NCAA Basketball: Updated early top-25 rankings for 2021-22 after NBA Draft deadline

As always, Kentucky Basketball always deals with decisions for the NBA Draft. This offseason was no different. Star freshmen Isaiah Jackson and BJ Boston Jr. went pro, as well as Terrence Clarke before he was tragically killed in a car accident this offseason.

There was another big decision that needed to be made in Davion Mintz, who led the team with 11.5 ppg and 3.1 apg this past season. He could’ve easily gone pro but instead, opted for an extra year with the powerhouse program. And he’ll be joined by several other transfers picked up this offseason in All-Atlantic 10 guard Kellan Grady, Iowa sharpshooter CJ Fredrick, and Georgia point guard Sahvir Wheeler, who led the SEC in assists last year with 7.4 apg.

Those newcomers, along with West Virginia transfer center Oscar Tshiebwe give Kentucky experience and proven production to rely on going forward. And then there’s TyTy Washington, a five-star point guard, and former Creighton commit who picked the Wildcats once he became a free agent again. Top-30 forward Daimion Collins adds more frontcourt depth, while Keion Brooks, JoJo Toppin, and Dontaie Allen provide overall depth.

There are some questions as to how these unique pieces fit and whether they’ll be good enough defensively in the backcourt to be a top-10 team. But after going 9-16 in such embarrassing fashion, head coach John Calipari is determined for a major comeback campaign.

And by the way, Kentucky may not be done improving the roster just yet.