Kentucky basketball has placed a lot of players in the NBA in recent years. Many of those players went on to become star players, some Olympians, and some NBA All-Stars and NBA Champions.
Recently, ESPN released their rankings of the top 100 players going into the 2024-25 season. It’s not surprising, at least to Kentucky fans, that a good number of them are former Wildcats. In fact, 12 of the top 100 played at Kentucky in college.
Related: Kentucky basketball is number 23 in AP Poll
Their highest-rated former Wildcat is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at number four overall. He’s up from number eight in 2023.
Anthony Davis is number 13, while Devin Booker came in just behind him at 15. Bam Adebayo and 18 and Tyrese Maxey at 19 round out the Cats in the top 20.
De’Aaron Fox and Karl-Anthony Towns are both in the top 30, at 26 and 30 respectively. Guard Jamal Murray is number 31, while Julius Randle comes in just inside the top 50 at number 48.
The final three on the list are Immanuel Quickly at number 64, Malik Monk at 65, and Tyler Herro at 76.
Big Blue Nation is proud of all their former players, including the ones who made the list. Next year, maybe there will be even more.