Kentucky basketball has dominated the NBA draft over the past decade in a half, with seemingly a player selected in the first round every year, sometimes more than one. This year, both Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham both went in the top ten.
Now with John Calipari gone, and Mark Pope as the new head coach, it’s a new era for Kentucky basketball. How that will translate to the NBA draft isn’t yet known, but it’s something fans will be closely watching.
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The first test for Pope will happen next year, when his first team will go through the draft cycle. However, as of right now, expectations are low as far as the NBA draft goes. ESPN has released an early mock draft (subscription required), and no 2024-25 Wildcats are on it.
The perception of the players on Kentucky will certainly change if the season is a success. Players like Brandon Garrison, Jaxson Robinson, and Andrew Carr, as well as several others could certainly see their draft stock rise as the year goes on.
For now, analysts aren’t very high on the Kentucky players and their draft prospects. Fans would like to see the Wildcats change that perception with their play.