Tag: Chris Livingston

Rumor: Kentucky forward Chris Livingston cancels remaining draft workouts

Livingston will reportedly cancel his upcoming workouts after visiting with at least five teams.

Former Kentucky freshman Chris Livingston has reportedly canceled his upcoming team workouts ahead of the 2023 NBA draft, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

Livingston has worked out with at least five teams as part of his pre-draft process. He was last scheduled to see Atlanta on Wednesday, two days after visiting Indiana. The decision to opt out of workouts has fueled speculation he has received a draft promise.

The 19-year-old isn’t projected to be selected by most mock drafts. Many believed he would return to Kentucky to improve his stock, but he explained that he believed he was ready to stay in the draft.

“I know I’m ready for this jump,” Livingston said Monday after working out with the Pacers. “The feedback I was getting from teams was positive. I’ve been killing my workouts, so that was one of the main things that put me in a position to stay.”

Livingston was named to the SEC All-Freshman team after averaging 6.3 points and 4.2 rebounds on 42.9% shooting from the field. He scored in double figures seven times, including a season-high 14 points on Dec. 17 in a loss to UCLA.

The potential promise could explain, in part, why Livingston opted to stay in the draft. He had the opportunity to meet with teams at the combine last month in Chicago, Illinois, and also participated in various on-court workouts in front of executives and scouts.

With two weeks to go until the draft, it will be worth monitoring the situation with Livingston and what his potential draft range could be on June 22.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=650262453]

Chris Livingston addresses decision to leave Kentucky for NBA draft

Livingston was named to the SEC All-Freshman team last season after averaging 6.3 points and 4.2 rebounds with the Wildcats.

Chris Livingston was expected by many to withdraw from the 2023 NBA draft and return to Kentucky, but the 19-year-old opted to stay in and forgo his remaining eligibility.

Livingston initially declared for the draft on April 12 while maintaining the right to return to school. The news surfaced hours before the early entry withdrawal deadline that he had decided to remain in the draft and leave the Wildcats.

After participating in various on-court drills at the combine last month, and speaking with teams, Livingston believed the right decision was to stay in the draft.

“I felt ready,” Livingston said on Monday after working out with the Indiana Pacers. “I know I’m ready for this jump, and, two, the feedback I was getting from teams was positive. I’ve been killing my workouts, so that was one of the main things that put me in a position to stay.”

Livingston was named to the SEC All-Freshman team after averaging 6.3 points and 4.2 rebounds on 42.9% shooting from the field. He scored in double figures seven times, including a season-high 14 points on Dec. 17 in a loss to UCLA.

He is viewed as a possible second-round pick this year. He has had the opportunity to perform in front of teams during workouts and has met with at least four teams thus far. It is an important stage for him to showcase himself to teams.

Livingston explained what he wants to showcase to teams.

I want to show that I got a good feel for the game. I know how to make the right play. (I want to) show how good my handle is and that I can also make shots, especially in catch-and-shoot situations. Those are the main things I want to show offensively and also, defensively, I just want to show how hard I can play and that I can guard 1-4 and be really versatile.

Livingston will continue to have the chance to meet with teams ahead of the draft and work to improve his positioning. He felt strongly about the decision to leave school and now looks to prove himself until the draft on June 22.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=650262453]

2023 Lakers draft prospect profile: Chris Livingston

A look at Chris Livingston, a wing from the University of Kentucky.

For the first time in what seems like a while, the Los Angeles Lakers will have a first-round draft pick this year.

Throughout much of this season, it looked as if they would end up going down the draft board because of the New Orleans Pelicans’ ability to swap picks with them. That swap stemmed from 2019’s Anthony Davis trade.

Luckily for L.A., it finished with a better record than New Orleans, so it will have the No. 17 selection in the 2023 NBA draft, which will take place on June 22.

The team has started bringing in prospects for workouts, and one of them is University of Kentucky wing Chris Livingston.

Catching up with the Boston Celtics’ 2023 NBA draft workouts part III

Another round of prospective Celtics have worked out for Boston ahead of the 2023 NBA draft.

