UK announced the addition of graduate transfer Nate Sestina on Thursday, officially welcoming the veteran post player to the Wildcats basketball program on the second day of the spring signing period.
Sestina — a 6-foot-9, 245-pound post player from Emporium, Pa. — averaged 15.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game for Bucknell this past season and is on track to graduate next month with a degree in geography. ESPN recently named him the No. 3 graduate transfer for this offseason recruiting cycle, and he’s expected to have an immediate impact at Kentucky.
He follows Reid Travis as the second graduate transfer in as many seasons at UK.
“I think everyone knows my stance on graduate transfers. We are only going to take someone if it’s going to help both the kid and our program,” UK Coach John Calipari said in a release. “I’m not going to take someone if they’re not going to have an impact. After seeing what Reid’s move did for him this past season and how he helped our program, I told our staff if there are other kids in his situation that could benefit, let’s take a look at them.
“Nate falls into that scenario in that he’s achieved what he set out to do and now wants to take this thing to the next level. I’m excited to get to work with him because he’s where the game is going. He has the ability to play in the post but he can stretch you out, which gives us the ability to play a little different and open things up more. He’s a great kid from a great family who wanted this challenge.”
Sestina visited Lexington the day after the Wildcats’ season-ending loss to Auburn in the NCAA Tournament, and he announced his commitment to UK later that week. Calipari was on the lookout for frontcourt help with the departure of Travis and sophomore PJ Washington, who has decided to keep his name in this year’s NBA Draft.
Sestina — a 6-foot-9, 245-pound post player from Emporium, Pa. — averaged 15.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game for Bucknell this past season and is on track to graduate next month with a degree in geography. ESPN recently named him the No. 3 graduate transfer for this offseason recruiting cycle, and he’s expected to have an immediate impact at Kentucky.
He follows Reid Travis as the second graduate transfer in as many seasons at UK.
“I think everyone knows my stance on graduate transfers. We are only going to take someone if it’s going to help both the kid and our program,” UK Coach John Calipari said in a release. “I’m not going to take someone if they’re not going to have an impact. After seeing what Reid’s move did for him this past season and how he helped our program, I told our staff if there are other kids in his situation that could benefit, let’s take a look at them.
“Nate falls into that scenario in that he’s achieved what he set out to do and now wants to take this thing to the next level. I’m excited to get to work with him because he’s where the game is going. He has the ability to play in the post but he can stretch you out, which gives us the ability to play a little different and open things up more. He’s a great kid from a great family who wanted this challenge.”
Sestina visited Lexington the day after the Wildcats’ season-ending loss to Auburn in the NCAA Tournament, and he announced his commitment to UK later that week. Calipari was on the lookout for frontcourt help with the departure of Travis and sophomore PJ Washington, who has decided to keep his name in this year’s NBA Draft.
