Kentucky basketball: Clarke, Boston gave us little to remember them by

As the dust continues to settle over the Kentucky basketball program there is still no volcanic eruption of a surprise just a tremor of what next season will shape up to look like as Terrence Clarke and Brandon Boston declared for the NBA and will depart with a whimper.

We expected the announcements to come within a week or so of Kentucky concluding its season in an opening-round loss to Mississippi State in the Southeastern Conference Tournament. Coach John Calipari said his team needed a week or so to process their futures.

Honestly, the announcement by Clarke and Boston wasn’t shocking, and what they depart with leaves Big Blue Nation very little to remember them by.

Terrence Clarke only wish we got to see more

Clarke was sidelined almost all of the season missing 17 games with a foot injury. The highly touted freshman figured to be a one-and-done as it was but not in this manner.

What we witnessed early on in the Wildcats’ first seven games gave us visions that he would live up to the hype.

In that stretch he was second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.7 points, three rebounds, and just under two assists per game. He scored in double figures in four games, including a career-high 22 points on 9 of 14 shooting in a loss to Georgia Tech on December 6. But followed that with a 6 point, 3 rebound effort against Notre Dame, and finally a zero stat line in 16 minutes against Louisville and was sidelined after that.

Clarke returned to action last week for Kentucky’s lone SEC Tournament game netting just 2 points and 3 assists in 10 minutes of the Wildcats’ 74-73 loss to Mississippi State.

Then he made his decision to go pro last week.

"“As an adolescent, having the privilege to put on the Kentucky uniform and play in front of the BBN was always a lifelong goal of mine. Although it was hindered due to things out of my own control, the experience is something I will keep with me forever. I have grown a lot with this experience and I will never take it for granted. After discussing it with my family, I have decided to renounce my eligibility and declare for the NBA Draft. I had high expectations coming into this season and, of course, didn’t expect to be injured, which I understand is part of the game. Thank you to Coach Cal, the coaching staff, and my teammates! BBN, I hope to make you all proud as I pursue my dreams.”"

Once a lottery pick by early projections he is now more likely a second-round selection and maybe undrafted. Most NBA sites have been consistent that he isn’t a knock-down shooter or play facilitator but is more deadly creating things off the dribble. As we saw he has a tendance to turn the ball over a lot and isn’t a good rebounder.

Brandon Boston flashed at times, but routinely disappeared

Boston was another who early NBA scouts had penciled in as a lottery pick, but that trajectory has been in a steady decline and now Boston may find his name not called till the second round.

Another one-and-doner but all early accounts he too never lived up to the billing. We wanted him to take over games and to be the go-to man and hit the dagger shots that Calipari referred to all year.

Instead of rising to the occasions, we witnessed him more shying away from them and ultimately disappearing in games.

He too would have benefited with another year in Lexington, but we all knew that wasn’t going to happen. You felt like this was a mandatory stop on the way to the NBA bright lights.

Out of Norcross, GA, he was UK’s highest-ranked freshman and first top-5 prospect since 2015. Hard to believe that after what the end result was just 11.5 points per game due to an anemic 35-percent shooting  (103 of 290) which ranks as the third-worst since 1985-86 by a player with 100 attempts.

His three-point shooting was even worse at 30-percent knocking down just 30 of 100 attempts. He handed out a mere 40 assists while turning it over 36 times. Streaky and unfocused are the two things we witnessed all year and most likely scouts did the same.

Eight times he failed to reach double-figure scoring including checking out before the season finale getting zero points in the Mississippi State loss.

His best effort came in the regular-season 92-64 win over South Carolina when he notched 21 points, 4 rebounds, and three assists

Calipari’s assessment after Boston’s declaration was a bit puzzling since we didn’t see much of this on the court.

"“What impressed me with him is how he handled any adversity thrown his way like a professional would — with maturity and with a work ethic that some of our best guys in that league have had. Breaking his finger over the summer set him back but he just kept working. BJ got so much better as the season went on and has only scratched the surface of who he is going to become as a player. He has the mindset, the drive and the skillset to succeed in that league. BJ and his family know they have my full support and I look forward to watching him chase his dreams.”"

Wildcat fans will wish them well but sadly their legacy will be one that won’t be remembered just like this season in general.