Jarred Vanderbilt says he was 50/50 on leaving Kentucky and officially entering the NBA Draft.
In an interview with Jerry Tipton, Vanderbilt admitted that it was John Calipari who encouraged him to stay in the draft:
“He gave me the assurance because I initially didn’t know whether I wanted to make that leap or come back,” Vanderbilt said before an autograph session in Lexington on Tuesday. “But him being by my side and, you know, edging me that I should do that gave me the assurance that I should do it. I was really thankful for that.
“I told him what I wanted to do. That I was 50-50. I didn’t know which way to go. But he supported me and supported my decision. He was saying with my injuries, (entering the draft) might be the best and smartest move.”
The move makes a lot of sense now that Vanderbilt has inked a 3-year, $4 million contract with the Denver Nuggets.
