Kentucky attracts some of the best young talents every year, often heading straight for the NBA after playing just a season. Coach John Calipari is a familiar face at NBA draft nights, always supporting his top players.
Over the past nine drafts, 14 Kentucky players were picked in the first round, and there are currently 28 Wildcats playing in the NBA or G League. Kentucky leads the country in players actively playing in the NBA, ahead of Duke (24 players) and UCLA (15 players).
Former Wildcats shine in NBA spotlight
Several former Wildcats are setting the bar high in the NBA. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is making significant strides, boasting an average of 31.1 points, 6.5 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Lakers' standout Anthony Davis is performing admirably when he's healthy, recently achieving 40 points with 15 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks in a game facing the Wizards. He also played a central role in the Lakers' 2020 championship triumph.
Emerging star Tyrese Maxey from Philadelphia is impressing everyone. He earned his first All-Star spot and is a strong contender for the Most Improved Player title. Karl-Anthony Towns, before his injury, greatly contributed to the Timberwolves' top spot in the Western Conference. Miami's Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro have established themselves as key performers, helping the team reach the NBA Finals last season.
Kentucky's NBA talent pipeline and college struggles
Based on the HoopsHype global rating, Kentucky boasts nine players among the NBA's top 50, higher than any other college program. Former Wildcats, especially guards, have performed well in the NBA. As such, scouts have started evaluating Kentucky players with a unique approach before they enter the league.
Calipari's team has had a primarily successful college season so far. They started strong with top-rated recruits and are currently at No. 15 with a 22-8 record. But, it hasn't been all smooth sailing. They suffered an eight-point defeat to UNC Wilmington in December and, for the first time, lost three consecutive games at Rupp Arena in late January.
It's quite a contrast to the days of the 2012 team that crushed conference play and clinched a national title. Or even in 2015, when they dominated with a 38-1 record, only losing in the semi-finals to Wisconsin. During his initial six years leading the Wildcats, Coach Calipari successfully guided the team to the Elite Eight five times and made four appearances in the Final Four. However, the team's fortunes have declined recently.
The last two seasons concluded with heartbreaking losses: in 2022, to St. Peter's, a fifteenth-seeded team, and in 2023, they tripped in the second round, losing to third-seeded Kansas State. Furthermore, the team should have qualified for the tournament three times in the last five seasons.
Kentucky's rising stars and NBA prospects
Dillingham has turned heads with his impressive performances off the bench. Under Coach Calipari's system, Dillingham can shine. Despite being known as a great strategic player, there were questions about how he'd perform creating plays at a height of just 6-foot-2.
To everyone's delight, Dillingham's performance has been stellar. He's knocked down step-back three-pointers in the face of defenders and mastered mid-range jumpers over taller players. You can count on him to clutch games in critical moments, particularly when the clock ticks down.
Sheppard comes from a family tradition of playing for the Wildcats, with his parents being part of the team in the '90s. Just like Dillingham, there were low expectations for Sheppard at the beginning of the season.
However, he quickly turned heads with his stellar defense and impressive game awareness, showing maturity beyond his first year. He stands out as the team leader in steals (2.6) and assists (4.5), making him a precious player for Kentucky this season.
Kentucky is set to challenge No. 4 Tennessee this Saturday, aiming to distinguish itself further in the SEC. They lost to the Vols earlier this season at Rupp Arena. Now, many NBA scouts and executives will be in Knoxville to spot potential Kentucky talent for the NBA.
While it's still being determined if Kentucky will make significant progress in the tournament, its program has a history of producing successful NBA players.
