2015 NBA Draft: 7 Kentucky Wildcats Declare
The Kentucky Wildcats came up short in its quest for an NCAA title and perfect season. And in the wake of that failure, seven Wildcats have declared for the 2015 NBA Draft.
Kentucky’s super freshman team nearly came away with an undefeated season. Their lone year will have to settle with “just” a Final Four appearance though as seven members of Kentucky’s dream team will declare for this year’s NBA Draft.
Heading that list is a candidate for the first overall pick, Karl-Anthony Towns. Joining him is a great target for the Orlando Magic in Willie Cauley-Stein, along with Trey Lyles, Devin Booker, Dakari Johnson and both Andrew and Aaron Harrison.
The backing reasons behind drafting Cauley-Stein both involve his defensive talents and quick feet, and the potential for his bringing the shot blocking and interior defense the Magic have lacked. Trading down for a pick in the 10 to 14 range would likely ensure the Magic could draft Cauley-Stein while also gaining some other assets.
The talent differential between the 5 and 12 picks may be all but nil in this year’s crop, making this a draft with only two real franchise changers in the lottery (to select Towns or Duke’s Jahlil Okafor).
Johnson may make a nice big body off the bench for a team searching for size, while Lyles also has a very bright future and could be a late lottery pick thanks to his versatility and size.
Aaron Harrison may have an Arron Afflalo-like upside. His twin Andrew will be lucky to find his way onto an NBA roster. Guard Devin Booker is one many are saying should have returned, and his draft potential is difficult to gauge. He could be a late lottery pick or a late first round pick. It’s yet to be seen how NBA scouts value the lesser talents of the Wildcats who all just declared.
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There was nothing to indicate Alex Poythress is declaring, a talent whose season was stunted by a major injury to his left knee. Prior to going down, he had averaged 5.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 20 minutes a game. His career is very much in question, but his talents prior to injury were indisputable.
The Wildcats had a talented enough rotation that no player saw more than 28 minutes per game, which dampens the statistical impact of any one given player. Even Towns may see an increase in looks when he goes to the next level.
The Wildcats are sending some talent into the NBA draft once again, and while the program inevitably will take a season to recover, it stands to reason that Coach John Calipari reels in another impressive recruiting class to flush out a future draft with Wildcats, as this one is.