Photo courtesy of UK Athletics
Following the national championship game earlier this month, ESPN’s Myron Medcalf released his Way-Too-Early Top 25, and now that the NBA Draft early entry deadline has passed, he has updated his list.
In the first release, Kentucky was Medcalfs No. 4 team in the country going into next season and even after six players announced they are declaring for the 2018 NBA Draft, the Wildcats hold serve at No. 4 overall.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kevin Knox, and Hamidou Diallo have all declared for the draft and signed with an agent, closing the door on a return to Kentucky. Meanwhile, P.J. Washington, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Wenyen Gabriel all declared but did so without hiring an agent, leaving their options open for a return to Kentucky. Kentucky will return big man Nick Richards and possibly point guard Quade Green.
Medcalf is placing a lot of emphasis on Kentucky landing E.J. Montgomery and 2019 point guard Ashton Hagans, who is likely to reclassify to 2018 before the fall semester begins in August. He also names Tyrese Maxey as a possible addition to the class if the five-star guard decides to reclassify.
These rankings this early is what is ridiculous because zero of those guys have played a minute of college basketball. It’s unfair expectations from the start and if they don’t live up to them right away, it leads to a sense of failure.
That said, if Washington, Vanderbilt, and Gabriel all return or at least two of the three, Kentucky should be considered a top-five team in the country heading into next season. Depending on what happens with Quade Green, they could push for a top three spot. Experience with the new crop of freshmen would make Kentucky worthy of a top five spot.
Ranked ahead of Kentucky is Kansas at No. 1, Villanova No. 2, and Duke No. 3. Get a look at the entire rankings at the link below.
NBA draft departures shake up Way-Too-Early Top 25.
