The one thing this Kentucky team was desperately missing was a guy who could consistently knock down perimeter jumpers. That player was on campus the entire time but unfortunately, a preseason injury prevented him from suiting up for the Wildcats.
It’s been so long since you’ve heard his name that you might have forgotten Jermarl Baker was even on the roster. The freshman guard missed the entire season after suffering a knee injury during the preseason. The injury required a minor procedure and he was expected to only miss three months of action. However, February came and by then, it was best to save the year and start fresh next season.
Baker will use his redshirt to make up for the year lost, which leaves him with four years of eligibility remaining. Essentially, you can add him to newcomers Keldon Johnson, Immanuel Quickley, and Tyler Herro, since fans didn’t get a look at him this season. Baker carries with him a sharpshooting reputation, which led to him being labeled one of the best shooters in the entire 2017 recruiting class.
The 6-foot-4 shooting guard was rated a four-star prospect and No. 72 player overall in the 2017 class. The injury was pushed to the side as the season went along but there is no doubt he would have been used in some capacity had he been available. The Wildcats were streaky from the three-point line all season, which eventually led to the longest active streak of games with a made three-pointer coming to an end in the NCAA tournament opener vs. Davidson.
There’s a lot of buzz around Johnson, Herro, and Quickley but don’t forget about Baker. If he is as good as advertised from behind the arc, there will be plenty of opportunities for him to see the floor next season.
It’s probably been a while, so be sure to check out highlights of him below.
