Assessing Kentucky's Rollercoaster Offseason Ahead of Toronto Trip
LEXINGTON, Ky. — In less than three weeks, Kentucky will be playing basketball in Toronto at the 2023 GLOBL JAM event, representing the United States.
When the inclusion of the Wildcats was originally announced back in April, it was met with excitement from Big Blue Nation. A first glimpse at the 2023-24 roster, which was expected to be filled with top talent out of the transfer portal and potentially a returning veteran or two to go along with the No. 1 recruiting class in the country.
Then came May.
Kansas beat the Cats in the Hunter Dickinson sweepstakes. San Diego State forward Keshad Johnson was viewed as a lock to head to Lexington, but ultimately opted to stay out west and play for Arizona. Other players in the portal that had heard from coach John Calipari and his staff were slowly scratched off the big board.
On the final day of the month, forwards Oscar Tshiebwe and Chris Livingston opted to keep their names in the NBA draft, while shooting guard Antonio Reeves withdrew, but didn't immediately commit to returning to UK.
When the calendar turned to June, Calipari's roster consisted of five freshmen and two sophomores, as well as former walk-on guard Brennan Canada and other walk-ons.
Excitement for not only the trip to Canada, but also the 2023-24 season in general, quickly turned into anxiety. Sure, Calipari is a maestro when it comes to pulling the strings of freshmen-ran teams, but the way UK was headed, new assistant coach John Welch's role was about to include playing backup minutes alongside Canada and Grant Darbyshire.
As June has pushed onward, however, light has appeared at the end of the tunnel, and for BBN, that light is getting brighter by the day.
In the span of a week, Calipari re-dipped into the 2023 class, reeling in a pair of 3-star freshmen in forward Jordan Burks and guard Joey Hart. Neither player is expected to change the team's trajectory, but both bodies carry potential and...two arms and two legs.
Now with seven freshmen to go along with sophomore combo Adou Thiero and forward Ugonna Onyenso, a somewhat feasible roster had revealed itself, albeit one that still carried far more questions than answers.
On Wednesday, the best news of the offseason hit the airwaves, as multiple reports confirmed that Reeves had moved back into his dorm on campus in Lexington and was returning for one more year in blue and white, ending the cat-and-mouse saga that many thought would end in the Chicago native portaling away.
Bringing Reeves back solves a bulk of issues, in theory. The proven shooter can become the veteran linchpin of the roster and help guide his younger teammates through the trials and tribulations of playing basketball at the University of Kentucky, should they need it. College basketball is currently as reliant on experience as ever, and Reeves adds a few dashes of elder spice to Calipari's latest recipe.
He may not be the final piece to the puzzle, either. Despite being halfway through June, there's growing optimism that current 2024 4-star center Somto Cyril will eventually commit to UK and reclassify to 2023. Standing 6-foot-10, 240 pounds, Cyril presents upper-echelon physicality that could immediately translate to the SEC.
The Wildcats could also become beneficiaries of the unfortunate situation in Morgantown that has left West Virginia without a head coach, as longtime Mountaineers skipper Bob Huggins resigned on June 17. The NCAA allows WVU players to transfer out if they wish due to the coaching change, and journeyman senior forward Tre Mitchell is in the portal and taking a visit to UK, with a commitment appearing more likely by the hour.
All of a sudden, the light has overtaken the doom and gloom. If Cyril and Mitchell join the 2023-24 squad, enough mental gymnastics could be performed to perceive UK as a viable threat in the SEC and in all of Division I.
That is, if you choose to ignore the remaining questions that are still lingering around the team, or choose to assume that they'll be answered in emphatic fashion in due time.
5-star forward Aaron Bradshaw has reportedly had surgery for a fracture in his foot. Initial reports led on that the 7-footer could miss the beginning of the season, which could easily turn into something bigger.
He's since been seen shooting around at basketball camps on campus and also stated on an Instagram Live on Thursday that the injury occurred during the McDonald's All-American game in March and that he'll miss the GLOBL JAM tournament, but he should be cleared "soon."
How many of the core five freshmen that originally made up the 2023 class immediately translate into the "Diaper Dandies" category?
On paper, point guard Rob Dillingham is a freakazoid ball-handler who could catapult an offense to new heights. Combo guard DJ Wagner has high school chemistry with Bradshaw and is an elite three-level scorer, while Bradshaw uses his size to his advantage and can shoot the ball from anywhere on the court. Small forward Justin Edwards has lottery pick written all over him. Even CG Reed Sheppard appears to be worth his salt and more than just a feel-good homegrown story.
But how do they mesh? Calipari will be quick to revert to a quip about giving the youngsters time, or reminding reporters that his players are not machines, nor robots, when the going gets tough early in the season. Past history suggests that things will work out in due time, but how reliant can history be when those past examples continue to get older without new examples arising?
Will Thiero and Onyenso make their sophomore leaps after barely playing last season? Each player showed glimpses when given opportunities, making it easy to view the glass as half-full rather than half-empty when projecting what they'll bring to the table in year two.
Thiero's physique has become a positive talking point, as a photo of him greeting Hart with a handshake led many to believe that he's been following a bicep curl regimen rivaling that of a 1980's WWF wrestler. The 6-foot-6 Leetsdale, Pa. product showed heart and scrappiness every time he took the floor, and could fill a gap in a lineup at multiple positions.
As for Onyenso, his rim protection skills are invaluable, given the current state of the roster. After sitting behind Tshiebwe last season, watching pick-and-roll offense dice up the Cats at will, becoming a stalwart in the paint feels more like a demand than a wish for the 6-foot-11 big man.
But do they make those jumps? Will the pair and Reeves gel with the freshman posse?
All of the aforementioned questions won't have a clear answer until the middle of the season, which is what makes Kentucky one of, if not the most interesting program in college basketball.
Since a global pandemic prematurely ended the 2019-20 season, UK has one NCAA Tournament win. It's a tiresome stat that has been harped on by practically any sports fan with a Twitter account, but it still accurately reflects where Calipari and the Cats stand heading into Toronto.
Finding success is dire. This offseason has done nothing to ease the nerves of those that are craving it. Regardless of who is or isn't a Wildcat come the beginning of the 2023-24 season, an infrared magnifying glass is going to sit atop Rupp Arena all year long.
Want the latest on national football and basketball recruiting, including Cats targets? Head over to SI All-American for the latest news, blogs, and updates about the nation's best prospects.
Sports Illustrated also offers insight, information and up to the minute details for gamblers. Check it out here.
