What would a Kevin Knox return mean for Kentucky next season?
By Drew Koch
Kevin Knox, once thought to be a on-and-done, is mulling a return to the Kentucky Wildcats next season. What would a return to Lexington mean for the Kentucky Wildcats?
Kevin Knox, Kentucky’s leading scorer, is mulling a return to the Kentucky Wildcats next season. It was assumed that Knox, John Calipari’s highest-rated recruit this past season, was just another one-and-done to pass through the Kentucky basketball program. According to Knox’s father, that may not be the case.
Kevin Knox’s father, Kevin Knox Sr., was quoted earlier this week, via the Lexington Herald-Leader, when asked about his son’s future, “I don’t think we should rush into this type of decision. I think we should take our time and weigh everything. If it’s the NBA, then we’ll go in that direction. If at that point it’s coming back, then hopefully the BBN will have us back.”
First, let’s put Knox Sr.’s fears to bed. Big Blue Nation would welcome Kevin Knox back to the Kentucky Wildcats with open arms. Okay, know that those concerns are out of the way, let’s address the real question. What would it mean to the Wildcats if Knox returned for his sophomore season?
Knox’s return would put Kentucky firmly in the conversation for the best team in college basketball next season. Depending on who stays and who leaves, the Wildcats are likely to open the season in the AP Top 10. If Knox comes back to Lexington, you can pencil-in UK as the favorite to cut down the nets in Minneapolis.
The last time UK returned their leading-scorer from the previous season was 2001-02. Keith Bogans returned his junior season after leading the Cats in scoring with 17 points per game the previous year. He returned the following year for his senior season as well.
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A starting lineup of Knox, PJ Washington and Jarred Vanderbilt, paired with newcomers Immanuel Quickley and Keldon Johnson would be unstoppable. Add to that a bench of Nick Richards, Quade Green, Wenyen Gabriel and Tyler Herro. Wow!
If Kevin Knox returns to UK, we could be looking at a very special team in 2018-19. It could be Cal’s best team since 2014-15, and we all remember how good they were. Let’s just hope next year’s team grabs two more victories.