WATCH: Kentucky honors two transfer players on Senior Night
The Kentucky Wildcats honored fifth-year seniors Kellan Grady and Davion Mintz, who will both start on Tuesday, during the pregame festivities ahead of their final home game of the season against Ole Miss. The pair of graduating transfer players have provided a boost for the Wildcats during their time under John Calipari.
Grady transferred from Davidson this season, opting to finish his college career in the SEC after becoming a three-time All-Atlantic 10 selection. Rather than test his game at the professional level, he joined Kentucky’s star-studded transfer class and incoming freshman to create one of the best teams in the country.
Over his career, Grady averages 16.3 points, 2.0 assists and 3.7 rebounds and shoots 38.2 percent from the 3-point line. This season, he is down to 12 points per game but has continued in big games already this year.
Mintz joined the Kentucky roster in 2020, leaving Creighton after four seasons at Creighton, although he chose to redshirt in 2019 before the transfer decision. He started 21 games in 2020-21 but picks up his sixth of the 2021-22 season against Ole Miss.
Over his career, Mintz averages 7.8 points, 2.6 assists and 2.6 rebounds and shoots 35.9 percent from the 3-point line. Over the past two seasons, he averages 10.1 points for the Wildcats.
Although neither Kellan Grady or Davion Mintz started their career at Kentucky, but have helped bring the Wildcats back after a disappointing season to become title contenders again this year.
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Kentucky may have a suffered a 75-73 loss at Arkansas on Saturday, but that does not mean that the Wildcats are no longer one of the best teams in the country. The analytics and voters agree that they remain one of the favorites entering March.
The Wildcats – who are ranked No. 2 in KenPom’s college basketball ratings – lost to Arkansas, which is ranked No. 19 by KenPom, and are still 23-6 overall with a 12-4 mark in SEC play heading down the final stretch of the regular season. Additionally, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi currently has Kentucky listed as a No. 2 seed for the NCAA Tournament.
In addition to the veteran leadership of Kellan Grady and Davion Mintz, Kentucky has National Player of the Year candidate Oscar Tshiebwe and five-star freshman TyTy Washington helping lead the charge into the postseason. They return to full strength after several injuries entering the final games of the year.