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Wildcats Slated to Participate in 2020 NBA Draft Combine

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With Kentucky players dominating the 2020 NBA Playoffs, the Wildcats will be expected to also be the story at the looming 2020 NBA Draft. It came as little surprise when five former Kentucky men’s basketball players were invited to participate in the 2020 NBA Draft Combine in a uniquely reformatted version due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Five players, Ashton Hagans, Tyrese Maxey, Immanuel Quickley Nick Richards and Kahlil Whitney, were invited to participate. 

Kentucky leads all schools with four players set to partake in Hagans, Quickley, Richards and Whitney. Maxey, regarded as a lottery-level selection, similar to in-person NBA Draft Combine options, opted out of participating in this year’s process. 

The 2020 NBA Draft is set for Nov. 18 and will air on ESPN. The date is subject to change as circumstances warrant.

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The NBA Draft Combine will be conducted both in NBA team markets and virtually, taking place in phases beginning in October through early to mid-November. The reimagined opportunity will provide players and the league to go through interviews, individual on-court programs consisting of strength and agility testing, anthropometric measurements, shooting drills and a “Pro Day” video, all conducted in October at NBA team facilities nearest to the player’s home or interim residence. Medical testing and examinations will be performed by NBA-affiliated physicians in the same market. 

Hagans averaged 11.5 points, 6.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game as a sophomore. He played in 67 career games for Kentucky with 59 starts. He boasted double-figure scoring in 20 games in 2019-20, including a career-high 26-point performance in the win over Utah Valley. Hagans dished out three or more assists in every game he played this season and recorded five or more in 22 outings, including a career-high-tying 12 vs. UAB. His streak of 10 games with six or more assists midway through the season was the best run by a Wildcat since Roger Harden dished six or more in 12 straight in 1986.
 
With 351 career dimes, Hagans ranks 12th in program history in assists. His 5.24 career assist average ranks fourth in the school record book. Hagans’ assist average this season ranked 16th in the country and tops in the league. He was named the Southeastern Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 and was once again UK’s best on-ball defender this season with a team-high 58 steals. He made the SEC All-Defensive Team again in 2020 and was one of four finalists for the Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year. With 119 swipes in 67 career games, Hagans averaged 1.776 steals per game for his career. That rate is third all-time in program history, trailing only Rajon Rondo and Derek Anderson.

Maxey was one of the top freshmen in the country in 2019-20 and averaged 14.0 points per game for the SEC champions. In addition to his 14.0 points per game, Maxey averaged 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. He shot 42.7% from the floor and made 33 3-pointers in 2019-20.

Highlighted by a career-high 27-point performance in the victory over No. 3/4 Louisville, Maxey averaged a team-high 19.0 points to go along with 5.3 rebounds in UK’s six games vs. Associated Press Top 25 foes. In true road games, Maxey ranked second on the team with an average of 14.4 points. He also added 4.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.0 blocks per game in hostile territory.
 
Maxey’s 26 points in the 1-2 matchup vs. Michigan State topped Terrence Jones’ 25 points against East Tennessee State in 2010 for the most points by a freshman in his debut as a Wildcat. Against Louisville, he made a career-high nine field goals (on 14 shots), sunk a career-best four 3-pointers and tied a career high with seven rebounds. His 27 points were the most by a UK freshman vs. Louisville and the most by a Wildcat in the rivalry since Jodie Meeks score 28 on Jan. 4, 2009.
 
Accentuated by six 20-point performances, Maxey scored in double figures in 22 games. The league’s coaches picked him for the All-SEC Second Team and the SEC All-Freshman Team. He was also a three-time SEC Freshman of the Week selection and both the NCAA March Madness National Player of the Week and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Wayman Tisdale National Freshman following the win over Louisville.
 
Quickley will head to the professional ranks after becoming one of the best scorers in college basketball in 2019-20. The SEC Player of the Year led the Wildcats with 16.1 points per game and ended the season on a 20-game double-figure scoring streak. Quickley was named an All-American by several outlets after a breakout 2019-20 campaign. The Athletic, CBS Sports and Bleacher Report all tabbed the sophomore guard with All-America Third Team distinction.