Win or lose in the NBA’s 2023 Eastern Conference Finals series with the Miami Heat, the Boston Celtics have plenty on their plate regarding their future as they continue to work out prospects projected to go in the second round of the ’23 NBA draft.

With the Celtics likely to need cheap depth in the future, look for prospects who are either polished enough to get some depth minutes in their rookie campaign or who might be okay with a season or two stashed abroad while the team makes decisions about how it will use the new two way player slot added to rosters in the latest collective bargaining agreement recently adopted by the league.

Adding to our previous reporting of the team’s known workouts comes a new wave courtesy of our sister sites Rookie Wire and HoopsHype as well as the New York Times’ Adam Zagoria — let’s take a look at who Boston has been scoping out.

John Calipari pulled up to watch Chris Livingston work out

Calipari popped in to see Livingston work out as he prepares for the NBA draft combine this month.

Kentucky men’s basketball head coach John Calipari recently went on a West Coast trip to visit some of his former players, and the three-time Coach of the Year popped in to see a current Wildcat: Chris Livingston.

Calipari was spotted at Crypto.com Arena on Monday as the Los Angeles Lakers hosted the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals. Of course, Anthony Davis, Jarred Vanderbilt and Wenyen Gabriel are members of the Lakers.

After watching the Lakers take a 3-1 series lead over the Warriors, Calipari stopped in to watch Livingston work out. He is preparing for the NBA draft with his agency, the Klutch Sports Group, after declaring on April 12.

Livingston was named to the SEC All-Freshman team after averaging 6.3 points and 4.2 rebounds on 42.9% shooting from the field. He scored in double figures seven times, including a season-high 14 points on Dec. 17 in a loss to UCLA.

The 6-foot-6 forward isn’t projected to be drafted, but he will participate in the draft combine May 15-21 in Chicago, Illinois. He will have the opportunity to improve his draft positioning in front of teams and executives.

He will have until May 31 to withdraw from the draft and return to school.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=650262453]

Nick Smith, Dereck Lively among prospects to sign with Klutch Sports

Arkansas’ Nick Smith Jr. and Duke’s Dereck Lively II are among the prospects to sign with the Klutch Sports Group ahead of the draft.

Arkansas guard Nick Smith Jr. and Duke center Dereck Lively II are among the prospects to sign with the Klutch Sports Group ahead of the NBA draft, the agency announced on Wednesday.

Smith is projected to be a lottery pick after averaging 12.5 points, 1.7 assists and 1.6 rebounds in 17 games on 33.8% shooting from 3-point range. He has elite athleticism and is highly touted for his ability as a scorer and passer.

Lively is regarded as one of the top defensive prospects in the draft and is considered a first-round pick. He averaged 5.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.1 assists on 65.8% shooting from the field. His 82 blocks were the second-most in a season by a freshman in program history.

Joining Smith and Lively at Klutch Sports Group are Kentucky forward Chris Livingston and Alabama forward Noah Clowney. Livingston isn’t projected to be drafted, but Clowney is a potential first-rounder this year.

Klutch Sports has emerged as perhaps the top agency in the NBA given its All-Star clientele, headlined by LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Draymond Green.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=650262453]

Kentucky freshman Chris Livingston to test pre-draft process

Livingston was named to the SEC All-Freshman team after averaging 6.3 points and 4.2 rebounds on 42.9% shooting from the field.

Kentucky freshman Chris Livingston on Wednesday announced he will declare for the 2023 NBA draft while retaining the right to return to school next season.

Livingston was named to the SEC All-Freshman team after averaging 6.3 points and 4.2 rebounds on 42.9% shooting from the field. He scored in double figures seven times, including a season-high 14 points on Dec. 17 in a loss to UCLA.

The 6-foot-6 forward is not projected to be drafted this year. The decision to declare for the draft was likely made to take advantage of the process and gain feedback on his overall game and skills.

Livingston could be among the prospects invited to participate in the draft combine or G League Elite Camp next month in front of team executives and scouts in Chicago, Illinois. He will have until May 31 to withdraw from the draft and return to college for next season.

