Kentucky Wildcats Basketball- Should I stay or should I go?

Mandatory Credit: Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

James Young

This week, the Wildcats freshman guard, James Young, became the first of the elite freshmen to declare for the NBA draft. He believes it will be best for himself and his family and although he will be missed, he has the Big Blue Nation’s support. The All-American led Kentucky this season with 82 3-pointers. As a player, Young appeared to do everything that was asked of him throughout the season. Not only to achieve the betterment of himself, but also of the team as a whole. NBA scouts raved about the 6’6” freshman all season and he is headed to make an impression at the next level.

"”My time at Kentucky has been special to me, something I’ll always treasure, but I feel that I’m ready to take the next step to the NBA,” James Young said when asked about his decision.  Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports"

Willie Cauley-Stein

Kentucky’s big man, 7-foot Willie Cauley-Stein, was a shoe in for the NBA draft, or so we thought. Projected in the first round, the sophomore center was expected to do big things as a professional athlete in the near future. Unfortunately, Cauley-Stein suffered an unidentified ankle injury in the Sweet 16. This might’ve hindered his NBA decision, but will by no means hinder his plans for the upcoming season. Cauley-Stein announced his decision to remain at the University of Kentucky for another year to achieve the things he didn’t get the chance to this year. With Cauley-Stein (among others) staying on the roster and the dream team freshman on their way in, Kentucky is set to be a powerhouse in the 2014-15 season.

"“I want to come back and have a chance to win a national championship, while also getting closer to earning my degree,” Cauley-Stein said when asked about his decision to stay in school."

Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Marcus Lee

Kentucky’s 2014 roster is looking solid as freshman forward, Marcus Lee, announced Friday that he will be returning for his sophomore season. This leaves five Wildcats left with decisions to make. Although Lee’s decision was not as surprising as some of his teammates, the talented athlete most likely would’ve been drafted based solely on his amount of potential. With his talent and athleticism, his return is exciting news for Kentucky fans, and he will have no problem leading his team to greatness with the experience he gains next year.

"“I’m excited for Marcus and think he’s barely scratched the surface of what he’s capable of…”- Coach Cal said about Marcus Lee  Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY SportsStill wondering…Harrison twins editionWith other players either declaring for the draft or announcing their continuation at the University of Kentucky, the Harrisons (among others) still have a decision to make, or at least to announce. Both Harrisons were originally leaning more toward entering the draft, especially after UK’s surprising run to the Championship game and the impressive contribution of both brothers. Recently, however, sources say that they are beginning to lean toward staying at UK after hearing from some NBA scouts. The general consensus of a draft projection for both players seems to be either late first round or in the second round with no guaranteed contract. The reason Andrew is projected this high is mainly because of his ability to play more than one position. As with anything else, fans will have to wait and see. The twins are expected to announce by Tuesday or Wednesday of this week. The future is only getting brighterWith players still left to decide whether or not they will be continuing their athletic career at Kentucky, there are some players who have already made up their minds to begin their journey at the University of Kentucky, and to follow in the footsteps of those who have left. Most of these players are highly ranked athletes that could attend any school they wanted because of their immense talent, yet they chose the Big Blue. For example, recruit Karl Towns was ranked #1 in the 2015 recruiting class and, after playing with the Dominican national team and deciding to bypass his final year of high school, Towns is still considered one of the top players in the 2014 recruiting class. It’s safe to say that this will be a fun team to watch."