We’re one week removed from Kentucky’s postseason exit from the NCAA Tournament. With the offseason comes decisions for each player’s future. While they still have plenty of time to decide, Kentucky Sports Radio noted on Sunday what they anticipate will happen.
Expected to Stay: Adou Thiero, Brennan Canada, CJ Fredrick, Lance Ware
Expected to Go: Cason Wallace, Daimion Collins, Jacob Toppin, Oscar Tshiebwe, Sahvir Wheeler
True 50-50 Decisions: Antonio Reeves, Chris Livingston, Ugonna Onyenso
The “Expected to Stay” column is promising for a few reasons. Thiero has an incredible motor and work ethic with a second year jump highly anticipated. Ware is the soul of the locker room and a voice a young team could benefit from next season. Canada’s return is to be expected while Fredrick could be intrigued by the thought of what a fully healthy season at UK might look like.
The “Expected to Go” column has the most names, including some of Kentucky’s best players from this past season. That’s to be expected with Wallace having the ability to be a lottery pick. Toppin and Tshiebwe could both return to Kentucky and heavily benefit from NIL deals, but it’s likely both are on their way out. Collins is expected to transfer closer to Texas to be with his family and Wheeler’s finish to the season is more reason to indicate he’ll look for options outside of Lexington.
The “True 50-50 Decisions” column is what’s troublesome. Chris Livingston had a decent finish to the year, but feels like he could take a PJ Washington-like jump with more time to develop over the course of a second season at UK. Livingston isn’t being mentioned in many NBA mock drafts and there’s not much indication that will change. It’s almost certain that Reeves will go un-drafted if he leaves. He has an opportunity to return to UK for one more season and capitalize on a nice NIL deal while also getting one more year of college. Ugonna Onyenso hasn’t given any indication that he’s leaving, but there seems to be a worrying sense that a program could pry him away from Kentucky. It’s expected John Calipari and his staff will fight like crazy to retain their highly touted big man.
Let us know what you think about the futures of each of these players. Should they stay? Should they go? What do you think they’ll decide to do?
Madness.
Auburn signee says UK will love guard Rob Dillingham – Vaught’s Views
Already looking forward to next season.
SDSU reaches Final Four with wild finish against Creighton – ESPN
What a crazy game this was.
2023 Final Four highlighted by three first-time participants – KSR
This weekend will be epic.
5-seed Miami rallies past 2-seed Texas into first Final Four – ESPN
Was this a comeback or did Miami just choke?
UK reportedly showing interest in UNC transfer Puff Johnson – KSR
Thoughts?
Caitlin Clark’s triple-double powers Iowa into Final Four – ESPN
L’s down.
Rodney Terry expected to be named head coach at Texas – KSR
The Longhorns have their guy.
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