Men's Basketball
Practice Report: October 11th, 2021
Published
4 years agoon

Yesterday, the media, NBA scouts, and Dominique Hawkins had the opportunity to take a closer look at the 2021-22 Kentucky basketball team (just wanted to clarify since we are a football school now). My first impression, I seen a better basketball product yesterday than at nearly any time last season, with the exception of the Florida/Keion return game.
Let’s take a dive into yesterday’s practice.
Injuries
The most notable news from yesterday’s practice was Sahvir Wheeler’s injury.
Towards the end of practice, transfer guard Sahvir Wheeler suffered a left ankle injury. While the severity of the injury has yet to be announced, Wheeler was helped to the bench, not putting any weight on the ankle/leg initially. Later, he was helped to the locker room, putting minimal weight on the ankle but walking with the help of others.
Lance Ware did participate in Sunday’s UK Pro-Day, but yesterday Ware only took part in pre-practice shoot-around, not in any part of practice.
CJ Frederick and Jacob Toppin participated in parts of practice, but were limited as they did not participate in any contact drills.
Daimion Collins
A five-star McDonald’s All-American coming out of high school, Collins is a freakishly long and bouncy big man. With that being said, temper your expectations.
Collins has the tools to be a great player and while I believe he will make an impact, especially with his 7’5 wingspan (third-longest in the Cal era and just 3/4 in. shorter than Anthony Davis), I do not anticipate for it to be soon.
Collins seemed to play a bit timid in practice, which will improve as he puts on more muscle, but more worrisom was seeing his thought process with some defensive rotations. The positive part, this can be corrected with good coaching and we have some of the best.
Shooting and A Rejuvenated Offense
I know it’s just a practice and we have heard it from Calipari a hundred times in the past, but this team can shoot the ball.
Kellen Grady, Dontaie Allen, Davion Mintz, CJ Frederick, and TyTy Washigton. That is a list of five consistent perimeter threats on this team and that is something that no other team in the Calipari era has ever heard. With that being said, that list doesn’t include the perimeter threats in the frontcourt.
In terms of the frouncourt shooting, don’t expect Tshiebwe and Collins to contribute much in that category, but Bryce Hopkins, Keion Brooks, and Jacob Toppin were shooting with confidence. At one point, Hopkins made 18 of 20 threes in the five-minute shooting drill.
Leadership
This is undoubtedly the most experienced team Cal has had at his time at Kentucky and there are several players that could fit the role of leader. The three that stood out today were TyTy Washington, Keion Brooks, and Bryce Hopkins. They were the first ones to pick up their teammates.
That’s not to mention Sahvir Wheeler and Kellen Grady who had leadership roles with their previous teams and are capable of being leaders in their own right.
With so many players with leadership skills, I expect this team to hold each other accountable to a level we have not seen before with Cal. Furthermore, If one player is having a bad night, it is good to know that we have others that can lead and pick the team up.
Other Notes
- I am not sure if Coach Rob Strong or Sahvir Wheeler was the shortest man on the court.
- Spurs’ scout was very old fashioned, as he was the only scout evalutaing the players with pen and paper only on the sideline for practice today.
The football team is the focus of the Commonwealth at the moment, but basketball season and the Kentucky Revenge Tour is just under a month away as the Cats will play Duke on Nov. 9th.
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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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Published
17 hours agoon
June 26, 2025
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.
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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Men's Basketball
Koby Brea Selected to the Phoenix Suns With the No. 41 Overall Pick in the 2025 NBA Draft
Published
17 hours agoon
June 26, 2025
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.
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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Published
2 days agoon
June 25, 2025
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.”
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.
“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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