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He scored in double figures in 26 of the 30 games he played in and topped the 20-point plateau in eight. The 6-foot-3 guard made a team-high 62 3-pointers — including making a 3 in 28 games and 11 straight to end the season — and shot a team-high 42.8% from behind the arc after a slow start. The Maryland native’s 20-game double-figure scoring streak to end the season is the best run since Malik Monk scored in double figures in 30 straight games during the 2016-17 season. During the 20-game stretch, Quickley scored 20 or more points eight times and made three or more 3-pointers seven times, including a career-high eight at Texas A&M.
 
During the 20-game stretch of scoring in double figures, Quickley averaged 18.6 points to go along with 4.6 rebounds per game and 50 3-pointers while shooting 47.2% from long range. He poured in a career-high 30 points at Texas A&M and sunk a career-best eight 3-pointers to become the first UK player with 30 or more points since Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 on Jan. 30, 2018, vs. Vanderbilt. He’s also the first player with back-to-back 25-plus-point games since Monk from Feb. 25-28, 2017. The eight 3s tied Monk, Jamal Murray and Eric Bledsoe for the most 3-pointers in a game during the Calipari era.
 
What those stats don’t fully reveal is just how clutch Quickley was. Two of the best examples were at LSU and at home vs. Florida. He scored 14 of his team-high 21 points in the second half in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which included making all five field-goal attempts and dishing a pair of assists. At home vs. Florida, he scored 22 points in the second half, including 20 of Kentucky’s 28 points when the Wildcats fell behind 40-33. He finished with a game-high 26 points vs. the Gators.
 
Quickley made 92.3% at the free-throw line, which ranks second in school history, just behind Tyler Herro’s school record set in 2018-19 of 93.5%. His .895 career average is the best in school history. 
 

Richards enjoyed the most productive season of his career. After averaging 4.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks over 13.4 minutes a game in the first two seasons of his career, Richards turned into an All-SEC First Team player in 2019-20. The junior led the team in rebounding (7.8 per game), blocks (2.1 per game) and double-doubles (10) to go along with a conference-high .644 field-goal percentage and 14.0 points per game. His field-goal percentage ranked fourth in the nation.

Richards was one of four players in the country to average at least 13.5 points per game, at least 7.5 rebounds and at least 2.0 blocks while shooting at least 60.0% from the floor. He was in the 98th percentile of offensive efficiency in the Synergy national rankings and in the 88th percentile on defense.
 
The forward from Jamaica was an All-SEC First Team selection by the league’s coaches, was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District 20 First Team, won two national player of the week honors in 2019-20 and was a two-time SEC Player of the Week honoree.

Richards also led the Wildcats with 66 blocks, including 18 games with multiple rejections. He blocked seven shots vs. Lamar, the first Wildcat with seven or more swats since Karl-Anthony Towns in 2014-15 and he blocked six at LSU. As Richards went in 2019-20, so did UK. Kentucky was 22-2 when he scored in double figures, 10-0 when he grabbed double-digit rebounds and 7-1 when he blocked at least four shots.
 
In three seasons, Richards concluded his career third in program history with a career field-goal percentage of .628 (with a minimum of 50 attempts), 10th with 146 career swats and 46th with 528 rebounds.
 
Richards played well early in the season, but his meteoric rise began vs. Louisville and continued into the conference season. Against the Cardinals’ frontline, one of the best in the country, Richards delivered. The 6-foot-11 big man secured a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. The double-double was Richards’ first against a ranked opponent in his three seasons. In 20 games prior vs. ranked foes, Richards averaged 3.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. He had never recorded double-digit scoring or rebounding numbers against a ranked opponent. Richards did it again vs. nationally ranked Texas Tech with a monster 25-point, 14-rebound, four-block performance.

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Whitney appeared in 18 games for the Wildcats in an abbreviated season. He averaged 3.3 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. Whitney started the first seven games of the season for the Wildcats, including scoring a career-high 11 points in the win over Eastern Kentucky. He had nine points with a pair of steals in the victory over Mount St. Mary’s. Whitney went 3 for 4 from the floor with seven points against Fairleigh Dickinson and matched that scoring output against Utah in Las Vegas.  

A sixth UK player, EJ Montgomery, departed following a two-year career to pursue a professional career. Although he was not invited to the 2020 NBA Draft Combine, he possesses a makeup that is attractive to NBA teams.

