by Paul Jordan
Now that the 2009-2010 basketball season is officially over, several members of the UK basketball team have decisions to make about their basketball future. Today we look at the decision ahead for Eric Bledsoe.
Here is where we come to the “which came first: the chicken or the egg” discussion when it comes to UK’s NBA prospects. Which came first with Eric Bledsoe: his emergence as a pro prospect or being a key fixture in UK’s incredible run this season?
Eric was always considered to be a part of Kentucky’s future and one of the building blocks for next season. Nary a word was mentioned about even the possibility of Eric making the jump to the next level … until January 12 when he exploded for 25 points against the Gators in Gainesville and then seemingly overnight, he zipped up the NBA Draft chars and started to be known as the #2 PG prospect.
Eric did have a very solid freshman campaign, averaging 11.3 points, but it was his white hot performance against East Tennessee State in the NCAA Tournament that really brought the NBA buzz to another level. Regardless, an 11.3 average in the freshman season is usually the precursor to a sophomore season and you have to wonder if Bledsoe’s being part of this team is the reason he is such a viable pro prospect. There are PG’s with better A/TO ratio’s (Eric has a negative ratio), so it is not sheer numbers that has the NBA drooling.
I think that Eric will most definitely declare for the NBA but I do think that he has a “magic number” that he is looking to hear where he will be drafted at or else he will return to Kentucky. I would think that is around the top 15 spots, and Eric has pretty much said so himself:
“If you’re going to be a lottery pick, there’s no reason to come back. It’s tough money to turn down, and you have to think about how many guys have come back and gotten injured. Plus, people are saying it’s a down year for point guards.”
The money is important in this case and last year’s last player in the first round made a guaranteed $2.07M over two years. In comparison, the number 15 player made a guaranteed $3.38M. That is a lot of incentive to leave UK, especially knowing that there may be a NBA lockout next season. Sorry to keep harping on the possible NBA lockout, but I really think it is driving a lot of decisions, but that may lead to a cluttered draft field this year.
What does Eric gain by returning to Kentucky? Obviously he will be one of the cornerstones of the Wildcats and will get lots of attention all season long. Depending on what happens with recruiting, you wonder if he will get a chance to play the #1 PG or would he re-assume his role that he had this year, opposite Brandon Knight? Either way, his NBA sock would only rise, and he could find himself moving up to the top 5 to top 10 range … or even higher.
I do think that Bledsoe’s decision is one of the toughest ones to make. Depending on who else may declare for the draft, a top 15 pick is certainly not guaranteed. He may find himself in the similar situation as Jodie Meeks and figure that with the NBA lockout looming, next year may not be worth waiting for and take his chances on the words of the general managers and make his splash in the NBA.
I think this could be a long affair before he actually hires a agent and this could be a May time decision on his ultimate decision, but in the end, I think the allure of the guaranteed green may be calling too loudly. I wish he would stay as this team will really need him, but I give Eric a 25% chance of remaining a Wildcat next season.
Keep following www.http://wildcatbluenation.com for the best in Kentucky basketball and football news, rumors, and opinions. By Kentucky fans for Kentucky fans