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KY Insider’s Notes/Observations from Kentucky MBB Pro Day

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John Calipari standing on the Rupp Arena floor during Kentucky Basketball Pro Day.
UK Athletics | Elliott Hess

Basketball season is upon us, folks. With Big Blue Madness right around the corner on Friday night, 52 scouts from all 30 NBA teams made their way to Lexington to get an exclusive look at the 2023-24 Kentucky Wildcats. Among the scouts in attendance was Kentucky Insider, and we’ll give you an inside look at the Cats as they participate in Pro Day.

To start things up, John Calipari made sure to mention that there would be “no combine stuff” at Pro Day. That means no vertical jumps, measurements, or anything of the sort. Pro Day consisted of some shooting drills and then some 4-on-4 play. Here are the biggest takeaways from Wednesday night’s event:

Jordan Burks’ Athleticism and Inside Scoring

When the warmups came to a close and the real festivities began, Jordan Burks was the one who (arguably) shined the brightest in the 4v4 scrimmages. It seemed like Burks’ inside presence was overwhelming at times. There were multiple occasions on offense where Burks would fly high for an alley-oop finish or a dunk. It was really nice to see him finding his groove and asserting himself on the floor.

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Reed Sheppard is a Sharpshooter

Perhaps one of the more underrated guys on this team is Reed Sheppard out of North Laurel High School. At Pro Day, Sheppard showed off some of his shooting ability. Sheppard was often seen making cuts and moving without the ball to free himself up. Ultimately, this led to a lot of open three-pointers that found the bottom of the net. Like his dad was, Sheppard is a huge threat from the perimeter, and Calipari has certainly given him the green light to pull the trigger.

Rob Dillingham Looking Better All-Around

One of the names that has been receiving the most praise at practices is Rob Dillingham, and he showed why that’s the case on Wednesday night. Dillingham has seemed to improve in every aspect of the game since his time at Overtime Elite (OTE). He has completely transformed physically, as he is much stronger and faster even from July during GLOBL JAM. His on-ball defense has also taken a huge leap. He caused a good amount of disruption, no matter who he was matched up against.

Ugonna Onyenso/Aaron Bradshaw Injury Update

One thing that scouts and others watching didn’t get to see at Pro Day were the big men of the team. Zvonimir Ivisic arrived on campus Thursday, and Ugonna Onyenso and Aaron Bradshaw were held out of Wednesday’s activities due to injury. John Calipari said that the injured bigs will be out for “another 5-6 weeks” on the ESPN broadcast. That timetable would set both players to return around the Champions Classic against Kansas on November 14th or the ACC/SEC Challenge against Miami on November 28th.

Adou Thiero Suffers Apparent Ankle Injury

To add to the big men health issues, Adou Thiero is also on the list of injured Cats now. Thiero was on pace for a big night, putting his physicality and shot-making ability on display early. He was among the top performers during his brief stint on the court. However, after a bang-bang play down low, Thiero went down with what seemed to be a rolled ankle that occurred when he came back down. He would be escorted to the locker room and he was held out of the remainder of the Pro Day drills.

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Pro Day was not only a fun spectacle, but it also gave us another early-access look on this year’s squad. There were a lot of positives to take away from the event, but there were some negatives as well. Now, we can turn our attention to Big Blue Madness. Before we know it, it’ll be time to finally tip off again on October 27th against Georgetown in an exhibition game.

Men's Basketball

Amari Williams Picked 46th by the Boston Celtics in the 2025 NBA Draft

Amari Williams is the second Kentucky player selected in the 2025 NBA Draft, as Boston takes the big man with their second round pick.

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Amari Williams is drafted by the Boston Celtics.
Wesley Hale | Imagn Images

Fan-favorite big man (and official Weetabix sponsor) Amari Williams has officially made it to the big leagues, taken by the Boston Celtics with the 46th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, via a trade with the Orlando Magic.

The selection makes Williams the second Wildcat to be scooped up from this year’s pool, following Koby Brea being picked by the Phoenix Suns just five picks earlier at the 41st spot. From Mark Pope’s first Kentucky team, two transfer athletes (thus far) in their last year of eligibility have achieved next-level dreams by way of the blue and white.

Williams, who averaged 11 points, nine rebounds, and three assists per game during his lone season in Lexington, will look to aid Boston in filling their recently vacant five-spot, left by the recently traded Kristaps Porzingis.

