Aside from Kevin Knox, will Kentucky basketball lose any more players
By Drew Koch
Is Jarred Vanderbilt’s abbreviated season enough for him to leave?
This one is by far the most intriguing to me. Thus far, Jarred Vanderbilt has only played in 12 games. He’s barely averaging 16 minutes per game and has only scored in double figures three times this season. The question surrounding Jarred Vanderbilt is, has he already shown enough?
Vanderbilt just won the SEC Freshman of the Week. Over his last 3 games, he’s averaging 11 points and 11 rebounds in only 21.7 minutes. In the first 9 games of his college career, Vanderbilt was averaging 4.2 points and 6.7 rebounds in 14.6 minutes. If Jarred’s numbers continue to mimic that of his last 3 performances, the NBA scouts are going to have to take him seriously.
Vanderbilt could be your classic boom or bust type of player. He can rebound well, he can handle the ball, has great court awareness and he’s a willing passer. On the other hand, he can’t shoot from beyond about 5 feet from the basket and he’s a below-average free throw shooter.
Personally, I think if Vanderbilt returns for his sophomore season and is able to stay healthy, he’s a lock for the lottery. He may even be a Top 5 pick. Remember, Ben Simmons couldn’t shoot either. The sample size is just too small for me to think Vanderbilt would get drafted high enough for him to forego his final 3 years of eligibility. However, the NBA drafts more often on projections than production.