And now, with the draft deadline less than a week away, it feels as though UK is counting on the return of two-time All-American and former national player of the year Oscar Tshiebwe and SEC Co-Sixth Man of the Year Antonio Reeves, neither of which are safe assumptions. What is safe to assume is that All-SEC Freshman Chris Livingston, who also declared for the draft, won't be back.
Kentucky's offseason drought has led 247Sports national recruiting analyst Travis Branham to list UK as one of the "losers" in the transfer portal this cycle.
"They do have the No. 1 recruiting class in 2023 incoming but this is a team that has been at the mercy of Oscar Tshiebwe and Antonio Reeves. There is so much riding on these two and they have not landed a single transfer as of yet. Even if one of those guys opts to go to the draft and not return, that's an extremely big hit to the Kentucky program, especially this late into the portal," Branham said. "There's not many more that we're anticipating to go in there. Will still be a couple, but not many that can move the needle and they will be in line trying to advocate to get these kids on campus. As of today, there's only seven scholarship players for the 2023-24 season for Kentucky and that can really be a big, big miss if Antonio Reeves and Oscar Tshiebwe opt to stay in the draft."
Another wave of grad transfers are expected to hit the portal prior to the draft deadline on May 31.
"That's a problem," 247Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein said. "Seven scholarship players, not necessarily going to get it done but if history has taught us anything, it's don't count out John Calipari's ability to get creative adding to the roster late."
Kentucky's offseason drought has led 247Sports national recruiting analyst Travis Branham to list UK as one of the "losers" in the transfer portal this cycle.
"They do have the No. 1 recruiting class in 2023 incoming but this is a team that has been at the mercy of Oscar Tshiebwe and Antonio Reeves. There is so much riding on these two and they have not landed a single transfer as of yet. Even if one of those guys opts to go to the draft and not return, that's an extremely big hit to the Kentucky program, especially this late into the portal," Branham said. "There's not many more that we're anticipating to go in there. Will still be a couple, but not many that can move the needle and they will be in line trying to advocate to get these kids on campus. As of today, there's only seven scholarship players for the 2023-24 season for Kentucky and that can really be a big, big miss if Antonio Reeves and Oscar Tshiebwe opt to stay in the draft."
Another wave of grad transfers are expected to hit the portal prior to the draft deadline on May 31.
"That's a problem," 247Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein said. "Seven scholarship players, not necessarily going to get it done but if history has taught us anything, it's don't count out John Calipari's ability to get creative adding to the roster late."
Kentucky labeled among losers in the transfer portal this offseason
John Calipari needed a home run this offseason but thus far he's struck out.
247sports.com