‘The plan’ worked as intended for Kevin Knox. Here’s why Kentucky star turned pro now.

As expected, Kevin Knox tweeted Friday that he will enter his name in this year’s NBA Draft and hire an agent. That closes off the option of Kentucky’s leading scorer returning for his sophomore season.

This no-turning-back decision followed the advice of Knox’s father.

“If I’m going to go, then I’m gone,” Kevin Knox Sr., said as if speaking for any college player facing this basketball crossroads. “I’m not going to play with it. Either swim or stay on shore.”

The elder Knox said his son considered playing for Kentucky next season.

“We went through the pros and cons,” the player’s father said. “There were a lot more pros for the NBA than there was for Kentucky. But the pros that were for Kentucky, man, those are some tough pros to overcome.

“He really enjoyed the stage. He enjoyed the coaching, his teammates, the fans. Those four things, you just can’t beat that.”

Ultimately, a family motto came to mind: Preparation plus opportunity equals success.

Both father and son expressed thanks for how Calipari and his staff prepared the way for taking advantage of the opportunity to enter this year’s NBA Draft.

Knox gave a broad hint that Friday’s decision was likely during a postgame interview in February. After saying he believed Missouri freshman Michael Porter Jr., would enter this year’s NBA Draft, Knox was asked if his future would be the same. He smiled and said, “That’s the plan.”

His father echoed that sentiment Friday.

“Absolutely,” he said. “When you think about it, one of the reasons we wanted to come to Kentucky is because they gave us the best opportunity to get to the NBA the fastest, whether that was going to be one year or two years.”

Knox became the second UK player to announce he will enter this year’s NBA Draft. Earlier in the week, PJ Washington said he would enter his name, but keep the option of returning to Kentucky next season by not hiring an agent.

Knox led UK in scoring (15.6 ppg) and three-point baskets (57). He scored double-digit points in all but seven games, and scored 20 or more points in a team-high 10 games.

Every leading scorer during Calipari’s nine seasons as coach has entered the NBA Draft. All but Aaron Harrison in 2015 were freshmen. The other seven were John Wall (2010), Brandon Knight (2011), Anthony Davis (2012), Archie Goodwin (2013), Julius Randle (2014), Jamal Murray (2016) and Malik Monk (2017).

“No one expected me to be a Kentucky Wildcat,” Knox said in a news release. “It turned out to be one of the best decisions in my life. I’m not going to lie. The journey has been rough. But I have no regrets. It has made me a better player and a better person. Throughout the season, I faced challenges, but with challenges come growth. At the age of 19, growth is always good.”

In the UK news release, Calipari saluted Knox as “one of the greatest kids I’ve coached.” Calipari said Knox’s improved play contributed to Kentucky winning nine of its final 11 games.

His 576 points this past season made Knox one of the top 10 scorers among freshmen for Kentucky.

The Southeastern Conference coaches named Knox a co-Freshman of the Year in the league.

Earlier this week, Former UK All-American Kenny Walker said that Knox reminded him of a “young Tayshaun Prince.” Walker said his only concern about Knox turning pro was his relative youth. Knox turns 19 on Aug. 11.

“He’s such a young kid,” Walker said. “The (NBA) lifestyle and everything that comes along with that, can he handle that?”

Calipari said that Knox was wise beyond his years.

“Kevin came in as one of the youngest freshmen in the country and adapted as well as any player I have ever coached,” Calipari said in the news release.

The elder Knox said support from the family eased any concerns about his son entering the NBA. He said his experience being selected in the NFL Draft and being a pro football player should not be forgotten.

“You’ve got to have a great, strong support system, and that he definitely does, to help navigate those treacherous waters,” Knox’s father said. “If you have the right navigation, you’ll be able to get through it.”

ESPN analyst Jay Bilas projected Knox being selected either late in the lottery or midway through the first round. The NBA Draft is June 21.

This story was originally published April 6, 2018 at 3:53 PM with the headline "‘The plan’ worked as intended for Kevin Knox. Here’s why Kentucky star turned pro now.."