Kentucky basketball fans are becoming accustomed to one-and-done players, even when it seems to us that they are not ready to be done. We have debated on the blogs and forums about whether or not Brandon Knight, Terrence Jones or DeAndre Liggins are ready for the NBA. But have you been watching the other players expected to go in this year’s draft?
Jared Sullinger (Ohio St.) was the first top recruit who said he would be back next year. Why? He said he came to Ohio State to win a national championship. Now, if you think Sullinger will stay four years if OSU doesn’t win the championship next year, I have some magic beans for sale… Nonetheless, it is admirable that he is coming back to help his team – if not somewhat odd considering his prospects.
Then Harrison Barnes (UNC) announced he would not put his name in for the draft. What?? If Sullinger (who might have gone #1 overall) is out of the draft, then Barnes for sure would go #1 overall. Why is he coming back? UNC is the preseason favorite to win it all, that’s why.
But now you’ve got Freshmen phenoms Jeremy Lamb (UConn) and C.J. Leslie (NC State) announcing that they’ll come back for their sophomore years. Is the NBA lockout more of a factor than Kentucky recruits are expecting or do UK recruits have something to lose by coming back next year?
Let’s see. If Harrison Barnes returns, he has nobody to compete for time with, has a chance to hang a banner (which UNC didn’t do this year), and could avoid lockout issues. If Jared Sullinger returns, he has nobody to compete for time with, has a chance to hang a banner (which OSU didn’t do this year), and could avoid lockout issues. If Brandon Knight, Terrence Jones and DeAndre Liggins return, they have to compete for time with possibly the greatest recruiting class in history, have a chance to underachieve (as opposed to hanging a Final Four banner like they did this year), and could avoid lockout issues (which for some of them don’t seem to be issues at all).
Granted, if all three Cats returned, they could go undefeated and win it all. But they could also suffer the same fate as Kansas, Duke and Ohio State did this year. Going out with a Final Four banner is better than going out with nothing.
