Kentucky basketball: when will Fletcher and Brooks return plus Allen’s wait over

Cam’ron Fletcher returns to the team but Calipari says no guarantee he will see the court.

Something happened not only to the team this early season but to Cam’ron Fletcher as well.

The 6-foot-6 215-pound freshman’s productivity and minutes shrunk with each passing game until it all boiled over after the North Carolina game.

His outburst earned the ire of Calipari who made it clear that was not the culture or actions that are acceptable at Kentucky.

While Fletcher apologized for his actions they weren’t enough.

The week of the Louisville game it was made public that he would be stepping away from the team for a break and headed home to St. Louis. Calipari even had discussions with his mother.

Fletcher came to Kentucky and states his greatest memory is winning a state championship at Vashon High School and his team was in the final four last year when Covid canceled the remainder of the Missouri State championship.

He averaged 20.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game his senior year.

This year began with 19 minutes against Morehead State and followed with 15 against Richmond and 13 against Kansas. But against Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, and North Carolina he totaled a combined 7 minutes.

Kentucky needs a forward who can shoot and crash the glass badly, but he needs to know just what effort it takes to earn minutes and respect.

The kid knows what it takes to win and maybe time at home with his mother Tamika whom he describes as his life’s greatest influence did him some good. 

Calipari welcomed him back with open arms but made it clear that minutes earned will be up to Fletcher and in fact, he may not even see the court this season.

That alone should be motivation enough to get his psyche in the right place. It needs to go into overdrive.