Kentucky Basketball: Is Jarred Vanderbilt a None-and-Done?
By Drew Koch
Jarred Vanderbilt has yet to take the floor for Kentucky basketball this season. Will the UK Freshman bolt for the NBA without playing a game for the Cats?
Jarred Vanderbilt injured his left foot in practice back in late September. Vanderbilt has yet to play a game for Kentucky basketball this season. Initial reports had Vanderbilt not returning to the team until January. However, John Calipari said last month that he expected Vanderbilt to begin practicing at the end of November.
It’s now early December and there’s still no sign of Vanderbilt practicing with the Kentucky basketball team.
Kentucky Sports Radio provided the transcript from a recent Calipari press conference where he discussed Vanderbilt’s future. “…It’s not going to be my call, it’ll be his,” Calipari said. “He’s doing individual work right now. He’s not started practicing. We’ll let it play out and if he thinks it’s good for him to play, then he will play.”
Calipari’s comments are a direct reflection of his players first program. Last season Hamidou Diallo came to the University of Kentucky with the prospect of never playing a game. Diallo eventually removed his name from the 2017 NBA Draft and has been a big part of this year’s team.
US Today published a piece back in August with many varying opinions about where all the Kentucky freshmen could be drafted in 2018. Vanderbilt is projected to be a late-lottery selection.
Enes Kanter is the last player to be part of a Kentucky basketball team, yet not play during the season and get drafted. Kanter was ineligible to play in the 2010-11 season and was drafted by the Jazz No. 3 overall in the 2011 NBA Draft.
Will Jarred Vanderbilt be a none-and-done at Kentucky? We’ll find out in the very near future. Big Blue Nation is hopeful to see Vanderbilt join his teammates on the floor sooner rather than later.