As Tyler Herro continues to shine in the NBA bubble, the subject of how and why he decided to decommit from Wisconsin and head to Kentucky has resurfaced in recent weeks.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst recently wrote a feature piece on Herro’s journey from the Badger state to the biggest stage in basketball. Within that piece, Windhorst covered the story of how the Wisconsin native ended up at Kentucky. It began with Herro committing to the Badgers at the beginning of his junior season and ended with him signing his letter with John Calipari and the ‘Cats after the start of his senior year.
Among those helping guide Herro in making a life-changing college decision was Wisconsin star Nigel Hayes, who played in Madison from 2013 to 2017 and was part of two Final Four runs.
“This is going to make some people mad. I was one of the ones who advised him not to go to Wisconsin with the talent he has,” Hayes told ESPN. “I told him the only people who are upset with him are the ones who are selfish. Only way he can thrive is not walking around thinking he’s less than. He’s a growing seed.”
Through all of the negative backlash that Herro received from his home state on social media and in high school after his decision to decommit from Wisconsin and commit to Kentucky, Windhorst notes that Hayes stood by him:
“Hayes mentored Herro through those challenges, making a statement by showing up at Herro’s senior night in full Badgers gear to show support.”
Herro ended up spending just one season with Kentucky before being selected by Miami with the 13th overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft.