SBNation’s Ricky O’Donnell has listed the top 5 sophomores in college basketball that will become stars and Kentucky Basketball’s Tyler Ulis has made the list.
Here is why he will be a star:
When Tyler Ulis came to Kentucky, he stood out as much for what he wasn’t as what he was. As a 5’9 guard on a team that started two 7-footers and no one under 6’6, Ulis looked cartoonishly undersized as a freshman. Still, it didn’t take John Calipari long to learn Kentucky just looked better with Ulis on the floor, and by the end of the season he was often finishing games even if he wasn’t starting them.
Kentucky, of course, lost the top seven scorers from its historic team last season, making Ulis one of three veterans expected to play major minutes for Calipari this year. Kentucky is bringing in two more five-star freshmen point guards this season in Isaiah Briscoe and Jamal Murray, and the way Calipari handles that glut of talent at one position will be one of the season’s most interesting subplots.
It’s easy to envision Kentucky using all three players together and getting back to Calipari’s signature dribble-drive motion offense. Ulis’ careful hand with the ball (135 assists to 38 turnovers as a freshman) and knockdown three-point shooting ability (42.9 percent from three last season) makes him the perfect player to direct the show.
Just because Ulis returned to school instead of joining the majority of his teammates by declaring for the draft doesn’t mean he lacks what it takes to be one of the top floor generals in the country this year. He’s in the unique position of being entrenched at a place that typically doesn’t see major contributors stick around. His teammates might change, but Kentucky can count on Ulis to provide high-level point guard play every year he’s at school.
Read “5 sophomores ready to become stars in college basketball” by clicking here.
