As Tyrese Maxey departs, Kentucky could be in the mix for a 7-foot-3 grad transfer
Another Wildcat exits, but could a very tall one be entering Wildcat Lodge?
After Kentucky point guard Ashton Hagans announced Sunday he was entering the NBA Draft and not looking back, teammate Tyrese Maxey said Monday he will do the same. The freshman guard declared for the draft saying he will not return to school next season.
“This year getting to rep Kentucky across my chest was everything I could have imagined,” Maxey said via Twitter. “I got to play for a Hall of Famer, be pushed every day by the best coaches in the country, compete alongside great teammates and work with a support staff that is the gold standard — just like Coach Cal promised.
“Even though I didn’t get a chance to compete for my ultimate goal, this season was everything I signed up for. I know I’m a better player and man for embracing the challenge of playing for Kentucky.”
Sports Illustrated’s latest mock draft has Maxey ranked No. 10.
- Anthony Edwards, Georgia
- James Wiseman, Memphis
- Deni Avdija, Maccabi Tel Aviv
- Tyrese Haliburton, Iowa State
- LaMeo Ball, Illawarra Hawks
- Isaac Okoro, Auburn
- Killian Hayes, Ratiopharm Ulm
- Onyeka Okongwu, USC
- Obi Toppin, Dayton
- Tyrese Maxey, Kentucky
Maxey averaged 14 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in his one Kentucky season. He shot 42.7 percent from the floor and 29.2 percent from three-point range. He has excellent upside, but needs a little more maturity to his game.
Speaking of mature, Kentucky could be in the market for another graduate transfer. Jeff Borzello of ESPN tweeted Monday night that UK was one of 25 schools that has reached out to Purdue center Matt Haarms, who has placed his name in the transfer portal.
Haarms isn’t just any center. He’s a 7-foot-3 center from the Netherlands who averaged 8.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists last year as a junior. Haarms actually had a better sophomore season, averaging 9.4 points and 5.4 rebounds. He also shot 63.2 percent from the floor as a sophomore, compared to 52.4 percent last season.
“It’s been a wild day,” Haarms told Evan Daniels of 247Sports. “Have about 30 missed calls that I still need to catch up with.”
If Nick Richards leaves, as most expect he will, John Calipari could use a center. His two tallest recruits for 2020 are both 6-foot-9 in Isaiah Jackson out of Waterford, Mich., and Lance Ware out of Camden, N.J.
Haarms failed to reach double figures in Purdue’s final eight games last season. He produced just one double-digit rebound game all year, pulling down 10 against Jacksonville State way back on Nov. 23. Still, he’s a big body who might take a step up in a different environment. That appears to be his hope.
“Just believe I needed a change of scenery to take my game to the next level,” he told Borzello.
Could Kentucky provide that scenery?
One other UK basketball note: Keion Brooks’ father indicated Monday that the sophomore-to-be will return next season. The 6-7 forward averaged 4.5 points and 3.2 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per game last season.
Rescheduled Masters a positive sign
Michael Bamberger of Golf.com magazine writes:
“This is the best news in weeks: Fred Ridley, the chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club, said Monday that the club hopes to hold the Masters in November, concluding on Sunday, Nov. 15. Thanksgiving is 11 days later.
“Thanksgiving is today.”
Would Dolphins go all-in on getting Bengals’ No. 1 pick?
Peter King of NBC Sports writes:
“1. I think, if I were Miami GM Chris Grier, and I liked Joe Burrow clearly above all other quarterbacks this year, I’d call the Bengals and offer four first-round picks for Cincinnati’s first overall pick. I think, if I were Cincinnati owner Mike Brown, I’d say no — under one important condition.
“2. I think, now that you’d like to have me committed, here’s my logic:
“Miami owner Stephen Ross has made it priority one in the organization to find the next Dan Marino, or at least some reasonable facsimile. At all costs, a franchise quarterback must be procured. Pronto.”
Scottie Lewis is returning to Florida
Kevin Flaherty of 247Sports reports:
“Talented Florida wing Scottie Lewis is returning to Gainesville for his sophomore season, giving the Gators a player who, before the season, was projected as a potential NBA Draft lottery pick in a number of mock drafts. The No. 1 small forward and No. 7 overall player in the 247Sports Composite, Lewis was the highest-ranked player ever signed by current Florida coach Mike White.
“Lewis averaged 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocked shots per game. And he showed some flashes of making outside shots, shooting 36.1 percent from behind the three-point arc, albeit on only 61 attempts.”
The Pac-12 implements cost-cutting measures
Jon Wilner of the Mercury News reports:
“The Pac-12 is implementing a series of cost-cutting measures, including pay cuts for executives and layoffs at the Pac-12 Networks, as a result of the coronavirus-forced shutdown and the broader headwinds in the media space, the Hotline has learned.
“The moves include a 20 percent salary reduction for commissioner Larry Scott and 10 percent cuts for members of his senior staff in both conference and networks divisions. The cuts will remain in place for the remainder of the school year, then be revisited this summer.”
This story was originally published April 7, 2020 at 7:12 AM.
