DeMarcus Cousins – 26.1pg, 11.4pg, 1.3bg, 23.89 PER
Anthony Davis – 23.4pg, 10.4rp, 2.4bg, 24.96 PER
Eric Bledsoe – 20.4pg, 6.1ap, 4.0rp, 20.76 PER (injured)
John Wall – 19.9pg, 9.7ap, 4.2rp, 20.39 PER
Brandon Knight – 19.7pg, 5.1ap, 3.7rg, 15.37 PER
Karl Towns – 15.9pg, 9.7rg, 1.8bg, 21.54 PER
Rajon Rondo – 11.7pg, 11.7ag, 6.4rg, 16.92 PER
Enes Kanter – 11.7pg, 7.5rg, 0.4,bg 23.61 PER
Julius Randle – 10.6pg, 9.6rg, 0.4bg, 13.05 PER
Nerlens Noel – 10.4pg, 8.3rg, 1.6bg, 15.04 PER
Terrence Jones – 10pg, 4.9rg, 0.9 bg, 14.63 PER
Devin Booker – 9.1pg, 1.2ag, 1.8rg, 12.92 PER (averaging 17.7ppg in the month of January).
Patrick Patterson – 6.3pg, 4.2rg, 0.3bg, 10.27 PER
Archie Goodwin – 6.1pg, 1.2ag, 2.1rg, 12.75 PER (coming off a 20 point scoring night).
Willie Cauley-Stein – 5.5pg, 5.4rg, 1.1bg, 15.96 PER
Trey Lyles – 5pg, 4.2rg, 0.3bg, 10.23 PER
Tayshaun Prince – 3.1pg, 2.0rg, 0.9ag, 6.50 PER
James Young – 1.2pg, 0.4ag, 1.2rg, 3.49 PER
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist – injured
Jodie Meeks – injured
The only player who looks like he's in jeopardy of losing an NBA spot is James Young (and Prince, if he retires), and he's only 20 years old so there's still time for him to turn it around. The great part about next year is that MKG is expected to take a major step forward, and Meeks is a rotation player for the Pistons, so the Kentucky-impact in the league will only grow with their reentries into games, as well as Eric Bledsoe's return. Also, it looks like the Kings will try to make a move to re-sign Rondo in the offseason, so his statistical contributions should stay on the same level (which is good news for fans of the triple double) while guys like Booker, Lyles, WCS, Noel, Randle, and Towns continue to improve next season.
One has to also consider the possibility of Jamal Murray's instant impact in the NBA next season. On the right team, Murray could be a 16 to 20 point/game scorer, even as a rookie. Throw in the future potential impact of guys like Monk, Fox, Bam, Gabriel, and even potential UK players like Ayton (fingers crossed), and the Kentucky Empire in the NBA looks to only be getting underway.
We are in for some truly amazing times in the next 5 to 6 years. I don't think UK's recruiting has hit its ceiling, which is an insane thought. As Coach K gets older and moves into retirement, I think Calipari will fill that last vacuum and land even more high level recruits to the point that it will be almost a complete rarity any time a recruit says "no" to Kentucky. Cal's former players and their impact on the NBA will only make the recruiting process that much easier for UK's coaching staff. This is why I believe UK fans should prefer the new OAD player over the returning player. The more NBA guys Kentucky has affiliated with its program, the easier the sale's job becomes on the recruiting trail.
Anthony Davis – 23.4pg, 10.4rp, 2.4bg, 24.96 PER
Eric Bledsoe – 20.4pg, 6.1ap, 4.0rp, 20.76 PER (injured)
John Wall – 19.9pg, 9.7ap, 4.2rp, 20.39 PER
Brandon Knight – 19.7pg, 5.1ap, 3.7rg, 15.37 PER
Karl Towns – 15.9pg, 9.7rg, 1.8bg, 21.54 PER
Rajon Rondo – 11.7pg, 11.7ag, 6.4rg, 16.92 PER
Enes Kanter – 11.7pg, 7.5rg, 0.4,bg 23.61 PER
Julius Randle – 10.6pg, 9.6rg, 0.4bg, 13.05 PER
Nerlens Noel – 10.4pg, 8.3rg, 1.6bg, 15.04 PER
Terrence Jones – 10pg, 4.9rg, 0.9 bg, 14.63 PER
Devin Booker – 9.1pg, 1.2ag, 1.8rg, 12.92 PER (averaging 17.7ppg in the month of January).
Patrick Patterson – 6.3pg, 4.2rg, 0.3bg, 10.27 PER
Archie Goodwin – 6.1pg, 1.2ag, 2.1rg, 12.75 PER (coming off a 20 point scoring night).
Willie Cauley-Stein – 5.5pg, 5.4rg, 1.1bg, 15.96 PER
Trey Lyles – 5pg, 4.2rg, 0.3bg, 10.23 PER
Tayshaun Prince – 3.1pg, 2.0rg, 0.9ag, 6.50 PER
James Young – 1.2pg, 0.4ag, 1.2rg, 3.49 PER
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist – injured
Jodie Meeks – injured
The only player who looks like he's in jeopardy of losing an NBA spot is James Young (and Prince, if he retires), and he's only 20 years old so there's still time for him to turn it around. The great part about next year is that MKG is expected to take a major step forward, and Meeks is a rotation player for the Pistons, so the Kentucky-impact in the league will only grow with their reentries into games, as well as Eric Bledsoe's return. Also, it looks like the Kings will try to make a move to re-sign Rondo in the offseason, so his statistical contributions should stay on the same level (which is good news for fans of the triple double) while guys like Booker, Lyles, WCS, Noel, Randle, and Towns continue to improve next season.
One has to also consider the possibility of Jamal Murray's instant impact in the NBA next season. On the right team, Murray could be a 16 to 20 point/game scorer, even as a rookie. Throw in the future potential impact of guys like Monk, Fox, Bam, Gabriel, and even potential UK players like Ayton (fingers crossed), and the Kentucky Empire in the NBA looks to only be getting underway.
We are in for some truly amazing times in the next 5 to 6 years. I don't think UK's recruiting has hit its ceiling, which is an insane thought. As Coach K gets older and moves into retirement, I think Calipari will fill that last vacuum and land even more high level recruits to the point that it will be almost a complete rarity any time a recruit says "no" to Kentucky. Cal's former players and their impact on the NBA will only make the recruiting process that much easier for UK's coaching staff. This is why I believe UK fans should prefer the new OAD player over the returning player. The more NBA guys Kentucky has affiliated with its program, the easier the sale's job becomes on the recruiting trail.
