- Individual success at the University of Kentucky
- Ability to play as a teammate
- Success/Potential in the NBA
So, here we go, let’s rank the top 6-10 Kentucky Wildcats in the John Calipari Era.
10. Tyler Ulis
Ulis, a player with one of the highest basketball IQ’s I have ever seen led the Kentucky Wildcats to a He may only be 5-9, but he was one of the best point guards I have ever seen. In the 2014-15 season, the 38-1 season, where Ulis came off the bench behind Aaron Harrison, Ulis led the team in in assists and was named to the 2015 SEC All-Freshmen Team. Coming back for his sophomore year, Ulis was the main guy for the Wildcats. His sophomore year, Ulis was a Consensus first team All-American, SEC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year and SEC Men’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Year, that last notion being quite impressive considering he’s 5-9 and was playing with defensive superstars Karl-Anthony Towns, Willie Cauley-Stein, Dakari Johnson and against players like Ben Simmons.
Ulis, drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 2015, hasn’t seen a whole lot of playing time for the Suns, but did find himself spending time in the D-League with the Northern Arizona Suns before being called back up shortly after. While he hasn’t yet made a name for himself in the NBA, but it’s not out of the question that he will once he gets the chance. On the Suns, he’s playing behind strong guards, and also former Kentucky Wildcats, Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight. But I do believe, once his name is called and he is given a real chance, he can have a solid NBA career, just as he did at Kentucky.
9. Julius Randle
Julius Randle’s one season with the Kentucky Wildcats was a wild one. There were times where it looked like the team was headed to the NIT, then there were moments of brilliance, moments that led that team to the Final Four after 3 Aaron Harrison buzzer beaters. Randle was one of the ten finalists for the Naismith Player of the Year Award, but ultimately that was awarded to Doug McDermott of Creighton.
While at Kentucky, Randle tallied 24 double-doubles, the second most behind Wildcat legend, Dan Issel, and the most ever picked up by a freshmen.
Randle was the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft to the Los Angeles Lakers. His first season with the Lakers was a no-go after breaking his ankle in the season opener, causing him to have to sit out his rookie season. However, once Randle got his ankle mended, he’s been a force for the Lakers, especially this season. Randle has a chance to have a long career in the NBA if he can keep himself healthy.
8. Brandon Knight
In high school, Brandon Knight won the 2009 and 2010 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year, one of three players to ever win it their junior year of high school (Lebron James and Greg Odom are the other two). So, knowing that information, it was easy to see that Knight was going to be a star for the Kentucky Wildcats and he did not let anyone down.
Coming into college, Knight had college credit from high school, he was a smart kid who took academics seriously, another sign that Knight had his head on straight. During his time with the Wildcats, just within his first 14 games, Knight led all freshmen in the nation in scoring, averaging 18.3 points, shooting 47% from the field and 40% from the three-point line, not too bad for a freshman.
Knight won SEC freshman of the week three times, something that seems to always be given to a Wildcat these days. Knight was one of ten players selected as a finalist for the 2011 Bob Cousy Award, proving he was one of the top point guards in college basketball. Knight was named to the All-SEC first team and the SEC All-Freshman team. Knight led the Wildcats to the SEC Championship in 2011, made so last second shots and held the team together during triumphs during the NCAA Tournament and wound up in the Final Four.
Knight was the 8th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. Since then, he has played for three different teams and has seemingly found a home in Phoenix where he plays with a plethora of former Kentucky Wildcats. Only issue being, with Eric Bledsoe healthy, Knight comes off the bench for the Suns.
Knight may not be an all-star in the NBA, but he’s going to have a long career as a valuable part of whatever team he is on.
7. Devin Booker
Devin Booker looked like he was going to be a 2-3 year guy under John Calipari when he first arrived in Lexington. He was coming off the bench, but was lethal from three-point land.
By the end of the year, to many, Booker, along with fellow Wildcat and Phoenix Sun, Tyler Ulis were the most efficient back court for the Wildcats, but it was hard to turn away from the sophomore Harrison twins that carried the Wildcats all season. Booker helped this team go 38-1, losing their lone game in the 2015 Final Four to Wisconsin.
Booker was named the SEC Sixth Man of the Year honors and was picked to the SEC All-Freshman Team and the All-SEC Second Team. Not too bad for someone coming off the bench.
Booker is currently making a name for himself with the Phoenix Suns, breaking records left and right it seems. He may be young, but his talent is there. Lethal from three-point land, combined with his athleticism and love for the game, there is no denying that he has potential to have a long, successful NBA career. He’s going to be what they build the Suns team around.
6. Eric Bledsoe
Eric Bledsoe played in the backcourt with a man we’ll see later in this countdown, and was overshadowed more often than not, but that can’t take away from how successful Bledsoe was for the Wildcats.
In his one season with the Wildcats, he averaged 11.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists, behind one of the most elite players college basketball has ever seen. Bledsoe had to learn to take over the shooting guard role, once he got the hang of it, he was pretty good.
While helping lead his team to the NCAA Elite Eight, Bledsoes numbers soared. He was averaging 15.3 points and set a Kentucky school record of eight made three-pointers in one game during the run towards the Elite Eight
Bledsoe, who is currently with the Suns, also saw some playing time with the Los Angeles Clippers, but was playing behind Chris Paul in his second season with the Clippers. Bledsoe was traded to the Suns the following season and his NBA career has took off since then.
Bledsoe, having had to sit out last season due to injury, is having a pretty solid career for the Suns this year. If he can stay healthy, Bledsoe, like many other Wildcats, should have a long and successful career in the NBA.
Keep an eye out for #5-1 next week.
