The Kentucky Wildcats did not end the football or basketball season how they would have liked. The young football Cats were one win away from being bowl eligible. The basketball team well… you know what happened.
With a sour taste in mouth of the Big Blue Nation there is not much else to do besides enjoy the summer break and hope that this wish list comes to fruition.
More from Opinion
- Kentucky football: The good, the bad, and the ugly in win over Akron
- Kentucky Football: Athletic, experienced linebacker unit rock solid again
- Kentucky Football: Whose ready to step into vacant cornerback roles
- Kentucky Football: Who are the top 5 best running backs in school history?
- Kentucky basketball: John Calipari needs to change remembering how it began
Make a Bowl Game
From 2006-2010 the Kentucky Wildcats gained momentum and went to five straight Bowl Games. The Cats have not seen a six win season since. With the resurgence of the program with Mark Stoops, and a renovated Commonwealth stadium, there is momentum in the program just waiting to break out.
This off season the football wishlist should entitle more connectivity on offense and more confidence. It is Drew Barker’s time to come in and lead, and he has the tools around him to be successful.
Blake Bone showed last season that he can go up and catch the long ball and be a threat near the redzone. Stanley “Boom” Williams can carry the load off of Barker and balance the attack. Finally, look for a break out year from soon to be Junior Ryan Timmons. The Kentucky native has the speed and open field elusiveness to make defenders miss, and if used right, will be the go to receiver to get the needed first downs.
Reload for next season
The Kentucky Wildcats could lose seven players today. As daunting as that would sound for most teams, most teams do not have John Calipari moving the chess pieces. There are four players who Kentucky has a legitimate chance at getting. Jaylen Brown, Malik Newman, Cheick Diallo and Stephen Zimmerman are those four studs.
This is more of a realistic wish list and two out of four would be enough to give a check to this wish. Which two players would fill the void in a soon to be empty Kentucky starting line up?
Jaylen Brown/Malik Newman– Kentucky fans would be elated to get both players but that seems too good to be true as both players want to be stars. If I had to choose, Brown would make more sense with Ulis, Briscoe, and Matthews already crowding the back court for Newman. Brown is the go to scorer Kentucky has not had since Brandon Knight and would be a huge get for the Kentucky Wildcats. Jaylen cut his list to 8 teams today.
"The No. 2 overall player in the class of 2015 per ESPN has narrowed his list of schools to eight: California, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Georgia Tech, Kansas, UCLA and North Carolina."
Cheick Diallo/Stephen Zimmerman- Both players want minutes, and minutes will be available now assuming Kentucky loses their whole front court minus Marcus Lee. Diallo is the defensive presence that can make Kentucky a force inside again teaming up with Skal Labissiere to block plenty-full of shots. On the other hand Zimmerman is the offensive threat that can stretch the floor and knock down jumpers. Either player would be great, but I see Zimmerman as a player to stick around for at least two years, he gets the edge on the wish list.
More from Wildcat Blue Nation
- Kentucky football: 3 players who need to step up in week 4
- Kentucky basketball: 4-star recruit visits campus, has unique connection
- Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt Prediction, Odds, Trends and Key Players for College Football Week 3
- Kentucky football: The good, the bad, and the ugly in win over Akron
- Claim $100 Sign-Up Bonus PLUS $100 off NFL Sunday Ticket with FanDuel Kentucky Promo!