As we all suspected would be the case, five of Kentucky’s underclassmen declared for the NBA Draft on Tuesday evening.
Freshmen Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Marquis Teague and sophomores Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb are all going pro, but it wasn’t without some drama.
“Anthony, Doron and Terrence have decided to put their names in the NBA Draft,” Cal said of the three players sitting to his right before pausing, and finishing his statement: “Michael and Marquis have also decided to put their name in the NBA Draft.”
“I just wanted to scare some coaches out there,” he said.
This decision should not come as a surprise to anyone. This is the way that John Calipari runs his program. He brings in the best, he coaches them up to the best of his ability and he ships them off to the NBA when it is in their best interest.
Davis is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the draft. Kidd-Gilchrist should be a top five pick, and Jones will likely join him in the lottery. Teague is a mid-to-late first round pick and Lamb has a chance to sneak his way into the back end of the first round if he has strong workouts over the next two months.
Senior Darius Miller also has a chance to be picked in the first round of the draft, meaning that if it feasible that Coach Cal’s team will break their own record for 2010 by getting six players guaranteed NBA contracts. Taken in conjunction with Kentucky’s 2012 national title, and this is the ideal for Coach Cal.
Rob Dauster is the editor of the college basketball website Ballin’ is a Habit. You can find him on twitter @robdauster.
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- jthammerstix - Apr 17, 2012 at 7:17 PM
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Uk fans are rednecks.
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- fsckedagain - Apr 17, 2012 at 7:37 PM
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You’re an idiot.
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- tominma - Apr 17, 2012 at 7:48 PM
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This kind of thing is what is ruining college basketball. This is also what’s ruining the NBA! I dont watch college basketball anymore. Most have no clue clue how to play and most of them cant shoot. They might shoot a few 3s but then shoot 60% from the line! not many can hit the 18ft jump shot consistently. This kids are NOT ready for the NBA–and if they are, that says a LOT about the state of the NBA game. Neither are nowhere near as good as they were 20 years ago.
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- amw271 - Apr 17, 2012 at 11:57 PM
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If these kids aren’t “ready” for the NBA, its the NBA’s fault for giving them guaranteed contracts. It isn’t “ruining” college basketball – college basketball just isn’t in elite players’ best interests at this point.
And also its not the kids’ fault the NBA game has slipped, its the complete and utter lack of coaching at the next level. Look at the NFL – you can take a raw talent and shape them into a player by coaching. The NBA seems content to leave its players to training sessions and shoot arounds during the season, then in the offseason the onus in on the players to identify the weaknesses in their game and improve. Hopefully the player recognizes it is in their athletic and financial interests to continue improving in the offseason, but its hard to guarantee a kid millions of dollars and say “ok see you next season, hope you’re better!” The NBA is the only major league that relies on college as its minor league/rookie training, and it shows in the quality. The NFL is all about coaching, MLB uses competitive minor leagues and lengthy spring training…the NBA has a substantial drop off into the D-League, and the “summer league” training for rookies is all rookies, so they don’t train with and learn from veterans until a brief, noncompetitve preseason, they continue to compete against players on the same level. If you want the players to improve, coach them
Also, you’re wrong about these players – the entire UK team was very good from the FT line fyi.
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- dspears06 - Apr 17, 2012 at 8:01 PM
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Does anyone remember when Kidd gilchrist said hes going to stay for four years. Bunch of lying hicks
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- florida727 - Apr 17, 2012 at 9:41 PM
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Hey “dspears06″, I’m going to guarantee YOU about $15-20 million over the next “x” number of years, but you have to re-nig on a statement you made about getting your 4-year degree in college. You okay with that?
Give me freaking break. Not a single person reading this article by Rob, would turn down an NBA first-round guaranteed contract, under ANY circumstances. And you know it. How can you possibly blame these kids. They’re set for life financially by scribbling their name on a sheet of paper.
And for those that want to chastise these kids, remember, it’s the NBA that set these stupid one-and-done rules. They’re the ones to blame. I remember a friend of mine was drafted by the Kansas City Royals right out of high school in 1972 (yeah, I’m THAT old
). Once he decided to go to college, he couldn’t sign with them, or anyone else, until his college class graduated. MLB survived without him. I’m guessing the NBA could too… if they had the balls to incorporate some ethics into their business.
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- ukcats8andcountin - Apr 17, 2012 at 9:59 PM
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Our freshman kicked your upperclassmen’s butts. How’s that taste?
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- imforbigblue - Apr 17, 2012 at 10:11 PM
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Wow all I’ve seen thus far are a bunch of butt hurt guys crying UK won a title with a bunch of one and dones and already re-loaded lol
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- witchrunner - Apr 17, 2012 at 10:37 PM
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This is indeed the state of affairs. But, is it really that bad? Let’s face it, sports is big business, both professionally and collegiately. If you are 18 years old you are legally considered an adult. Any adults here who have the capability of earning big bucks but feel that someone else should have the right to tell them they can’t? OK, I need to backtrack on that. Of course there are. There are liberal dems who believe in spreading the wealth, so they obviously don’t believe that their own time and sweat is there’s to do with as they please. But, other than those people, is there any valid reason why someone who is 18-22 years old can open up a business or be hired by someone else and can make as much money as they can, but an athlete shouldn’t be allowed to? In the same vein, why should a college be allowed to rake in millions of dollars and be allowed to hold on to athletes for the mere pittance of the cost of room, board and tuition? Just the facts of life. Get over it.
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- imforbigblue - Apr 17, 2012 at 11:16 PM
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Sounds like some butt hurt ppl whos team must of lost to UK…..plus that’s champion redneck to you!
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- thefamousmred - Apr 18, 2012 at 12:54 AM
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Check the post. A UK graduate!
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- thefamousmred - Apr 18, 2012 at 12:52 AM
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The one and dones are part of the college game now, unless rules are changed. The one and dones are a hit and miss. UK was lucky that the freshmen had somewhat of a chemistry. In most cases you don’t find that. Percentages would indicate UK will not repeat next year. JMO
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- mungman69 - Apr 18, 2012 at 7:03 AM
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If you are 18 you can work in a coal mine, you can play major league baseball and soccer AND you can fight in a war but you can’t play in the NBA.
Sounds like age discrimination to me.
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- bjtmeyer - Apr 18, 2012 at 10:30 AM
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I agree with your statement, but my question is, are they ready to play in the next level?
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- mungman69 - Apr 18, 2012 at 11:31 AM
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That would be up to the NBA teams. Yes, most players are helped by playing in college. Doesn’t matter. The NBA loves the fact that the top players coming into the league are a much more known product by playing in college. Who would have heard of Davis, Kidd-Gilcrist and many others if they had not played in college. Still sounds like to age discrimination to me
