Kentucky Basketball: Isaiah Briscoe, Marcus Lee shape Wildcats' roster

Kentucky basketball guard Isaiah Briscoe and forward Marcus Lee are headed in different directions.

By midnight tonight, the NBA Draft participant list must be finalized and those undecided on whether they will remain in the Draft or return to school must make their final decisions.

Two of the high-profile prospects remaining in that pool of undecided players, Kentucky’s Isaiah Briscoe and Marcus Lee, made their decisions early this afternoon.

Briscoe announced via Twitter he would be returning to the University of Kentucky for his sophomore season, forgoing an opportunity at a possible second round selection.

Bbn im back !!!!!!!!!!!
— Boogie (@ZayBriscoe) May 25, 2016

Marcus Lee also announced his intentions to withdraw from the NBA Draft following a disappointing NBA Combine experience, but he, on the other hand, will not be returning to Kentucky. The University announced Lee would be exploring transfer options this offseason and will be finding a new home this fall.

ESPN’s Jeff Goodman said following the announcement Lee’s decision had nothing to do with the school itself, but felt he could develop his game further in a different system to help him reach the NBA.

Marcus Lee was not disgruntled in any way. Loved his time at Kentucky. Just wanted an opportunity to develop his game.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) May 25, 2016

For Kentucky, Briscoe’s return will certainly give the Wildcats one of the top backcourts in the nation on both sides of the ball. UK signees De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk are well known for their high-pressure, suffocating defense on the perimeter, and Briscoe certainly showed that same ability this past season.

Last year, Briscoe could finish exceptionally well at the rim, distribute, defend, and handle the ball with the best of them.

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The one knock on his game, and it certainly is a major one, was his inability to shoot from the perimeter and from the free throw line. He shot an alarming 13.5% from three and 46% from the free-throw line, two unacceptable statistics for a former five-star guard out of high school that actually won a three-point contest in the BallIsLife All-American game last year.

With another season to develop his shooting ability and regain the same scoring confidence he had in high school, Briscoe could certainly end up as one of the top guard prospects in next year’s draft.

Lee’s departure, however, impacts the depth of UK’s front court for this upcoming season.

Duke commit and former UK target Marques Bolden was the top option to replace Lee when it seemed all but certain the 6’10” big man out of Antioch, California was likely keeping his name in the draft. Now that Bolden is a Blue Devil and Lee is headed elsewhere, the Wildcats will have to rely on Edrice “Bam” Adebayo, Sacha Killeya-Jones, Wenyen Gabriel, Derek Willis, Isaac Humphries, and Tai Wynyard to carry the weight down low.

Next: Big Ten basketball teams wait on key draft decisions

Kentucky was already considered one of the top teams in the nation going into next season, and though Lee’s decision may hurt the front court depth, Briscoe’s return gives the Wildcats yet another opportunity at a Final Four run next year.

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Kentucky Basketball: Isaiah Briscoe, Marcus Lee shape Wildcats’ roster

By Jack Pilgrim | May 25, 2016

Kentucky basketball guard Isaiah Briscoe and forward Marcus Lee are headed in different directions.

More from Busting Brackets