NCAA Basketball: Analyzing grad transfer Kerry Blackshear’s top options

Kentucky Wildcats

If Blackshear wants to win a national title, then Kentucky is his best bet. Year in and year out, head coach John Calipari builds a title-caliber roster and 2019-20 will be no different. Kentucky is once again bringing in an elite recruiting class and they will have a fair amount of experience on the roster as well. Adding in another elite big man in Blackshear would certainly move them up some spots in the preseason rankings but the ‘Cats will be in the top-10 regardless.

Although Blackshear is yet to visit the campus, it is reasonable to think that they could be one of his last stops prior to making a commitment. With that said, though, there are both positives and negatives to choosing Kentucky. On the plus side, he would immediately join a roster poised to make a run at the national championship. The ‘Cats are ranked in just about every preseason top-10 without him on the roster and he will only improve their perception nationally.

On the downside, though, Blackshear’s role would not be nearly as prominent with UK as it would be with other schools. Kentucky is simply too talented in the frontcourt already and finding a solid balance of minutes for all of those players will be tough to do. Blackshear would certainly see the court for plenty of playing time but he might not be in a starring role.