Kentucky Basketball: Way-too-early look at Wildcats' 2022-23 roster

Kentucky Basketball: Way-too-early look at Wildcats 2022-23 roster

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 17: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats speaks to his players during the second half against the Saint Peter's Peacocks in the first round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 17, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

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Bryce Hopkins Jacob Toppin Kentucky Basketball (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Most likely to return for 2022-23 campaign

If we assume that Sharpe and Tshiebwe both enter the NBA Draft, that leaves eight returning scholarship players.

Sahvir Wheeler, Keion Brooks Jr., and Jacob Toppin are all expected to be back. Wheeler was Kentucky’s starting point guard this season, averaging 10.0 PPG and 6.9 APG. Brooks started in the frontcourt and averaged 10.9 PPG while Toppin was Kentucky’s top frontcourt option off the bench, averaging 6.1 PPG in 17.8 MPG. All three players will be seniors in 2022-23.

C.J. Frederick is also expected to stick around for 2022-23. The Iowa transfer missed the entire 2021-22 season with a hamstring injury but could be a key piece for Kentucky next season. He averaged 8.8 PPG over two seasons with the Hawkeyes and — most importantly — was a 46.6% 3-point shooter on more than three attempts per game.

Daimion Collins, Lance Ware, Dontai Allen, and Bryce Hopkins could all return for another season as well. Collins and Hopkins will be sophomores while Allen and Ware will be juniors. All four were role players this past season, averaging between 6.4 and 7.5 MPG.

Collins, in particular, has a strong upside as a consensus 5-star power forward in the class of 2021. Hopkins was also a top 40 recruit in 2021, per 247Sports. Both will have an opportunity to earn more minutes this summer with Tshiebwe presumably heading to the NBA Draft and leaving a pretty sizeable hole in the frontcourt.

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