Reid Travis just played his last game as collegiate basketball
player and called his one season at Kentucky, “one of the best years of my life”.
While Reid Travis is finished, he may have changed Calipari’s outlook on graduate
transfers.
With Reid graduating and PJ Washington likely going to the NBA,
Kentucky is lacking depth in the frontcourt. As of now Nick Richards and EJ
Montgomery are expected to return but that is it. Kentucky has missed out on several
frontcourt recruiting targets, and are having to think outside of the box.
Last week, it was reported the one the best graduate transfer
of the offseason, Bucknell forward Nate Sestina, would take a visit to Kentucky
from Monday to Wednesday of this week.
Sestina averaged 15.8 ppg (53.6% FG, 38.0% 3P, 80.8% FT),
8.7 rpg, and 1.1 bpg this past season for the Bison, earning himself Second
Team All-Patriot League and Patriot League All-Tournament honors. In his four
years at Bucknell, Sestina helped carry the Bison to three Patriot League
regular season titles and two NCAA tournament appearances.
Sestina was interviewed by a local news outlet, The Daily
Item, and when asked why he wanted to transfer, he said:
“The opportunity to play college basketball for another year, make a run to the NCAA Tournament, and hopefully win some games, was very, very appealing. I want to find a place to grow and develop, but a place where I can be me and play my game — not a place where I’ll sit the bench.”
Sestina went on to say that Kentucky’s interest has “opened
my eyes to what people think of me” and that it’s “humbling that these places
want to help me achieve.”
Sestina would not be the talent nor the interior presence
that Reid Travis was, but he would be a capable replacement. Sestina would
bring good rebounding ability, ability to run the floor, and a nice jump shot.
Sestina wants to make the right decision and I respect him wanting
to follow his faith as he went on to say:
“If it goes well, clicks and I get signs from God — I’ve got to pray on it; I’ve been doing that a lot recently — it just depends on the visit. I’ll take the time I need to make the right decision.”
It would have definitely helped the Wildcats’ recruiting
efforts if they had claimed a spot in the Final Four, but as Lexington being his
first visit doesn’t hurt either.
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