You are fooling yourself if you think we only lose 3. Knox, SGA, Diallo are gone. Vanderbilt, Richards, Washington, Gabriel would all leave in a second. Matt Jones (love or hate him) says we have a possible transfer, hopefully he's talking about Woodchopper.
Not one freshman not projected to go in the first round left UK after one year. Every single Freshman who did leave after one season went in the first round.
I can see Diallo, Knox, SGA, Vanderbilt, Gabriel and Richards all entering the draft. I See Knox staying in if you have any doubt about him going first round go back and listen to Carlismo former college and NBA coach and current NBA analyst react to Knox's play last night. Of all these guys Knox could really use another season to mature emotionally so being that his family isn't in dire need financially perhaps they will encourage him to stay. He plays one more year learns to keep his head up and lead he will be freakish good. Say there is an outside chance that he and his parents decides he comes back after all he is the youngest guy on the youngest team.
Diallo is most likey gone either transfer route or NBA will depend on where he projects at his workouts and combine. He may make his mistakes here but that NBA floor is spread wide open for a guy like Diallo. He is gone
SGA. This one is is a toss up. His draft stock is purely from this season so not alot of people in his ear yet. He could improve his draft stock ridiculously and will be on alot of preseason lists that will get his name out there. I think he will struggle to beat out NBA quality defenders and he makes to many bad choices with his passing at pg at the workouts and combine. Probably 60percent going 40 percent staying another year.
Gabriel I don't know he showed up last night the head fakes drive and dunks look good would once again excel at a more open floor. Can see him improving his draft stock alot at workouts and combine a pretty good pick and pop or pick and roll player strong rebounder and shot blocker who plays d. NBA stretch 4 probably fifty fifty staying or leaving.
Jarred Vanderbilt I'm with u here kid is elite at everything except scoring. If this kid shows he can shoot at all at the workouts and combine, and its not that hard to imagine kid shot well for 3 weeks last spring. I think he is gone and probably higher than people think. Maybe as high as lottery. People see him and go "oh he can't shoot." He doesn't have to he will contribute directly to the scoring probably 8 to 12 points a game . Throw in everything else he does well and he will be a plus 20 to 25 kinda player. But if Jarred comes back showshe can play a year injury free hasnt done it since his jr year and can hit a fifteen footer he will make some noise to be a top5 guy in the 19 draft. Just afraid his upside will be too high for some team not to take a chance and guarantee him money. If so he almost has to take it.
I see Richards entering going through it and coming back. Richards ever gets his hands and timing better he will be a top 10 pick in 19 draft he is just in his 4th season of organized basketball give another year of strength and agility training plus develops a baby hook and he is a big who can hit ft.he will be a beast. Next season plus on a team loaded with shooters next season that inside is gonna look wide open. Think Nick goes through the motions but comes back
PJ has no position in the NBA right now. He can develop those skills and he has the ability to make it the NBA after another season maybe two. Think he comes back.
green isn't going anywhere neither is SKJ or Baker. So I think it be reasonable to assume that Knox, Diallo, Vanderbilt and SGA most likely are gone. That leaves 4 five star post players back 2 soph and 2 jrs. It leaves a five star and a very underrated 4star Baker back in the backcourt with 3 five star backcourt freshman.
So no we won't be anything next season like we have been this season next season could start 4 players who have returned add a ton more outside shooting. My guess we add one more five star player and possibly a grad transfer. That is with some guys leaving that very well may not I say the only guaranteed player to leave is probably Diallo. U may be right and we lose every freshman but Green and Baker and Gabriel jumps but who knows NCAA may lift the sit out a year on transfers and we pick up some star power there with experience. Just to hard to claim next season done til the roster is done but your worst case scenario has us more than this year's team plus a whole lot more shooting.