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Kentucky Basketball: Players Under Most Pressure In 2016-17

By Maxwell Ogden

Sep 15, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard De Aaron Fox (0) and guard Malik Monk (5) during Kentucky media day at Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 15, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard De Aaron Fox (0) and guard Malik Monk (5) during Kentucky media day at Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 3, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Isaiah Briscoe (13) drives to the basket against UCLA Bruins guard Alec Wulff (21) during the first half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Isaiah Briscoe (13) drives to the basket against UCLA Bruins guard Alec Wulff (21) during the first half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

Isaiah Briscoe

Position: Guard
Class: Sophomore
2015-16 Slash Line: .439/.135/.460
2015-16 Season Averages: 32.2 MPG, 9.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.0 SPG

Entering the 2015-16 season, a vast majority of analysts had Isaiah Briscoe pegged as a first-round draft pick. Due to an underwhelming response from general managers, however, Briscoe was essentially forced to return to the Kentucky Wildcats for his sophomore season.

Though his draft window isn’t necessarily closed, he’s reaching the end of his rope as far as upside talk is concerned.

The notion that a player can’t improve as a non-freshman is silly and baseless—see: Buddy Hield. If Briscoe is going to escape draft purgatory and solidify his NBA future, he’ll need to capitalize on the opportunity to improve.

If Briscoe manages to improve his jump shot, then his draft prospects will improve and the Kentucky basketball team will follow suit.

Briscoe shot just 13.5 percent on 3-point field goals and 46.0 percent on free throws in 2015-16. That not only hurts his draft stock, but made him something of a liability for Kentucky as far as spacing and sending him to the line is concerned.

At the very least, Briscoe is far too gifted of a slasher to be shooting such a horrific percentage at the free throw line. Kentucky needs him to improve.

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