Kentucky basketball roster 2023-24: Starting lineup prediction, bench rotation, depth outlook

rewrite this content material with complete duration and stay HTML tags One takeaway stood out above the remainder after observing Kentucky’s four-game romp throughout the GLOBL JAM in Toronto remaining month: thank goodness Antonio Reeves got here again. At least that will have to had been what UK enthusiasts had been considering as Reeves hit an absurd 56.3% of his 3-pointers whilst main the Wildcats to a 4-0 report throughout the exhibition excursion. Reeves confirmed why he’s so vital to Kentucky’s 2023-24 outlook as he earned MVP honors whilst averaging 23 issues according to recreation and spearheading UK’s sequence of victories over under-23 squads representing Africa, Canada and Germany. He is the one returning participant who has began a recreation for the Wildcats, and his presence is significant for UK given the roster’s early life. With the Aug. 1 dedication of Croatian middle Zvonimir Ivisic, UK is about to have 8 scholarship beginners on its roster this season. Even by way of the factors of Fifteenth-year trainer John Calipari, who has constructed a program round freshman skill, that is a hefty quantity. And it is coming in an generation when faculty basketball is extra veteran-oriented and less-reliant on beginners than at any level in contemporary reminiscence. Thus, Reeves’ resolution to go back following an offseason of flirting with leaving often is the maximum certain roster construction of UK’s 2023 offseason. As faculty basketball’s offseason participant motion cycle involves a move slowly, it is time to get started breaking down the rosters of the game’s best methods. For this installment, we are looking at Kentucky and seeking to decipher what the lineup may just seem like when the season starts for the Wildcats, who’re ranked No. 16 within the CBS Sports early Top 25 And 1 ratings. John Calipari has coached at Kentucky since 2009, however this season could be essentially the most vital. Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander ruin down the Wildcats in our Summer Shootaround sequence. Subscribe to Eye on College Basketball, which is to be had without cost at the Audacy app in addition to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and anyplace else you concentrate to podcasts. Projected beginning lineup 1. D.J. Wagner 6-3 | 175 | Fr. Wagner completed the 2023 recruiting cycle ranked No. 6 within the magnificence, in line with 247Sports. He is the son of former NBA guard Dajuan Wagner, who Calipari coached at Memphis. He’s additionally the grandson of Louisville legend Milt Wagner. The third-generation superstar flashed his offensive playmaking prowess in Toronto, averaging 14 issues and four.8 assists throughout the commute. When he signed, Calipari described Wagner as a “versatile scorer” who’s “equally as tough on defense.” 2. Adou Thiero 6-6 | 200 | So.Outside of Reeves, Thiero is the one scholarship returner on Kentucky’s roster. He did not dedicate till May of remaining 12 months however discovered the ground in 20 video games as a real freshman, logging 9.5 mins according to contest. He used to be a starter throughout the GLOBL JAM however will have to combat to stay that difference because the beginners acclimate to Calipari’s gadget. His physicality and flexibility differentiate him from the opposite guards and provides him the danger to polish as a defender and rebounder. 3. Antonio Reeves 6-5 | 205 | Fifth 12 months After moving in from Illinois State remaining season, Reeves developed into Kentucky’s offensive engine because the season stepped forward. In the 18 video games between Jan. 7 and March 10, he averaged 16.9 issues according to recreation on 41% 3-point taking pictures. Reeves began simply 14 of 34 video games in his first season with this system however turns out like a lock to start out full-time and play 30 or extra mins according to recreation this season. He’s the one veteran within the again court docket and will probably be trusted for management and environment friendly manufacturing. 4. Justin Edwards 6-8 | 190 | Fr. As the country’s No. 3 prospect, Edwards edged out his teammates for the glory of highest-ranked prospect in UK’s loaded freshman magnificence. His duration and flexibility units him with the exception of the guards within the magnificence as he is a wing being able to play the 4. Given the slightly lean make-up of UK’s roster, it stands to reason why he will log time at energy ahead. Edwards averaged 14.5 issues and six.5 rebounds throughout the GLOBL JAM.  “I really like how active he is defensively and his desire to rebound every ball,” Calipari stated when Edwards signed. “He already has a great understanding that he can positively impact winning without scoring.” 5. Tre Mitchell 6-9 | 225 | Graduate pupil The unceremonious finishing to Bob Huggins’ training tenure at West Virginia opened the door for Mitchell to switch outdoor the traditional portal window. The Mountaineers’ misfortune changed into Kentucky’s jackpot when he picked the Wildcats in overdue June. Mitchell averaged 11.7 issues and 5.5 rebounds for WVU remaining season after stints at UMass and Texas. He’s now not a hefty bruiser like departed superstar middle Oscar Tshiebwe. But he’s professional and will house the ground in tactics Tshiebwe could not. Case in level: he is a occupation 34.7% 3-point shooter and made 8 of 18 tries from deep throughout the GLOBL JAM. He will have to assist open up the ground for UK’s proficient guards. Bench Reed Sheppard 6-3 | 180 | Fr.Sheppard emerged as a marvel at the Toronto commute. Amid a sluggish offensive get started within the opener, he dished out six assists and collected two steals in 17 mins. Over the following two video games, he scored 14 and 18 issues whilst proceeding to thrive in different spaces. He completed as UK’s chief in assists at 5.8 according to recreation whilst additionally grabbing 1.8 steals and blockading 1.3 photographs according to recreation. Sheppard is the son of Kentucky legend Jeff Sheppard, however the four-star prospect is excess of a pleasing legacy tale. He will problem for a beginning function. “He’s here because he’s a really good player who can help this team win,” Calipari stated. Aaron Bradshaw 7-0 | 210 | Fr.Following Tshiebwe’s resolution to show professional, the trail to an important early function gave the impression transparent for Bradshaw. Then got here phrase in June that he’s anticipated to omit the beginning of the season as a result of a fractured foot. The damage items conditioning demanding situations, which means Bradshaw may just face a long ramp-up procedure even after he is cleared. Then, there may be the query of whether or not a participant who landed at No. 12 in a 2024 CBS Sports NBA Mock Draft could have the urge for food to chance additional damage to play a partial season of faculty basketball when a qualified payday is looming. What, if the rest, UK will get from Bradshaw within the 2023-24 season is the largest query looming over this roster coming into the 12 months. Rob Dillingham 6-2 | 160 | Fr.Ranked the No. 20 prospect within the magnificence, Dillingham simply neglected on five-star standing within the 247Sports ratings. Still, he will have to have abundant alternative to give a contribution as a freshman. Though he struggled taking pictures within the exhibition excursion (31%), Dillingham dished out 3.5 assists according to recreation vs. simply 1.3 turnovers.  “Rob has the ability to make good decisions, can create for others or get his own shot,” Calipari stated when he signed. “He can make contested layups, which opens the court for him offensively.” Ugonna Onyenso 6-11 | 225 | So.Onyenso used to be a overdue addition to UK’s 2022 recruiting magnificence, performed in simply 16 video games as a real freshman and entered the switch portal after the season. Ultimately, he selected to go back. After Tshiebwe became professional and the Wildcats whiffed on Hunter Dickinson within the portal, the outlook for Onyenso advanced slightly prior to he injured his foot in a convention prior to the GLOBL JAM. Given Bradshaw’s unsure well being state of affairs, there may be no less than an opportunity he may just issue prominently into UK’s rotation. If he does, be expecting him to swat a host of photographs. In simply 111 mins remaining season, he racked up 16 blocks, which equates to five.8 blocks according to 40 mins. DepthJordan Burks | 6-9 | 190 | Fr.Joey Hart | 6-5 | 180 | Fr.Zvonimir Ivisic | 7-1 | 220 | Fr. Burks and Hart had been three-star possibilities, whilst Ivisic used to be a overdue addition from Croatia whose long body will probably be helpful in apply. Ultimately, this trio turns out not likely to crack the rotation in 2023-24. But they every have an opportunity to become long-term participants, in the event that they stick round. Of the 3, Burks seems to have the most productive shot at taking part in early since he logged 17.3 mins according to recreation throughout the GLOBL JAM. 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