Kentucky Wildcat Basketball: Could this be the last year that freshmen enter the NBA Draft?
By Paul Jordan
Although it is far from a certainty right now, there does seem to be a growing shift that this may be the last year that college freshmen are eligible for the NBA Draft. Word is that most of the NBA GM’s could be in favor of raising the minimum age as part of the next Collective Bargaining Agreement:
"Several high-ranking NBA team executives told Yahoo! Sports they wouldn’t be surprised if the age limit in the new CBA is pushed to two years in college and 20 years old by the end of that calendar year. One NBA general manager says about two-thirds of teams are in favor of that change. The current CBA states that an American must be out of high school for at least one year and be 19 years old by the end of that calendar year before entering the draft."
This may be good news for Wildcat fans in the future, especially the prospect of Teague-Wiltjer-Davis-Gilchrist having to stay two full seasons, but this really does nothing for us right now. We still have less than two weeks until Jones-Knight-Liggins-Lamb have to make their decisions so I decided to take a look at the latest mock drafts and see where the cutrrent Wildcats stand.
NBDraft.net
#4 – Enes Kanter – Washington
#7 – Brandon Knight – Detroit
#14- Terrence Jones – Houston
That’s it. In this draft, DeAndre Liggins and Doron Lamb are not even listed. And I have to say that if Houston ends up with three Wildcats, I may actually start watching the Western Conference.
InsideHoops.com
#6 – Terrence Jones – New Jersey
#9 – Brandon Knight – Milwaukee
This site just listed the top ten picks and I have to say I question the validity of a draft that has Jimmer Fredette ahead of Enes Kanter.
MyNBADraft.com
#8 – Enes Kanter – Cleveland
#9 – Terrence Jones – Milwaukee
#12 – Brandon Knight – Utah
#53 – Doron Lamb – Orlando
Two Wildcats for my Magic? I love it, but to be honest would rather see Lamb win a title for UK rather than sit on the bench in Orlando wih Orton.
NBAProspects.blogspot.com
#5 – Brandon Knight – Sacramento
#7 – Enes Kanter – Detroit
#17 – Terrence Jones – Philadelphia
Interesting to note that this blog takes team needs into account rather than just listing players in order of skill level. As we saw in a previous mock draft, Jones to the Rockets did not make much sense since Houston has so many players at the PF position right now. However, if Knight does go to Sacramento (possibly LA) soon, this is the job I would be worried about Calipari taking with Boogie, Tyreke Evans, and Knight. Just saying.
Mockdraftonline.com
#3 – Enes Kanter – Washington
#11 – Terrence Jones – Golden State
#23 – Brandon Knight – Suns
Just the first round listed here but I think this is the mock draft UK fans want to see right now. I have to admit, Knight at 23 blows a lot of credibility though.
Chad Ford, ESPN
#5 – Enes Kanter – Washington
#9 – Brandon Knight – Charlotte
#10 – Terrence Jones – Milwaukee
As of now, I would say that Ford’s scenario is the most accurate right now with Knight and Jones poised at the latter part of the lottery region. Normally, that is enough for John Calipari to suggest a player head to the NBA, but with the NBA lockout looming, there are other considerations. John Calipari talked to both Jones and Knight last week about the NBA and will be meeting with them again this week:
"Calipari talked to both players last week after returning from the Final Four, and said he would meet with them again Monday or Tuesday. Underclassmen have until April 24 to declare and May 8 to withdraw from the draft. “They probably need to test the waters and see where they are before they make a decision,” Calipari said. “They have to find out where they would fall. But this [NBA] lockout looms. Normally I would suggest that you’ve got to do this, but if an agent is paying you [during the lockout] then you’re going to have to pay him back and probably with interest.“I’m not going to influence them — I’m going to give them my opinion,” Calipari added. “These kids have to live with any of these decisions. I don’t want a player coming back if his heart isn’t into it or thought he should have left. Daniel Orton chose to leave [last year]; no one forced him out the door.”"
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