The 6-foot-10 forward out of Fort Pierce, Florida, appeared in 28 games for the Wildcats during his sophomore campaign and made 25 starts. He averaged 6.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, both of which were career highs. He also charted 31 total blocks, 12 steals and 17 assists.

Montgomery registered a career-high 25 points in a win against Fairleigh Dickinson where he was 12 of 16 from the floor. He also played a major role in the win over Mississippi State with 12 points and eight rebounds. At Texas A&M he put together one of his best performances of his career with eight points, 10 boards, a career-high three assists, two steals and a block.
 
Montgomery led the Wildcats in blocks eight times and four games with three or more rejections. He paced the team in steals in four outings and matched that with four games led in rebounding. Montgomery capped the season shooting 51.8% from the field and he hauled in 151 rebounds, both of which ranked second on the squad. His 31 swats also was the second highest on the team.

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Kentucky has enjoyed unprecedented success at putting players in the NBA under Calipari. In the 10-plus seasons of the Calipari era, 38 players have been selected in the NBA Draft, more than any other school. Included in the recent run are 29 first-round picks, three No. 1 overall selections (Anthony Davis, Towns and John Wall) and 21 lottery selections. A staggering 29 players from Kentucky were on NBA opening-day rosters (including two-way and inactive lists), the most of any school. 

Calipari’s players are not only reaching the next level, they are succeeding when they do. His players have garnered 22 All-Star selections. Derrick Rose (from Memphis) was named league MVP in 2011. Five of his players have been tabbed All-NBA (Rose, Wall, Davis, DeMarcus Cousins and Towns), three have been named NBA Rookie of the Year (Rose, Tyreke Evans and Towns) and 14 players from Calipari’s first 10 teams at Kentucky have made the NBA All-Rookie teams. UK has produced more All-NBA players, more NBA All-Rookie and more NBA All-Defensive players than any other school in the Calipari era.

Calipari has had at least one player selected in the top 10 of the draft in each of the last 12 seasons, dating back to his time at Memphis. No other school or coach in the country has had a first-round pick in each of the last 11 seasons. Calipari is the only coach in the history of the sport to have four players drafted No. 1 overall (Rose – 2008, Wall – 2010, Davis – 2012, Towns – 2015). 

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BB Recruiting

Kentucky Has Contacted Nation’s Leading Scorer, Four-Star Transfer Jaron Pierre Who Is “Definitely” Interested in the Cats

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Jacksonville State transfer Jaron Pierre has been contacted by Kentucky.
Jacksonville State Athletics

There are more than a thousand players in the transfer portal, meaning names are flying left and right. As of April 1st, Kentucky has one commitment in Kam Williams (Tulane), and is projected to land top 25 transfer Magoon Gwath (San Diego State).

That said, the Kentucky staff has been in contact with more than a dozen players, and there is another notable player to add to that list.

KY Insider can report that Kentucky has contacted Jaron Pierre from Jacksonville State. Pierre is currently a four-star transfer prospect and ranked as the 34th ranked prospect in 247Sports‘ transfer portal rankings.

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At Jacksonville State last season, Pierre scored more points than anyone else in college basketball (777 points), averaging 21.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting 38.2% from 3-point range (9.0 attempts per game). He scored 30 points or more in six games, and only had one game where he did not score in double digits. His impressive play earned him Conference USA Player of the Year honors.

Pierre also had prior stops at Southern Miss and Wichita State, where he spent two years at each school, and will be going into his sixth season of college basketball. Pierre has also declared for the NBA Draft, but is not currently projected on any mock drafts.

While still early in his recruitment, Pierre tells KY Insider that he is “definitely” interested in Kentucky, but no Zoom meeting or visit has been scheduled.

“I love it Big Blue Nation,” Pierre said of the Kentucky program. He also really liked what Mark Pope was able to do in his first season in Lexington. “He was able to pick up right where it left off.”

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The level of competition is always a question when evaluating a mid-major talent, but Pierre’s athleticism jumps off the page and a 38.2% clip from three on nine attempts per game is nothing to slight at.

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Men's Basketball

Kentucky Receives Predictions for 7-Foot, Top 25 Transfer Magoon Gwath

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7-footer Magoon Gwath, a top 25 transfer prospect, is predicted to commit to Kentucky.
San Diego State Aztecs

Magoon Gwath, the 7-foot freshman from San Diego State, has received a crystal ball to Kentucky. No, ladies and gentlemen, this is not an April Fools prank.

