Quotes from the Seven Kentucky Wildcats Heading to the 2015 NBA Draft

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Kentucky Head Coach John Calipari

Opening statement …
“Let me welcome everybody on this special day for these young people and their families. We had a meeting to begin our year, and the meeting was based on them. My comment was ‘I’m on a mission. My goal is to have eight of you have an opportunity to be drafted if you chose to put your name in the draft.’ That was from the beginning of the year. They also knew that meant they would have to be the most selfless, sharing, sacrificing group of young people ever in this game if that were to happen. And they were. They also knew they’d have to do some historic things. Even at this crazy university. Historic things and they did. Thirty-eight and zero to start a season. Thirty-eight wins, the most ever. I can go on and on what they did defensively. Things that are historic. We didn’t quite get our goal of winning a national title and 40-0. It can’t and it doesn’t take away from what these people have accomplished. They had a 3.13 grade point average. They had a 3.0 last year, the guys that were with us. They look after each other. They’re their brothers’ keeper. The keep them – each of them – walking the right path. Keeping themselves together. They also know if they chose – I’m hoping they all stay – if they chose to leave, their scholarship is here waiting on them when they chose to come back. During this year it’s about team. I think you all saw that. They shared, they sacrificed. It was about team. Now it’s about each individual up here making a decision not based on what’s right for this university. Not based on what’s right for me and our staff. What’s right for them and their families? The way this works: I meet with each player after the last game, and truly it’s the morning after the last game. I ask, and this is every year, ‘do you want me to explore your options?’ They all said ‘yes.’ A few said ‘no.’ We gather the information. We talk to about 20 NBA teams. Maybe more. We let the parents talk directly to the NBA so there’s no confusion. We have about a five-minute meeting. Maybe I’m not convincing to stay and I’m not pushing anybody out the door. This is their choice with their family. We’ve done that, and now it’s time for these young people to let us know what they’re going to do. I think maybe the easiest way is if you’ve decided to put your name in the draft why don’t you stand up?”

On if the number of players declaring for the draft surprised him …
“Well I probably shouldn’t say this, but if Alex (Poythress) didn’t get hurt it would have been eight. So no, it doesn’t.”

On if Poythress has decided if he is declaring for the NBA draft …
“Alex is going to go home and meet with his family. We have done some research for him. It’s unfortunate. It’s a tough deal because he would be sitting here too. (If) Alex comes back, he will graduate in three years. He will have his college degree and he has an opportunity to do the things he wants to do and reach his dreams too.”

Devin Booker, guard

On how long it took to make his decision to declare …
“It was a long thought-out process, but it was kind of quick too because we’re not focused on it during the season, and the season just ended, too. We gathered information and I feel like I made the best decision for myself.”

On his relationship with Tyler Ulis and how it affected his decision …
“I talked to him [Tyler] a lot about it, but Tyler wanted me to do what’s best for myself too. Everyone knows we’re going to be best friends for life. Me moving on, that’s not going to change anything, really. I’d love to play with him more, be on the court with him again, but hopefully [we will again] one day in the future.”

On what helped him make his final decision …
“I talked to my parents about it, I talked to the coaches about it, and they all felt the same way so we came to a conclusion [to enter the draft].”

On what he needs to improve on moving forward before the draft …
“I need to get more explosive and defend better. In the Wisconsin game there were a lot of mismatches where I was getting scored on, but that just comes along with getting stronger and that’s what I’m going to work on over the summer.”

On his time at UK and how it feels leaving …
“We all wanted a national championship, but I feel like we made a lot of history here, did a lot of great things. These are memories that I’ll never forget. People always ask what my hardest decision was, and it’s the decision to leave Kentucky, not to come here. That was the easy decision, to come here and be a part of this program. (A) Great fan base. That was an easy decision and leaving all of that will be the hardest.”