By LARRY VAUGHT
It’s no surprise that freshman Brandon Knight has put his name into the NBA draft and likely will leave it there because he’s going to be a top 10 pick. Even Kentucky coach John Calipari now acknowledges that based on what he told Mike DeCourcy of the SportingNews.com Wednesday.
Here’s what DeCourcy wrote about Calipari and Knight: Based on the information Calipari is receiving, their absence (North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller and John Henson) from the draft pool, as well as that of Ohio State freshman center Jared Sullinger, pushed Knight firmly into the top-10 range.
“How can I say no to that?†Calipari told Sporting News on Wednesday.
He can’t and Knight can’t, either.
Calipari told DeCourcy he is still is in the process of compiling information on freshman Terrence Jones and junior DeAndre Liggins, who also put their names into the draft. Like Knight, they have yet to hire an agent and can pull out of the draft through May 8 and stay at UK as long as they do not hire an agent.
Calipari has had one scout compare Liggins’ pro potential to that of Memphis Grizzlies forward Tony Allen.
“(Allen) has transformed the Grizzlies,†Calipari told DeCourcy. “Everybody is looking at DeAndre Liggins, that he could guard multiple positions. He’s athletic, tough, comes up with balls  all the stuff they want in that position. He’s getting a serious look now. I wasn’t positive about it before, but I feel pretty good.”
Just how many teams would feel that strongly about Liggins remains to be seen and he still would need to really turn heads at the NBA combine to jump into the first round of the draft.
Jones is still projected as a late lottery pick. Could he return to UK and improve that status? Yes. But his stock could also fall if he does not have a great year or if the NBA does not change its rule and continues to let players jump to the NBA after just one year in college. If the one-and-done rule is not changed, next year’s draft could have far more overall talent.
11 Responses to No way Calipari could say no to Brandon Knight entering draft
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I wish them all the best. I for one will hope they get an opportunity to live their dreams.
Does anyone remember Scotty Thurman. When he hit the game winner to beat Duke in the NCAA he was projected as a lottery pick and so was his running buddy. The next year they were both exposed in their loss to UCLA in the championship gave and here are the results.
Williamson dropped to 17th which cost him HUGE BUCKS and Thurman went undrafted. The NBA is fickle that’s why Cal suggested Miller stay to give them a different opinion of him. You must strike while the iron is hot.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. GO BLUE AND WISH THEM ALL THE BEST! ! !
If any of us had the opportunity to leave college and make millions, I’m pretty sure we’d take it also. The “college experience” is great and everything, but as an adult now I can’t say it means as much to me as millions of dollars would.
How can “I” say no to that? It’s not your decision, Coach. It’s Brandon’s. At least it’s supposed to be.
I find that little slip of the tongue disturbing. “How can he say no to that?” is hardly appropriate either. Cal has to allow his kids to make their own decisions based on their own values. Not based on his.
House, are you saying they can make millions only if they leave college now? That they will lose the opportunity if they return to UK?
If you put it that way, the answer’s clear. But that’s not the choice Knight and Jones are facing. They’re not deciding whether to make millions, but when to make them. Either now (if there is no lockout, a very big IF at the moment) or next year.
You might think the answer is easy, money over the college experience, but those are your values. Bledsoe thinks otherwise. So does Patterson, who tweeted that Knight and Jones should stay, win a championship, then think about putting their names in the draft. That’s coming from someone who just went through what Knight and Jones are considering. That’s coming from someone who earned 1.5 million this season. So that’s a huge statement.
I have to agree with Patterson. If a million will be there for you next year, what’s the rush? Enjoy your youth while you still have it. Because it doesn’t last long. And if you have any faith in Cal’s ability to make you a better player, all the better. Some sound advice: Never make decisions based on greed or fear.
@Wheatgerm – Pat could have played on this year’s squad, but he decided to take the money.
Think Cal meant he could not in good faith tell Knight he should not go when he’s being projected so high, but Brandon and his parents are very, very sharp and certainly made their own choice. And coming back is risking. Look at what happened to UK football players Trevard Lindley and Micah Johnson. both stayed at UK and stock went down. It’s a risk, but hard to say no if Jones and Knight are going to be lottery picks
The important thing is that each of these players follow their heart. Interviews with Cousins on more than one occasion has indicated he wished he had stayed one more year. The thing with each of our young men is that Calipari is totally honest with each one and I feel they have a grasp of the positives and negatives of moving on. The one obvious thing is that these kids will never be at a place where basketball is more important with our avid fans. Best wishes to each regardless of their decision! Thanks for playing for the Wildcats!
Ditto Mike Flannery, said said it all.
Cousins may have wanted to be back at UK for the fun times, but financially he is very, very secure now and headed for even better times. Eventually we all have to grow up and go to work. When you get a great job offer, it’s just hard to turn down no matter the timing
I think what some of us are missing is this: Will there be millions on the table next year should they return this time? Yes, there will.
Will there be AS MANY millions next year? Well, if they drop in the draft, and they probably would, then no, there would not be as many millions next year.
So to say that it would NOT make any difference next year, probably is not an accurate statement. It is like your boss comes to you, and offers you a promotion. Do you reason that no, I really like this gig, and there will always be money and positions on the table in a year or two, so I will stay here, and hope for the best?
If you do….you an extremely foolish! They can always finish their degree, if they ever need it? With that kind of money, they may not. Brandon is such, that he can earn most of his online while playing in the NBA.
Either way, they MUST strike while the iron is hot, as it were.
This, or at least most of it, could possibly be avoided if schools were allowed to purchase insurance to guard them against possible injury. That could be incentive to return. But then, that would mean that the NCAA was ACTUALLY doing something for the kids, not just saying they do.
That will never happen!
Amen Colorado amen