return to Kentucky.

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Thiero has some second-round draft grades, but has first-round potential with another year. That said, the biggest threat is the portal. The staff will attempt to recruit Thiero back, but there are certainly concerns. If Thiero’s goal is the NBA, Kentucky is the best place for him, but NIL and role have to be right.

Prediction: Stay
Confidence Level: Low, 40%

DJ Wagner

If you look at the incoming class, it is big and wing-heavy. Kentucky needs to add to its backcourt and a sophomore DJ Wagner is one the best options available.

A former No. 1 recruit, Wagner found his stride in the middle of the season, but after a serious ankle injury that kept him out multiple games, he struggled to regain his rhythm through much of February and March. Calipari noted that he believes that he has 1-2 guards that he hopes to return and Wagner is certainly one of them.

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Wagner has the connections and upside to be drafted, but another year would serve he and his draft stock well.

Prediction: Stay
Confidence Level: Low, 50%

Justin Edwards

Justin Edwards was the Wildcat with the highest draft projection going into the season. During Kentucky’s GLOBL Jam trip in July, he looked the part, averaging 14.5 PPG and 6.5 RPG. However, the regular season was filled with struggles until February, where he became one of Kentucky’s biggest contributors.

That stretch of play put Edwards back in the first-round conversation. He will enter the draft process, hoping to get a first-round draft grade. If he does, which is most likely, he will remain in the draft, but if he doesn’t a return is on the table.

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Prediction: NBA Draft
Confidence Level: Medium-High, 70%

Zvonimir Ivisic

After a six-month-long battle to get him admitted into Kentucky and eligible to play, Zvonimir Ivisic may have had the best debut in Kentucky basketball history. Being forced to adapt during SEC play, Ivisic certainly took steps forward and started to emerge as Kentucky’s top big towards the end of the season.

Ivisic came to Kentucky intending to play one season before going to the NBA. At 7-2, with great perimeter skills, a team could take him with a second-round pick. However, Ivisic has enjoyed his time in Lexington, and with a full offseason to build on his frame and become accustomed, he could play his way into a lottery pick.

That said, Ivisic has entered the draft process twice already, meaning he cannot test the waters. He has to decide whether to enter or return. Given the terms of Ivisic coming to Kentucky, I lean toward him going to the draft.

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Prediction: NBA Draft
Confidence Level: Medium, 60%

Jordan Burks

The former leading scorer at Overtime Elite, Jordan Burks was a great depth piece to add to the roster last summer, with the plan to develop him over 2-3 seasons. While he didn’t receive consistent playing time this season, he had his moments and showed that he can be a valuable player going forward.

Since the season ended on March 21st, Burks has made several posts of his workouts in the practice facility and looks to be preparing for a sophomore season. Given the variables of the incoming class and potential returnees, he could be one to watch for the transfer portal.

Prediction: Stay
Confidence Level: Medium, 50%

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Joey Hart

Similar to Burks, Joey Hart is a player who committed to Kentucky, knowing he would be a multi-year guy. What I can say here is, that Calipari wants him to return, and Hart and his family want to be at Kentucky, but it is all dependent on what the roster looks like.

Prediction: Stay
Confidence Level: Medium, 60%

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Men's Basketball

Vanderbilt Pays Kentucky $500K after Storming the Court in Upset Victory

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10 hours ago

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January 27, 2025

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Vanderbilt had to pay Kentucky a $500,000 fine after their third rushing offense in the past six months.
Denny Simmons | IMAGN

There wasn’t a lot of positive to come from Kentucky’s performance against Vanderbilt. However, if you like to look at the light in all situations, there is one.

The SEC has fined institutions for rushing fields/courts since the early 2000s due to safety concerns. However, the amounts did little to deter that. Over the years the fines have grown larger. In 2023 the policy was updated to what it is today and teams were given a new slate: For the first offense the fine is $100,000, a second is $250,000, and it maxes out at $500,000 for a third or subsequent offense, with the fine being paid to the opposing school.

After storming the field in an upset win over Alabama last fall, and storming the court after upsetting Tennessee last week, Vanderbilt had committed their first two offenses and paid out $350,000.

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On the verge of upsetting Kentucky inside the Historic Memorial Gymnasium, Vanderbilt Athletic Director Candace Lee was seen begging fans not to rush the court in an effort to save $500,000. “Let us use the money for NIL to make a great team next year,” she said.

https://twitter.com/Grace_M_Hall/status/1883267322821091684

However, it was to avail as the students proceeded to rush the court for their third offense after defeating Kentucky resulting in a $500,000 fine for “violation of the league’s access to competition area policy.”