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As Wildcat fans surely know, not only can Williams battle with the best of them in the paint, but he can run the floor as efficiently as just about any guard, too. His versatility and sizable frame ensure a high ceiling in the NBA and, despite not every draft board seeing him selected, the league champions two years removed made the call when it mattered.

Hailing overseas from Nottingham, England, and spending his first four years of college basketball at the University of Drexel, Williams’ success is a testament not only to Kentucky Basketball’s immaculate tradition, but to his own incredible work ethic and intangible ability.

Cats fans will be sure to follow and support their point-center to the next level, as they always do. Go be great, Amari – all of BBN has your back.

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Koby Brea Selected to the Phoenix Suns With the No. 41 Overall Pick in the 2025 NBA Draft

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Tristan Pharis | KY Insider

Koby Brea arrived at Kentucky last season as one of the nation’s deadliest shooters, lived up to the billing, and reaped his rewards on Thursday night at the NBA Draft. The former Kentucky star is heading to the Phoenix Suns with the No. 41 overall pick

As a 6-foot-7 wing, Brea entered the 2025 NBA Draft as one of the most experienced prospects after spending four years at Dayton and a fifth at Kentucky during Mark Pope’s successful first season as head coach, where he became one of the best three-point shooters in all of college basketball.

Last season at Kentucky, the Bronx native averaged 11.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game while shooting 43.5% from beyond the arc on nearly six attempts per game in 36 games, 16 of which were starts, showcasing his scoring ability in transition, off the catch, and via handoffs and screens.

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Not only did Brea achieve his own dreams of playing at the next level, but becomes a piece of history for Pope, becoming the first player drafted out of Kentucky during the Pope era.

Brea joins a rebuilding franchise with a notorious background for drafting Kentucky guards. Eric Bledsoe rings the bell, Tyler Ulis of course, and the Suns’ all-time leading scorer, Devin Booker obviously leads the pack.

Go be great Fuego!

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Men's Basketball

How a Call with Mark Pope Led Denzel Aberdeen to Kentucky

After winning a national title at Florida, Denzel Aberdeen committed to Kentucky without ever visiting campus—thanks to a revealing three-hour call with head coach Mark Pope.

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Chet White | UK Athletics

As a junior, Denzel Aberdeen was a key part of Florida’s national title run. But a certain phone conversation convinced him to leave his home state and head north to Lexington in hopes of experiencing that feeling once again.

He had never set foot in Lexington before deciding to become a Kentucky Wildcat — and he didn’t need to. All it took was one phone call — three hours long, on Easter Sunday — with head coach Mark Pope to convince him that he belonged in blue and white.

“Our phone call lasted about three hours, to be honest,” Aberdeen said, meeting with the media in Lexington for the first time earlier this week. “A lot of it was just getting to know me and getting to know the school, the university, getting to know him (Pope), how their style was, a lot of film. Once I saw that, I was like this looks like a great guy to play for.”

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The two went on to discuss Aberdeen’s role at Kentucky in more depth, including how Pope envisions him fitting into Kentucky’s new system — a system that, according to Aberdeen, is very similar, if not better than the one he just left.

“We had a lot of great players at Florida, especially the tall bigs. Bigs that love to run there, and we have just as much here; our bigs love to run, they play defense, and they play at a fast pace. So I think the things that we’ve got here are just as good, or even better,” Aberdeen said.

Averaging 7.7 points and nearly 20 minutes per game off the bench for the Gators last year, it’s clear to see what Aberdeen brings to the team: experience, versatility, calmness in the backcourt, and championship pedigree. Pope’s phone conversation with Aberdeen wasn’t just impactful on the court — it also speaks volumes to what he is doing off the court in pursuit of the goal he laid out in his introductory press conference: to hang banners.

This phone call wasn’t just about Denzel Aberdeen. It was a glimpse into Pope’s player-first, transparent coaching approach, which could define his era at Kentucky — and potentially make this season a special one, with Aberdeen playing another key role in a deep NCAA Tournament run.

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“I know the goal is to win No. 9,” he said. “I know the fans want that, we want that, all the staff and coaches want that. That pushes us. We know what we gotta do when we come here and put on that Kentucky jersey. Just playing for the University of Kentucky is a big thing. Being here is a blessing, and I can’t look back.”

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