http://www.courier-journal.com/stor...ee-briscoe-taking-nba-decision-wire/84805964/
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Now that five-star center Marques Bolden has made his choice (Duke over Kentucky), all that’s left to settle the Wildcats’ 2016-17 roster is a final decision from NBA draft hopefuls Marcus Lee and Isaiah Briscoe.
At the moment, neither is projected to be picked in June but both continue to test the waters, as allowed by a new NCAA rule. Because neither has hired an agent, both have until Wednesday to pull out of the draft and return to Kentucky.
Briscoe, a 6-foot-3 rising sophomore guard, was scheduled to work out for the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday and the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, his father George told The Courier-Journal on Monday. Last week, his father said Briscoe had already received positive feedback from “four or five” NBA team workouts, “but that doesn’t mean you’re a pro.”
George Briscoe declined to say Monday which way his son is leaning or when the official decision might be announced. Lee’s deliberations are equally murky. While he was invited to the NBA combine – Briscoe was not – it did not go well for him. Poor showings in 5-on-5 drills there seemed to damage already sagging draft stock.
SNY.tv’s Adam Zagoria reported that Lee cancelled multiple NBA team workouts following the combine and ESPN’s Jeff Goodman on Monday, citing anonymous sources, wrote that Lee is “still debating whether to return to college” and the decision “could go either way.”
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Jeff Goodman ✔ @GoodmanESPN
Kentucky’s Marcus Lee is still debating whether to return to college or remain in the NBA Draft, sources told ESPN. Could go either way.
8:52 AM - 23 May 2016
59 59 Retweets 57 57 likes
Lee’s older brother Bryan, who has spoken openly in the past about the family’s thought process, has not returned phone calls or text messages since the combine. Prior to that, Lee seemed determined to stay in the draft; UK coach John Calipari even said as much.
But the 6-foot-9 rising senior forward faces an increasing likelihood of not hearing his name called if he comes out this year.
Getting both Lee and Briscoe back – in addition to five incoming five-star freshmen – would be a major boost for the Wildcats. Briscoe started 33 games and averaged 9.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists last season. Lee started 20 games and averaged 6.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks.
READ MORE: All five incoming Cats are consensus top-25 recruits
Both Briscoe (shooting) and Lee (foul trouble) have areas that must improve, but Briscoe was one of the team’s best defenders and Lee was the team’s leading rebounder and shot blocker.
In addition to the previous departures of Tyler Ulis, Jamal Murray, Skal Labissiere and Alex Poythress, the Cats missed on Bolden and granted freshman Charles Matthews a transfer last week. That leaves redshirt freshman Tai Wynyard, sophomore Isaac Humphries and seniors EJ Floreal, Dominique Hawkins, Mychal Mulder and Derek Willis as the only returning scholarship players if Lee and Briscoe bolt.
Those six players combined to produce 363 points last season – an average of about 10.1 per game between them – while Briscoe and Lee produced 555. Hot-shot freshman class or not, Kentucky needs them to come back. The Cats will know soon whether they will.
Kyle Tucker can be reached at (502) 582-4361. Email him at ktucker@courier-journal.com.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Now that five-star center Marques Bolden has made his choice (Duke over Kentucky), all that’s left to settle the Wildcats’ 2016-17 roster is a final decision from NBA draft hopefuls Marcus Lee and Isaiah Briscoe.
At the moment, neither is projected to be picked in June but both continue to test the waters, as allowed by a new NCAA rule. Because neither has hired an agent, both have until Wednesday to pull out of the draft and return to Kentucky.
Briscoe, a 6-foot-3 rising sophomore guard, was scheduled to work out for the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday and the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, his father George told The Courier-Journal on Monday. Last week, his father said Briscoe had already received positive feedback from “four or five” NBA team workouts, “but that doesn’t mean you’re a pro.”
George Briscoe declined to say Monday which way his son is leaning or when the official decision might be announced. Lee’s deliberations are equally murky. While he was invited to the NBA combine – Briscoe was not – it did not go well for him. Poor showings in 5-on-5 drills there seemed to damage already sagging draft stock.
SNY.tv’s Adam Zagoria reported that Lee cancelled multiple NBA team workouts following the combine and ESPN’s Jeff Goodman on Monday, citing anonymous sources, wrote that Lee is “still debating whether to return to college” and the decision “could go either way.”
Follow
Jeff Goodman ✔ @GoodmanESPN
Kentucky’s Marcus Lee is still debating whether to return to college or remain in the NBA Draft, sources told ESPN. Could go either way.
8:52 AM - 23 May 2016
59 59 Retweets 57 57 likes
Lee’s older brother Bryan, who has spoken openly in the past about the family’s thought process, has not returned phone calls or text messages since the combine. Prior to that, Lee seemed determined to stay in the draft; UK coach John Calipari even said as much.
But the 6-foot-9 rising senior forward faces an increasing likelihood of not hearing his name called if he comes out this year.
Getting both Lee and Briscoe back – in addition to five incoming five-star freshmen – would be a major boost for the Wildcats. Briscoe started 33 games and averaged 9.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists last season. Lee started 20 games and averaged 6.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks.
READ MORE: All five incoming Cats are consensus top-25 recruits
Both Briscoe (shooting) and Lee (foul trouble) have areas that must improve, but Briscoe was one of the team’s best defenders and Lee was the team’s leading rebounder and shot blocker.
In addition to the previous departures of Tyler Ulis, Jamal Murray, Skal Labissiere and Alex Poythress, the Cats missed on Bolden and granted freshman Charles Matthews a transfer last week. That leaves redshirt freshman Tai Wynyard, sophomore Isaac Humphries and seniors EJ Floreal, Dominique Hawkins, Mychal Mulder and Derek Willis as the only returning scholarship players if Lee and Briscoe bolt.
Those six players combined to produce 363 points last season – an average of about 10.1 per game between them – while Briscoe and Lee produced 555. Hot-shot freshman class or not, Kentucky needs them to come back. The Cats will know soon whether they will.
Kyle Tucker can be reached at (502) 582-4361. Email him at ktucker@courier-journal.com.
