One takeaway stood out above the remainder after watching Kentucky’s four-game romp by way of the GLOBL JAM in Toronto final month: thank goodness Antonio Reeves got here again. A minimum of that should have been what UK followers have been considering as Reeves hit an absurd 56.3% of his 3-pointers whereas main the Wildcats to a 4-0 document throughout the exhibition tour.
Reeves confirmed why he’s so vital to Kentucky’s 2023-24 outlook as he earned MVP honors whereas averaging 23 factors per recreation and spearheading UK’s collection of victories over under-23 squads representing Africa, Canada and Germany. He’s the one returning participant who has began a recreation for the Wildcats, and his presence is vital for UK given the roster’s youth.
With the Aug. 1 dedication of Croatian heart Zvonimir Ivisic, UK is ready to have eight scholarship freshmen on its roster this season. Even by the requirements of Fifteenth-year coach John Calipari, who has constructed a program round freshman expertise, that is a hefty quantity.
And it is coming in an period when school basketball is extra veteran-oriented and less-reliant on freshmen than at any level in latest reminiscence. Thus, Reeves’ choice to return following an offseason of flirting with leaving stands out as probably the most constructive roster improvement of UK’s 2023 offseason.
As school basketball’s offseason participant motion cycle involves a crawl, it is time to begin breaking down the rosters of the game’s prime packages. For this installment, we’re having a look at Kentucky and attempting to decipher what the lineup might seem like when the season begins for the Wildcats, who’re ranked No. 16 within the CBS Sports activities early Prime 25 And 1 rankings.Â
John Calipari has coached at Kentucky since 2009, however this season is likely to be probably the most vital. Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander break down the Wildcats in our Summer season Shootaround collection. Subscribe to Eye on Faculty Basketball, which is out there at no cost on the Audacy app in addition to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and wherever else you hearken to podcasts.
Projected beginning lineup
1. D.J. Wagner
6-3 | 175 | Fr.
Wagner completed the 2023 recruiting cycle ranked No. 6 within the class, in accordance with 247Sports. He’s the son of former NBA guard Dajuan Wagner, who Calipari coached at Memphis. He is additionally the grandson of Louisville legend Milt Wagner. The third-generation star flashed his offensive playmaking prowess in Toronto, averaging 14 factors and 4.8 assists throughout the journey. When he signed, Calipari described Wagner as a “versatile scorer” who’s “equally as powerful on protection.”
2. Adou Thiero
6-6Â | 200Â | So.
Exterior of Reeves, Thiero is the one scholarship returner on Kentucky’s roster. He did not commit till Might of final yr however discovered the ground in 20 video games as a real freshman, logging 9.5 minutes per contest. He was a starter throughout the GLOBL JAM however should struggle to maintain that distinction because the freshmen acclimate to Calipari’s system. His physicality and flexibility differentiate him from the opposite guards and provides him the prospect to shine as a defender and rebounder.
3. Antonio Reeves
6-5 | 205Â | Fifth yr
After transferring in from Illinois State final season, Reeves developed into Kentucky’s offensive engine because the season progressed. Within the 18 video games between Jan. 7 and March 10, he averaged 16.9 factors per recreation on 41% 3-point taking pictures. Reeves began simply 14 of 34 video games in his first season with this system however looks like a lock to start out full-time and play 30 or extra minutes per recreation this season. He is the one veteran within the again court docket and might be trusted for management and environment friendly manufacturing.
4. Justin Edwards
6-8Â | 190Â | Fr.
Because the nation’s No. 3 prospect, Edwards edged out his teammates for the excellence of highest-ranked prospect in UK’s loaded freshman class. His size and flexibility units him other than the guards within the class as he is a wing with the flexibility to play the 4. Given the comparatively lean make-up of UK’s roster, it stands to motive he’ll log time at energy ahead. Edwards averaged 14.5 factors and 6.5 rebounds throughout the GLOBL JAM.Â
“I actually like how lively he’s defensively and his want to rebound each ball,” Calipari mentioned when Edwards signed. “He already has an amazing understanding that he can positively affect profitable with out scoring.”
