Kentucky Lost Everybody - Well, 7 Players

Kentucky just announced at a press conference that seven players from its basketball program were entering the NBA draft, and while ordinarily this would put a rebuilding stamp on any program, this is what John Calipari wants. Come in, succeed, leave in a year or two, and then we’ll do this cycle all over again.

Here’s who is going to the NBA: Willie Cauley-Stein (junior), Karl-Anthony Towns (freshman), Dakari Johnson (sophomore), Andrew Harrison (sophomore), Aaron Harrison (sophomore), Trey Lyles (freshman) and Devin Booker (freshman). I believe that Cauley-Stein, Towns and Booker are lottery picks, and Lyles will go in the 1st round. The other three will be second round picks (or go undrafted).

Don’t worry, Kentucky fans: You’re still a Top 25 next season. And you’ll start the season in the Top 10.

The better question is, ‘who is staying?’ Tyler Ulis will be the point guard next year, and Alex Poythress will almost certainly start at small forward, but it looks like the rest of the rotation will be up for grabs. Marcus Lee is staying in school, but he’ll come off the bench because one of the best centers in high school basketball is headed to Lexington: Skal Labissiere. He’s 6-foot-11, has range on his jumper, and is an early candidate to be the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft.

But now the real fun begins: There were ~~about a dozen~~ nine undeclared players in the McDonald’s High School basketball game last week. They’re waiting for the dominoes to fall: Which players from top programs are going pro? Eight of the Top 20 players according to Rivals have not committed.

Wonder if this puts Coach K in a tough spot: Hey, it’s nice we won the title and all, but Jahlil, Justise and Tyus, can you guys quickly make up your mind, I’ve got one-and-done studs to chase.

The next two weeks are going to be fun for college basketball fans.

Kentucky Lost Everybody - Well, 7 Players - to the NBA

By Jason McIntyre | Apr 9, 2015