Gwath entered the transfer portal on Mar. 24 after he averaged 8.5 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, and 2.6 blocks per game for the Aztecs. His play earned him Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors in the Mountain West Conference. Kentucky was one of the first schools to contact Gwath, and Lamont Butler is even reported to be helping recruit Gwath to Kentucky.

At approximately 12 p.m. on April 1st, Travis Branham, a 247Sports Basketball Analyst, awarded the big man with a crystal ball prediction that has Gwath becoming a Wildcat. On3’s Joe Tipton has also chimed in, following Branham’s prediction and mentioning Michigan as a top destination as well. 

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This isn’t a guess, this is a calculated report. Now, Mark Pope and his staff will await the decision of Gwath in the coming days.

According to 247Sports transfer rankings, Gwath is the No. 22 transfer portal player in the country, ranking fourth among centers. The class of 2023 recruit was unranked, and due to a foot injury, was redshirted for the 2023-24 season.

With a 7-foot, 205-pound frame, Gwath needs to fill out some to help with his strength. However, he is an elite shot-blocker with good defensive instincts. On the offensive side, he has good vision for his size, which Mark Pope loves, and is comfortable putting the ball on the deck with his face-up game.

With the departure of Amari Williams and Andrew Carr in the frontcourt, the addition of Gwath would be major for the Pope and the Wildcats.

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Get familiar with Gwath’s game BBN.

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Men's Basketball

Transfer Portal Tracker: Tracing Kentucky’s Involvement Thus Far

Mark Pope built a tournament roster almost entirely out of the transfer portal last season – where is he looking to repeat his success?

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Chet White | UK Athletics

Despite having only opened this past Monday, the transfer portal has already amassed enough players and prospects to fill out an entire league of their own. In this new era of NIL-fueled college basketball, programs, some of which are actively participating in the NCAA Tournament, are scrambling to sift through the masses and find pieces for their next roster.

Mark Pope, who built this Sweet 16 Kentucky team almost entirely out of the transfer portal last year, is no stranger to the process. In fact, he’s already landed a transfer in Kam Williams, a freshman wing from Tulane. You can learn more about him here.

In addition to coaching the ‘Cats towards a historic tournament appearance this year, Pope and his staff have already made waves in the transfer market as well. Here’s a list of players they’ve either already contacted, or are expected to.

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Dedan Thomas Jr.

A point guard out of UNLV, Thomas Jr., at this stage, seems like the other most likely possibility to land in Lexington. With two years of eligibility left, a 16/5/2 average split and one of the best catch-and-shoot efficiencies in the country (95th percentile) Thomas Jr. would look to fill the hole left by Lamont Butler’s graduation and the ominous possibility of Kerr Kriisa’s transferring.

Either way, he’s a high-level scorer with a lot of room to grow; he’d have a spot on the roster either way. Thankfully for Kentucky, the interest isn’t a one-way ordeal. UK is reportedly one of his top schools, with a zoom meeting between Coach Pope and Thomas Jr. happening as soon as later this week. ‘Cats fans should keep a close eye on this one as the portal grows ever more populated.

Magoon Gwath

Gwath, a 7’0″ big from San Diego State and reigning Mountain West defensive player of the year, is a name that many have attached Kentucky too early on in this transfer portal process. Just about every report has the recruitment coming down to UK and Michigan, with no clear indicator of preference in either direction.

If he does land in Lexington, Gwath brings nearly three blocks per game, solid shooting numbers across the board, and three years of eligibility remaining to grow through. He’s easily one of the most intriguing prospects in the portal, and would be a pitch-perfect fit in Pope’s notoriously big-centered offense.

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Silas Demary Jr.

The recruitment of Demary Jr. is the most interesting, and fastest moving, on this list. Just a few days ago on a zoom call with the Georgia guard, Pope reportedly asked what his plans for dinner were, in jest. The joke led to a dinner with Demary and, apparently, a scholarship offer, too.

While that may seem like a hasty decision on the surface, a talent like Demary’s is a rare find in the transfer portal. In his sophomore year in the SEC, the 6’5″ guard averaged 14 points, four rebounds and three assists, leading the Bulldogs to wins over multiple ranked opponents, Kentucky included. His athletic frame and offensive upside make him a solid candidate to fill Lamont Butler’s shoes, and if Mark Pope has his way, it won’t be long before pen hits paper on this one.

