TheCatsDomain.Com Message Boards: End of an era? No UK basketball players listed in NBA mock draft for next year.

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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 04-20-2021, 06:40 PM:

ESPN posted a new NBA mock draft for 2022 on Tuesday morning, and there was one notable omission.

No Kentucky players were listed.

It’s obviously early in the process, but the update, which included an entire 60-player draft, featured zero Wildcats in what is turning into an anomalous recruiting cycle for John Calipari’s program. Unless there’s a major surprise this spring or a shakeup in the 2021 rankings, this will be the first time that Calipari has not brought in a top-10 national recruit, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

Texas big man Daimion Collins, who signed with UK last fall, is currently the Cats’ top recruit for next season. He’s ranked No. 11 in the country — and he’s projected as an instant-impact player and assumed to be a one-and-done candidate — but he remains absent from ESPN’s mock draft for 2022.

UK’s two other high school signees, Nolan Hickman and Bryce Hopkins, are viewed as multi-year college players. None of Kentucky’s expected returnees or incoming transfers made the ESPN mock draft either.

Calipari has had at least two players selected in the first round of every NBA Draft since completing his first full season at Kentucky in 2010, and Isaiah Jackson and Brandon Boston Jr. are both seen as potential first-round picks this year.

That streak seems in danger of ending. If not this year, then next. After missing on a handful of recruits that are included in ESPN’s 2022 mock draft, UK is turning primarily to the NCAA transfer portal to fill out next season’s roster. That’s a route that could bring in experienced, proven college players, but it’s a talent pool that’s shallow on bonafide NBA prospects.

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Posted by EnterpriseCat (Member # 2881) on 04-20-2021, 07:30 PM:

It may be a good thing. Maybe we’ll have some team players rather than projected superstars who are only looking ahead to an NBA career.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 04-21-2021, 05:58 PM:

Good point EC..