College basketball analysts at CBS Sports think BOTH Oscar Tshiebwe and Chris Livingston should pull out of the NBA Draft and return to Kentucky.
“But considering the former CBS Sports National Player of the Year isn’t projected to get picked by most, it’s reasonable to assume Tshiebwe will be able to make more money next season at Kentucky than he’d be able to make playing basketball literally anywhere else in the world,” Gary Parrish explains.
Here’s are excerpts about both:
Oscar Tshiebwe (Kentucky)
I’m choosing to answer the question presented in the most literal sense and going with Tshiebwe because I really do believe he could benefit more than any other early entrant to the 2023 NBA Draft by returning to Kentucky and capitalizing on another year of name, image and likeness opportunities.
Do I think he’s likely to improve his NBA Draft stock with a fifth season of college basketball? No. But considering the former CBS Sports National Player of the Year isn’t projected to get picked by most, it’s reasonable to assume Tshiebwe will be able to make more money next season at Kentucky than he’d be able to make playing basketball literally anywhere else in the world. If I were him, I wouldn’t walk away from that. — Gary Parrish
Chris Livingston (Kentucky)
Livingston entered Kentucky as a five-star prospect in the Class of 2022 and showed plenty of promise on the defensive end while starting in 26 of 34 games for the Wildcats. But the 6-foot-6 wing has plenty to work on offensively before he can be considered a safe bet to get selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. He averaged just 6.3 points per game on 30.5% 3-point shooting during his freshman campaign didn’t show much shot-creation acumen.
With another loaded freshman class coming to UK and the potential return of star big man Oscar Tshiebwe, it’s possible that Livingston would remain only a role player offensively. But within that role, it would still be possible for him to demonstrate marked development in his shooting and offensive versatility. If he does, he could become a first-round pick in 2024 since his size, athleticism and defensive ability are all working in his favor.
Ultimately, if he decides to jump now, it’s easy to imagine Livingston as a second-round pick or undrafted free agent who winds up on a two-way contract. But with another year of offensive refinement, the calculus could change dramatically for Livingston, who has all the ingredients of an eventual NBA rotation player. — David Cobb