Alvaro Folgueiras

While Robert Morris is a name that many Kentucky fans would be happy to forget, perhaps landing this forward transfer would work to wash away those memories. Alvaro Folgueiras nearly averaged a double-double for the Colonials this past season, and with two years of eligibility remaining, he could serve as a (potentially) solid replacement for Andrew Carr with added longevity. Not to mention his 41% stroke from long range, which fits the Pope offense to a tee.

Kentucky has been involved from the jump, and with that spot in the rotation inevitably opening up, Folgueiras finding his way to Rupp next season bares a distinct plausibility.

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Reed Bailey

Bailey, similar to Foulgueiras, is a stretch four from a smaller school who would bring high-level offensive capabilities to the Wildcats next season. While he only has one year of hoops left, Bailey nearly averaged 20 points per game last season on 48% shooting. Put lightly, he’s a lethal scorer.

And at 6’10”, there are few players of his size that move as quickly and efficiently as he does. Pairing Bailey with a center who can dominate the glass and hold down the fort defensively would give Kentucky the kind of versatility in the paint that leaves opposing teams helpless on either end. Luckily for ‘Cats fans, Kentucky is heavily rumored as a suitor so far.

Keyshawn Hall

“They’ve had number one draft picks, and they’re the number one fanbase in the country. It’s sold out every night,” said Hall, a soon-to-be senior guard from the UCF Knights. Hall (6’7″, 235) averaged 19 points and seven boards this past season, making himself a highly touted transfer in spite of arguably subpar shooting percentages.

Even so, the physical talent is hard to deny, and there are few offensive systems built to refine a player to the same extent as Mark Pope’s. With a zoom call set for Monday, March 31, it appears that Pope and his staff are ready to have a conversation with Hall, at the very least.

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Abdi Bashir Jr.

Bashir Jr., a Monmouth guard that has garnered at least a base level interest from Kentucky, called his potential suitors the “bluest of blue bloods.” A good sign for Kentucky folks who may be high on him as a prospect.

Averaging a 20/3/2 split, it’s hard not to be a little intrigued, even given his 37% shooting metric. Bashir has two years of eligibility remaining, too, giving him an edge over many players entering their final year in terms of improvement and longevity.

Taylor Bol Bowen

Florida State forward Taylor Bol Bowen, whom Kentucky is reported to have visit on April 1st, is one of the more versatile prospects to have entered the portal thus far.

At 6’10”, Bowen is an agile big with a reliable pull-up jumper, averaging almost as many rebounds as he does points. With two, if not more, pieces in their front court leaving after this season, a player like Bowen has obvious potential for the Wildcats.

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Josh Dix

While Dix’s ultimate destination may be the muddiest on this list, one interesting factor in his portal journey demands the BBN’s attention. When it was announced on social media that the 6’6 guard from Iowa was entering the transfer portal, Evan Turner, former NBA player and Big Ten extraordinaire, replied “He’s going to Kentucky.”

So while we don’t know much about Dix and his ties to Kentucky beyond that tweet, it’d be hard not to turn your head at such a statement. Dix’s scoring ability (15 PPG on 51% shooting) would be a welcome addition to any team, though, and it’s safe to assume that he’ll at least look the way of the blue and white.

Yaxel Lendeborg

UAB forward Yaxel Lendeborg may be the most broadly coveted transfer currently in the forward, exhibiting versatility on both ends of the floor and, standing at 6’9″, providing the best of both world as a sort of middle-man who fits in anywhere on the floor.

While Kentucky is already confirmed to be in contact, what team isn’t for a player who averaged 18/11/4? The battle for Lendeborg will likely be the most intense of them all, though the ‘Cats being involved this early is certainly a good sign.

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Far From Over

These are just the names that, so far, seem to be clouded in blue smoke. But with 1,200+ athletes in the portal already, where the team will actually end up is completely and utterly unpredictable.

If fans can trust anyone with the matter, it’s Mark Pope, who said in an NCAA Tournament press conference, “I think guys have seen the massive success that our transfers have had this year, and I expect that we’re going to have great success recruiting the portal.” Coach isn’t playing coy.

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