NCAA Basketball: Top 25 college frontcourts for 2018-19
3. Kentucky Wildcats
Frontcourt players: Reid Travis, PJ Washington, Nick Richards, EJ Montgomery (No. 9 recruit) and Keldon Johnson (No. 13 recruit)
After losing five forwards from last season’s team, John Calipari was able to bring in both high-level talent along with experience for a program that was too young for comfort.
The pickup of the grad transfer from Stanford was huge, as the rising fifth-year senior averaged 19.5 ppg and 8.7 rpg (both led the team). Travis brings five-star talent to the Wildcats while having that immense level of experience that the all-freshman bigs certainly didn’t have last year.
Of course, the five-stars are still coming, including one of the best big men in the 2018 recruiting class in Montgomery. The 6’10 forward plays above the rim while displaying elite defensive capabilities. Travis isn’t much of a shot blocker so being able to slide Montgomery over to the center position is a great benefit.
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Johnson is a multidimensional forward who likes to slash to the hoop. His physical style and quickness will make him a matchup problem at the 3/4 position while still able to hold his own in the paint against bigger opponents.
Washington is one of a couple of returning forwards and was a bright spot on the team. The 6’7 forward averaged double figures as a starter and became much more consistent offensively as the season ended, reaching double figures in 12 of his last 13 games.
Rounding out the group is Richards, a former five-star center who saw his playing time decrease once it was seen that he was an extreme defensive liability. But his offensive potential nearly compensates that weakness, still making him an asset for Kentucky.