Kentucky basketball: What are the chances everyone returns?
By Drew Koch
Most likely to leave
As much as I, and every other Kentucky basketball fan, would love to see Kevin Knox and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander return for their sophomore seasons, I just think it’ll happen. Most UK fans knew from the moment Kevin Knox stepped on campus, he was going to leave after his freshman season. But no one saw the emergence of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Shai took over for Quade Green, after a back injury forced Green to miss 3 straight games. That opportunity was all SGA needed to prove to Coach Cal, his teammates and all of Big Blue Nation that he was for real. Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 14.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. He went from sixth-man to a household name quickly.
Several mock drafts have Gilgeous-Alexander being chosen in the lottery, and there’s no way he can pass on that opportunity. Plus, two more talented guards are coming to Lexington next season. I don’t see Shai wanting so share his playing time and diminish his statistics. It was a great season, and I think it’ll be his only one at UK.
Knox’s decision to go pro is a little more easy to swallow. Like I said, BBN predicted this one before the season started. Now, there could be an outside chance that Knox decides to come back, but I find that highly unlikely. Knox possesses the type of game that NBA scouts drool over, and he’s only 18 years old. I think we’ll hear from Kevin in the coming days about his future.