Kentucky Basketball: Takeaways from embarassing loss to Georgia Tech

Devin Askew’s minutes need to be reduced

After Tyrese Maxey, Ashton Hagans, and Immanuel Quickley all departed the last offseason, Kentucky was in major need of finding the next star ball-handler to facilitate the offense. They were able to land Devin Askew, a top-30 overall prospect who actually reclassified from the 2021 recruiting class to be able to play this season.

That strategy is popular with talented players today because it helps accelerate the clock to make them eligible to play in the NBA. However, that can backfire on some prospects who could’ve used that extra year of high school to develop for the college game.

Unfortunately for Askew, he’s starting to fall in that category of players who just aren’t ready for college. After scoring 12 points against Morehead State in the season-opener, the 6’3 guard has scored a total of 12 points in the next three, including just three against Georgia Tech. Even more notable, Askew took just two shots in 27 minutes played. One came wide open in transition and the other as the shot clock was expiring.

And even if scoring isn’t his strong suit, neither is passing. In four games, the supposed starting point guard has just eight total assists and 13 turnovers. In fairness, this isn’t a team that spreads the ball well, with the scoring guards mainly operating in isolation. But for Askew, it asks the question of what is the benefit of having him on the court?

Right now, Askew’s confidence is gone and the schedule doesn’t offer any chances to feel better. SEC play is right after the previously mentioned games and conference battles, regardless of the caliber of opponents, are always spirited.

Creighton grad transfer Davion Mintz may not be playing much better at the moment but he’s a good enough and willing three-point shooter than can space the floor. And maybe it would be best to take the pressure off Askew to lead the offense and just be a solid contributor off the bench and develop slowly. He’ll be needed with the lack of proven ball-handlers on the roster, but the senior is the better bet currently for most of the starting PG minutes.