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Men's Basketball

Lance Ware Enters the Transfer Portal, Could Return

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© Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

Rumors have circulated in the last few days that Kentucky could lose another player to the transfer portal. On Thursday, Lance Ware announced that he would be putting his name in the transfer portal in a heartfelt message to the Kentucky program.

John Calipari released a statement shortly after, citing that Ware “is welcome to return if he doesn’t find the opportunity he’s looking for.”

Coming in as a four-star freshman for the Kentucky Wildcats in 2020-21, Lance Ware played behind five-star freshman Isaiah Jackson, and impact transfers Jacob Toppin and Olivier Sarr. However, he started three games and averaged just over 12 minutes per game but was relatively inefficient.

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Over the last two seasons, Ware’s role was reduced even more as Oscar Tshiebwe demanded more than 32 minutes per game. With Aaron Bradshaw and Ugonna Onyenso expected to have large roles, and Oscar Tshiebwe potentially returning, Ware was the odd man out.

However, his lack of playing time shouldn’t take away from his value to this program, especially over the last two seasons. As someone who covers the team, Ware was consistently one of the hardest workers on the team and a great leader. That is why at the end of this past season, he was named a captain.

While Ware’s floor production won’t be missed, is personality and off-the-court value will be. As Calipari said, if Ware can’t find the opportunity he is looking for, a return would be welcomed.

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Men's Basketball

Source: Antonio Reeves To Meet With Staff On Monday To Discuss Future Plans

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© Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

Antonio Reeves announced he was withdrawing from the NBA Draft on Wednesday, but his intentions on whether or not to return to Kentucky were up in the air. Now, that remains the case, but a source told KY Insider on Friday that Reeves will be meeting with John Calipari on Monday to discuss his future plans.

Reeves has been contemplating a return to Kentucky, as both NIL and his role are major factors in his decision. There have also been multiple reports of a number of schools tampering with Reeves, even though he is not in the transfer portal, which in itself is interesting. That list of schools includes Illinois, Indiana, Memphis, Michigan, and Oklahoma.

A big decision for the basketball program, Reeves would be a much-needed shooting threat and veteran presence added to the current young team coming in. Kentucky’s No. 1 recruiting class needs veteran complementary pieces, and a star from last season’s team would certainly help.

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Regarding a timetable for an announcement, one could assume that it should come soon after his meeting with the staff early next week.

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Men's Basketball

Five Schools Allegedly “Tampering” as They Recruit Antonio Reeves to Transfer

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© Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

On Wednesday, Antonio Reeves was the lone Wildcat from last season to make the decision to withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to college. While he is returning to college, which college is yet to be determined.

Reports started surfacing a few weeks ago that schools were allegedly starting to contact Reeves through “backchannels” in an effort to get the reigning SEC Sixth Man of the Year to transfer. That has continued up to today, with five schools said to have contacted Reeves and trying to recruit him to transfer: Illinois, Indiana, Memphis, Michigan, and Oklahoma.

There are two things to point out in this situation. For one, Reeves is not in the transfer portal, and two, he has yet to graduate to become a grad transfer. According to the NCAA, if another school outside of Kentucky is contacting Reeves, that is considered “tampering” and is against the rules. Given the current state of college athletics, which has been likened to the “Wild Wild West”, this should come as no surprise.

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Those around Reeves have said that his decision will primarily come down to two factors, role and NIL. From all sides, Reeves enjoyed his time and Kentucky last season, and those factors were met. Talking with KY Insider last season after the Kansas State game, Reeves said “I’d love to be back. I love the school. I love the fans. I love everybody here.”

John Calipari was expected to meet with Reeves but there have been no reports to confirm if that meeting has taken place. With that said, Reeves should certainly be Kentucky’s No. 1 priority given their need of shooting and a veteran presence.

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BB Recruiting

LOOK: Three Players of Kentucky Basketball’s Freshman Class Arrive on Campus

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UK Athletics

Returning just two players that played 5+ minutes per game last season, the biggest thing giving Kentucky fans any sense of optimism or hope is the incoming freshman class.

Featuring five players in the top 45, including three in the top 10, the 2023 class is Kentucky’s second No. 1 class since 2015. Even more interesting, the class features two of the three top five prospects the Wildcats have signed in that same span. In other words, there are high expectations.

Of course, five freshmen and two returnees can’t win a National Title, but while we await the staff to fill next season’s roster, the freshmen have started to move into campus at the Wildcat Coal Lodge.

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On Wednesday, Reed Sheppard kicked things off as he backed out of the Kentucky-Indiana High School All-Star Classic to move in early. As the official Kentucky men’s basketball account put it, “the Sheppard Family legacy continues.”

On Friday, two more members of the freshman class moved into campus, Rob Dillingham and Aaron Bradshaw.

With Sheppard, Dillingham, and Bradshaw now moved in, that leaves just Justin Edwards and DJ Wagner to make their moves. That is expected to happen this week. With Kentucky representing the United States in Canada for GLBL Jam, starting July 7th, it will be important for this team to start building chemistry.

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