The recipient. The Kentucky Wildcats, who can use that for their NIL fund.

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Men's Basketball

John Calipari Previews His Return to Lexington, “There Will Be Some Emotion Walking Into That Building”

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11 hours ago

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January 27, 2025

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Arkansas head coach John Calipari talks about his upcoming return to Kentucky.
Nelson Chenault | Imagn

Returns are one of the greatest stories in sports. LeBron James made a triumphant return to Cleveland, delivering his hometown team a long-awaited championship. Tiger Woods stunned the world by winning The Masters in 2019 after overcoming injuries and personal struggles. And recently, Kentucky witnessed a high-profile return when former coach Rick Pitino rejoined Big Blue Nation after his hiatus from the program.

But this season, Coach Pitino won’t be the only former coach making his return to Rupp Arena. On Saturday, February 1st, at 9:00 PM, John Calipari will step onto the floor, sporting a red suit coat with “Cal University” AKA Arkansas behind him. As game day approaches, Calipari is beginning to field questions about his highly anticipated return to Lexington.

Following his team’s loss to Oklahoma last Saturday, Calipari was asked about the upcoming game and reflected on the emotional significance, saying, “There will be some emotion walking into that building, and really just being in town. I’ll probably get together with some of my friends. They’re playing well. We’ve got our hands full. Let’s see what happens. They’re a good team. Mark’s doing a good job with them.” He also spoke about his Arkansas squad: “We just have to keep going, keep fighting, and keep figuring this out. What does this team look like? What do we need to play like?”

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To be honest, Calipari’s first season at Arkansas hasn’t gone as anyone expected. His team started SEC play 0-5 but finally picked up a win against a tough Georgia team, one that Kentucky struggled with when conference play began.

The Razorbacks appeared to be on the ropes after losing star freshman Boogie Fland for the season. However, they had the opportunity to enter Rupp Arena on a two-game winning streak. Despite a standout performance from Johnell Davis, who scored 18 points—his best game since transferring from FAU—it wasn’t enough to secure a win, as Arkansas fell 65-62 to Oklahoma.

Both fanbases have had Saturday, February 1st, circled on their calendars since early April. No one could have predicted the twists and turns that have led to this point, adding even more drama and emotion to what promises to be a high-profile, thrilling matchup.

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Men's Basketball

Mark Pope Gives Injury Update on Andrew Carr After Absence in Vanderbilt Loss, Could Miss “A Few Weeks”

Coach Pope detailed the latest on Andrew Carr’s lingering back injury after he sat in the loss to Vanderbilt.

Published

2 days ago

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January 26, 2025

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Kentucky forward Andrew Carr runs onto the court at Rupp Arena.
Jordan Prather | IMAGN

In the post-game following Kentucky’s second straight loss, this one coming on the road at Vanderbilt with a final score of 74-69, Mark Pope provided an injury update on the absent Andrew Carr.

“There’s just so much he can’t do with his back,” he said. “He wants to play so bad.”

Carr sitting the Vanderbilt game came after weeks of up-and-down performance, playtime and speculation. His injury seemed to come out of nowhere, and has evolved quickly from a quiet concern to something that could hold him out for “weeks.”

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“What we’re hoping is that we can get to a space sometime in the next few weeks, next few days, somewhere where we have enough confidence… he hasn’t practiced in a couple weeks,” Pope revealed.

“Every game, it’s kind of like he just gets beat up so bad it’s back to square one where it’s hard for him to walk essentially. We’re hoping that, with more time, we can get him to some sustainable place where he can endure a practice, and endure a game, and not be back to zero…”

“But we’ll see if that actually happens.”

Rocky Roads

The revelation that Carr hasn’t practiced in weeks is certainly a sobering one. That, combined with the apparently restrictive nature of the injury itself, explains his inability to stay on, let alone produce on, the court.

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This news couldn’t come at a worse time for the Wildcats, who have only two days to recover from the loss to the Commodores before they find themselves center stage in Thompson-Boling Arena taking on the Tennessee Volunteers.

The Volunteers are also on a two-game losing streak and, in front of their home crowd, will be chomping at the bit to turn things around.

With Kerr Kriisa still out indefinitely, Lamont Butler dealing with a shoulder/off-hand ailment (something Pope has briefly alluded to,) and Andrew Carr joining the former off the court, Kentucky will have to rely on reserves to stay afloat in the SEC. It’s a long road to rocky top, to say the least.

Get well soon, #7. All of Big Blue Nation is behind you.

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