John Calipari said Saturday during the SEC Network’s “SEC House Party” feature that five Kentucky players have put their name in the NBA Draft.
“Before they left, I had individual meetings with each player and I had the staff in there. I wanted everybody to hear it together,” Calipari said. “We just did a Zoom (video chat) call yesterday with my entire team, to try to keep touching base with them, but the reality of it was five of them have put their name in the draft.”
We still don’t know who those five players are but they are expected to be Tyrese Maxey, EJ Montgomery, Ashton Hagans, Immanuel Quickley and Nick Richards.
According to Kyle Tucker of The Athletic, momentum is shifting toward Quickley entering the NBA Draft.
“Having talked to a few folks now who are feeling this way, looks like the pendulum is swinging toward the NBA for Immanuel Quickley,” Tucker wrote on Twitter Monday. “Still some feedback to be gathered, but there’s a sense that maybe he needs to strike while the iron is hot after an SEC Player of the Year season.”
John Calipari has said that Quickley could be the point guard for the Wildcats next season if he returns but that’s not why he should make a decision.
“That’s not why he should make a decision,” Calipari said last week. “His decision is, is this the right time? Am I ready to succeed in that league? Am I mentally ready? Which I know he is. Am I physically ready? Yeah. Have I mastered my skills the way I need to? That’s the decision he would have to come back to.”