5. Tre Mitchell
6-9 | 225 | Graduate scholar
The unceremonious ending to Bob Huggins’ teaching tenure at West Virginia opened the door for Mitchell to switch exterior the traditional portal window. The Mountaineers’ misfortune turned Kentucky’s jackpot when he picked the Wildcats in late June. Mitchell averaged 11.7 factors and 5.5 rebounds for WVU final season after stints at UMass and Texas.Â
He isn’t a hefty bruiser like departed star heart Oscar Tshiebwe. However he’s expert and might area the ground in methods Tshiebwe could not. Working example: he is a profession 34.7% 3-point shooter and made 8 of 18 tries from deep throughout the GLOBL JAM. He ought to assist open up the ground for UK’s gifted guards.
Bench
Reed Sheppard
6-3 | 180Â | Fr.
Sheppard emerged as a shock on the Toronto journey. Amid a sluggish offensive begin within the opener, he dished out six assists and picked up two steals in 17 minutes. Over the subsequent two video games, he scored 14 and 18 factors whereas persevering with to thrive in different areas. He completed as UK’s chief in assists at 5.8 per recreation whereas additionally grabbing 1.8 steals and blocking 1.3 photographs per recreation.Â
Sheppard is the son of Kentucky legend Jeff Sheppard, however the four-star prospect is way over a pleasant legacy story. He’ll problem for a beginning function.Â
“He is right here as a result of he is a very good participant who may help this crew win,” Calipari mentioned.
Aaron Bradshaw
7-0 | 210Â | Fr.
Following Tshiebwe’s choice to show professional, the trail to a big early function appeared clear for Bradshaw. Then got here phrase in June that he’s anticipated to overlook the beginning of the season due to a fractured foot. The damage presents conditioning challenges, that means Bradshaw might face a prolonged ramp-up course of even after he is cleared.Â
Then, there’s the query of whether or not a participant who landed at No. 12 in a 2024 CBS Sports activities NBA Mock Draft could have the urge for food to danger additional damage to play a partial season of school basketball when an expert payday is looming. What, if something, UK will get from Bradshaw within the 2023-24 season is the most important query looming over this roster getting into the yr.
Rob Dillingham
6-2 | 160Â | Fr.
Ranked the No. 20 prospect within the class, Dillingham simply missed on five-star standing within the 247Sports rankings. Nonetheless, he ought to have ample alternative to contribute as a freshman. Although he struggled taking pictures within the exhibition tour (31%), Dillingham dished out 3.5 assists per recreation vs. simply 1.3 turnovers.Â
“Rob has the flexibility to make good choices, can create for others or get his personal shot,” Calipari mentioned when he signed. “He could make contested layups, which opens the court docket for him offensively.”
Ugonna Onyenso
6-11 | 225Â | So.
Onyenso was a late addition to UK’s 2022 recruiting class, performed in simply 16 video games as a real freshman and entered the switch portal after the season. Finally, he selected to return. After Tshiebwe turned professional and the Wildcats whiffed on Hunter Dickinson within the portal, the outlook for Onyenso improved a bit earlier than he injured his foot in a follow earlier than the GLOBL JAM.Â
Given Bradshaw’s unsure well being scenario, there’s a minimum of an opportunity he might issue prominently into UK’s rotation. If he does, count on him to swat a bunch of photographs. In simply 111 minutes final season, he racked up 16 blocks, which equates to five.8 blocks per 40 minutes.
Depth
Jordan Burks | 6-9 | 190Â | Fr.
Joey Hart | 6-5Â | 180 | Fr.
Zvonimir Ivisic | 7-1 | 220 | Fr.
Burks and Hart have been three-star prospects, whereas Ivisic was a late addition from Croatia whose prolonged body might be helpful in follow. Finally, this trio appears unlikely to crack the rotation in 2023-24. However they every have an opportunity to turn into long-term contributors, in the event that they stick round. Of the three, Burks seems to have one of the best shot at enjoying early since he logged 17.3 minutes per recreation throughout the GLOBL JAM.