Underclassmen have until April 23 to declare for the draft.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=650262453]

2023 NBA Mock Draft 1.0: An early look at the top prospects next year

Rookie Wire took a very early look at the next rookie class and some of the top prospects to monitor over the course of the 2022-23 season.

With the basketball world over a month removed from the NBA draft, many have started to look ahead to the next rookie class and which prospects may be available.

The class is headlined by French phenom Victor Wembanyama, who is considered one of the top prospects in recent memory. He has performed well in the top basketball league in France and looks to already be locked in as the top pick in 2023.

Elsewhere, there are several other prospects that will be worth monitoring over the course of next season. The rankings will certainly change but it can be a productive exercise to see how prospects moved up and down draft boards ahead of next year.

Rookie Wire took a very early look at the next rookie class and some of the top prospects to monitor as the 2022-23 season approaches in a couple of months.

Note: The order of the draft was determined by the reverse championship odds set by Tipico Sportsbook. The 2023 draft will only have 59 picks after the Bulls were stripped of their second-round pick by the NBA due to a tampering violation involving the signing of Lonzo Ball.

Arkansas Basketball leads SEC in five-star signees

According to 247sports, eight five-star recruits from the 2022 cycle have signed with SEC programs. Who are they, and where are they going?

The Southeastern Conference has become a hotbed for top talent across the nation. That does not change for the 2022 recruiting cycle, as the conference leads all other conferences in five-star signees.

There are 29 five-star recruits for the class of 2022 according to 247sports, eight of those talented athletes have elected to sign with members of the SEC. Perennial power Kentucky has signed a couple, and risers Alabama and Auburn have signed their share of top talent as well. But, there is one program that outshines the rest of the conference in recruiting for the year.

With the signing of [autotag]Anthony Black[/autotag] on Wednesday, Arkansas now takes the top spot in the SEC with three five-star signees to join their programs for next year.

Black joins [autotag]Nick Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Jordan Walsh[/autotag] as five-star rated athletes by 247sports for the Class of 2022. Black announced his commitment on March 28 during the Powerade Slamfest during McDonald’s All-American week in Chicago, Ill. 

The eight five-star athletes are split among four programs: Arkansas (3), Kentucky (2), Alabama (2), and Auburn (1). Here is a look at the eight five-stars that have signed with SEC schools:

SI: Kentucky plans to use Chris Livingston like Devin Booker, Kevin Knox

Kentucky recruit Chris Livingston will be used in an offensive role similar to how John Calipari used Devin Booker and Kevin Knox.

The Kentucky men’s basketball recruiting class became even more loaded on Wednesday when five-star wing Chris Livingston committed to the program. He becomes the third five-star player to join the class of 2022.

Livingston, the No. 6 player in the 247Sports composite, will walk in alongside No. 17 player Skyy Clark from Montverde Academy (Fla.) and No. 1 overall player Shaedon Sharpe from Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.).

With so much talent, what will the Oak Hill (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) star’s role be in the offense?

Livingston told Sports Illustrated’s Jason Jordan that John Calipari plans to use him in a role that is similar to former Kentucky stars Devin Booker, Kevin Knox and Keldon Johnson.

“Being that I’m a big guard and my stature and my skill set, that I’m a shooter, they showed me film of people like Kevin Knox, Devin Booker and Keldon Johnson,” Livingston said.

Knox was selected No. 9 overall, Booker was picked in the lottery despite a sixth man role at Kentucky, and Johnson was drafted at No. 29.

“The dribble-drive offense fits me well,” Livingston said. “They’re really trying to get me downhill during the games, get me in the lane a lot, shooting a lot of floaters, and still being off the screen, off the catch.”

Livingston absolutely dominated last season at Buchtel High School (Akron, Ohio), were he played before transferring to Oak Hill for the 2021-22 school year. He averaged 32 points, 16 rebounds and five assists per game, according to Jordan. In the adidas 3SSB circuit, he posted 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists per game, Jordan wrote.

He’ll be tested at national powerhouse Oak Hill before heading off to national powerhouse Kentucky. Once he gets there, he’ll try to play his role just as well as Knox, Booker and Johnson did — one which got them all into the NBA as first-round draft picks.