catmandoo
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posted 05-16-2021 11:42 AM
National basketball analysts are much more confident in the Kentucky Wildcats going into the 2021-22 season following the addition of 2021 five-star guard TyTy Washington.
Washington, listed as the No. 11 overall prospect in the senior class by Rivals.com, signed with the program on May 12. Since then, the likes of Jeff Goodman (Stadium), Gary Parrish (CBS Sports) and Jon Rothstein (College Hoops Today) have all moved the Wildcats up in their respective way-too-early preseason rankings.
Goodman – yes, that Goodman – moved Kentucky all the way up to No. 11 overall following Washington’s addition.
Jeff Goodman’s Way-Too-Early Preseason Top 25 for 2021-22
11. Kentucky
Gone: SG *Brandon Boston Jr. (NBA, Fr., 11.5 ppg), C *Olivier Sarr (Grad, 10.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg), SF *Terrence Clarke (Fr., 9.6 ppg), PG *Devin Askew (Transferring to Texas, Fr., 6.5 ppg), F Cam’Ron Fletcher (Transferring to Florida State, Fr., 1.7 ppg)
Testing Waters: C Isaiah Jackson (Fr., 8.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg), G *Davion Mintz (Grad, 11.5 ppg)
Back: F Keion Brooks (Soph., 10.3 ppg), G Dontaie Allen (RS Fr., 5.4 ppg), F Jacob Toppin (Soph., 5.2 ppg), PF Lance Ware (Fr., 2.0 ppg)
Add: PG TyTy Washington, C Daimion Collins (No. 12), PF Bryce Hopkins (No. 27)
Transfer Add: C Oscar Tshiebwe (West Virginia, Soph., 8.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg), G Kellan Grady (Davidson, Grad, 17.1 ppg), SG CJ Fredrick (Iowa, Soph., 7.5 ppg)
“Last season was a disaster for John Calipari and the ‘Cats. Boston and Clarke didn’t live up to the hype and Askew struggled as a freshman point guard,” said Goodman. “There are still unanswered questions with the roster, but Cal has enough guys back that should take a jump, and he’s bringing in another highly rated group of frosh in addition to a trio of impact transfers in Tshiebwe, Grady and Fredrick.”
As for Parrish, he moved UK up four spots to No. 17 overall, adding that the Wildcats should have more than enough firepower to return to the NCAA Tournament in 2022.
CBS Sports’ Top 25 And 1
17. Kentucky.
“The addition of five-star prospect TyTy Washington gives Kentucky the type of talented point guard that didn’t exist on last season’s roster,” said Parrish. “He’ll pair with three proven transfers — Kellan Grady, Oscar Tshiebwe and CJ Frederick — and should help the Wildcats return to the NCAA Tournament after missing the Field of 68 in 2021.”
As for Rothstein, he listed Kentucky at No. 21 overall as things stand today.
Jon Rothstein 45: Early edition for 21-22
21. Kentucky
Projected Starting 5:
G TyTy Washington
G Kellan Grady
F CJ Fredrick
F Keion Brooks
C Oscar Tshiebwe
Projected Bench: Jacob Toppin, Bryce Hopkins, Dontaie Allen, Lance Ware, Daimion Collins
Key Newcomers: Oscar Tshiebwe (West Virginia), Daimion Collins, Bryce Hopkins, Kellan Grady (Davidson), CJ Fredrick (Iowa), TyTy Washington
Expected Losses: Davion Mintz, Olivier Sarr, BJ Boston, Terrence Clarke, Isaiah Jackson, Cam’ron Fletcher
Seniors: Davion Mintz, Olivier Sarr
NBA Draft Process With Remaining Eligibility: Isaiah Jackson, Davion Mintz
Even with these new leaps, this does not included the potential addition of Georgia guard transfer Sahvir Wheeler, who is expected to officially sign with Kentucky in the coming days.
What do you think of the updated rankings? Fair?
Link
[ 05-16-2021, 11:44 AM: Message edited by: catmandoo ]
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