WHO IS STAYING? (ANSWER: Green, Richards, Washington, Baker)

[J.Jennings]

Once you're down at the end of the first round, it's all a crapshoot. So many guys in the last 35 to 40 picks who are basically hit or miss.

I agree that he won't be drafted where he wants to be, but testing things out isn't insane. Let's not make the guy out to be Mark Coury. He's got a pretty good future in the game and I think he will be a pro down the line at some point.

Im not mad at him for testing it, i get it, i think it's a learning experiment and something to build on. Why we are evening thinking that Vanderbilt and PJ are gone is actually dumb on our part, they will be back. I think we have watched enough basketball and we know the answer to this already, they are both just not there yet....

[Joneslab]

Per UK's Twitter feed, Wenyen Gabriel is working out for the Utah Jazz today.

[Joneslab]

I have never heard if a team giving a player a 'written guarantee' to a player....especially one with no agent.

It happens all the time, actually. Here's Rob Dauster on the phenomenon.

I've argued that for incoming freshmen college is the best game in town because it's by far the best place to showcase their skills and build their brand. This isn't so for anybody who's not a freshmen. This is the main reason Kentucky has had such trouble keeping players who should stay in school: there's a whole lot more options available to them now.

https://collegebasketball.nbcsports.com/2018/05/10/in-the-money-second-round-picks-cash-in-guaranteed-contracts-at-exceedingly-high-rates/

[40bill]

It happens all the time, actually. Here's Rob Dauster on the phenomenon.

I've argued that for incoming freshmen college is the best game in town because it's by far the best place to showcase their skills and build their brand. This isn't so for anybody who's not a freshmen. This is the main reason Kentucky has had such trouble keeping players who should stay in school: there's a whole lot more options available to them now.

https://collegebasketball.nbcsports....ly-high-rates/

Thanks Will, I appreciate that heads up!

Smh....I'm just too old....the money these young guys can make is mind boggling.
800,000 a year league minimum...and usually two years.
Average Kentucky HOUSEHOLD is less than fifty thousand.
16 years pay for one year work......three years would be close to a lifetime pay......and still your life ahead.
With no college degree.
Unbelieveable.

​​​​

[BobS]

I still think we will be lucky to get one of Gabriel, JV or Washington back.

[Joneslab]

The newest mock drafts show Washington and Vanderbilt being pretty high draft picks next year. Haven't seen either in the first round this year. Still looks like if any of them get a guarantee it would be Washington, but unless the mocks are way off that probably isn't going to happen.

https://www.seccountry.com/sec/2018-nba-mock-draft-projections-first-round-top-players-2018-nba-draft-order-may-14

[DA#23]

Thanks for the updates, all.

[TrueblueCATfan]

I still think we will be lucky to get one of Gabriel, JV or Washington back.

Out of those 3..I really want Vanderbilt back

[Joneslab]

Rumors today that Vanderbilt may not participate in the combine. If that's true I don't see any way that he's drafted. Kyle Tucker writes here about how unusual his situation is because of his history of injuries.

https://www.seccountry.com/kentucky/kentucky-basketball-jarred-vanderbilt-nba-draft-decision-difficult

[J.Jennings]

Rumors today that Vanderbilt may not participate in the combine. If that's true I don't see any way that he's drafted. Kyle Tucker writes here about how unusual his situation is because of his history of injuries.

https://www.seccountry.com/kentucky/...sion-difficult

If he's unable to workout due to his injuries but decided to keep his name in the draft, he's taking a huge chance. I expect him back, just can't see him leaving at this point...

[J.Jennings]

On a side note, SKJ is leaving, going to NC State lol lol, better than the Tarheels....

[Joneslab]

Per multiple reports, Jarred Vanderbilt is officially skipping the combine.

[TrueblueCATfan]

On a side note, SKJ is leaving, going to NC State lol lol, better than the Tarheels....

I agree.....but I sure wish he was staying with us

[Joneslab]

Kyle Tucker on Wenyen Gabriel's decision. He obviously isn't going to be picked, but like many others he's probably making a run at the G-League. Of note here is his high school coach talking about him coming back for his junior year.

https://www.seccountry.com/kentucky/kentucky-basketball-wenyen-gabriel-nba-draft-decision-g-league

[Joneslab]

Here are the combine measurements. Vanderbilt, as discussed, isn't participating. PJ Washington is a little undersized: 6'8" in shoes. Does have about a 6% body fat (down from about 9% when UK did their combine a few months back) and a very respectable 7'2.5" wingspan.

Somebody like UofL's Ray Spalding has much better NBA measurements.

http://stats.nba.com/draft/combine-anthro/