A lot of media sources are touting who won and lost at the NBA Trade Deadline and Sports Illustrated is no different.
They listed Kentucky as winners with Nick and EJ returning just as ESPN did.
WINNER: KENTUCKY
We’re used to Kentucky adding big pieces to its ever-changing roster each spring … but what about re-adding pieces it already had? The Wildcats made out extremely well this NBA draft cycle, losing only the players they overwhelmingly expected to (PJ Washington, Tyler Herro and Keldon Johnson) and bringing back point guard Ashton Hagans—who didn’t even test the waters—and big men E.J. Montgomery and Nick Richards. Having a second-year point guard like Hagans is huge, but the late returns of Montgomery and Richards were especially pivotal after five-star forward and John Calipari target Jaden McDaniels picked Washington in May. The ’Cats were facing the prospect of a thin frontcourt even despite landing grad transfer Nate Sestina, and getting Montgomery and Richards back gives them not just much better depth, but the kind of experience that’s typically a rare luxury in Lexington.
I think we can all agree that Kentucky won at the deadline but the BBN wants a blowout by getting Kerry Blackshear Jr.
SI.com doesn’t mention John Calipari but they do have new Texas A&M head coach Buzz Williams in their section that says whoever gets the Virginia Tech grad transfer is definitely a winner.
WINNER: …WHOEVER LANDS KERRY BLACKSHEAR JR.
When Kerry Blackshear Jr. announced he will return to college for a senior season late Wednesday night, he instantly became a top returning player nationally. There’s one massive remaining question though: Where will he suit up? When the Virginia Tech forward declared for the NBA draft back in April, he entered the transfer portal as well. In withdrawing from the draft, Blackshear reiterated that he is still “evaluating my options for my last year of eligibility,” strongly suggesting a grad transfer is on the table. Will he return to Virginia Tech? Will he join former Hokies coach Buzz Williams at Texas A&M? Or will he go somewhere else? With the Blackshear saga still very much alive, one lucky team is going to make a very big final splash this offseason.
Read “College Basketball’s Winners and Losers of 2019’s NBA Draft Decisions” by clicking here.
