A case for Kentucky's Antonio Reeves to stay and go...

Antonio Reeves entered Kentucky’s matchup vs. Kansas State in the Round of 32 averaging 22 points per contest over his previous six games, shooting at least 40% from the field in all but one. He closed out the regular season with a career-high 37-point effort, one that saw him shoot 12-17 overall, 2-4 from three and 11-11 at the line.

The 6-foot-6 senior was playing the best basketball of the season, embracing the green light and carrying the scoring load on his shoulders with ease. He had only finished in double figures three times since the start of the new year, all low-volume efforts and in wins for the Wildcats. 17 double-digit outputs in that span.

And then he went historically cold, going just 1-15 from the field and 1-10 from deep in 30 minutes. His first make in the win-or-go-home matchup didn’t come until there were just six seconds left in the game, an 0-14 start. The worst shooting performance of his career and it’s not close, unfortunately coming in what could be the final game of his wildly productive four-year journey. That’s a tough pill to swallow for any player, especially one who came to Lexington in hopes of proving he could be the same go-to bucket-getter he was at Illinois State on college basketball’s brightest stage. He did it leading up to that point, but came up short with a Sweet 16 on the line.

Four years completed at the Division 1 level, Reeves could decide to call it a career and turn pro. Or he could use his final year of eligibility and return to Kentucky for another run at, well, a run.

Let’s look at both sides of the decision as the offseason begins.

Pros

• An opportunity to be a star
• Name, image and likeness
• Locker room veteran
• Lineup versatility

Reeves was expected to be a microwave scorer off the bench when he transferred from Illinois State. He struggled defensively, but no one on the team could put the ball in the basket at all three levels the way he could. The reward on the offensive end was clearly greater than the risk on the other, hence why he played at least 30 minutes in 11 of Kentucky’s final 14 games (13 of 14 with at least 29). You couldn’t take him off the floor by year’s end.

With a return, the comfort is there and a role is established from day one. Playing alongside five-star freshmen DJ Wagner and Rob Dillingham, he’d be an experienced vet to lean on, but also a third dynamic scoring option in a lineup of brilliant offensive pieces. Slide Justin Edwards to the four with Aaron Bradshaw at the five, however you want to do it, the opportunity for some unique lineups are there.

And then there’s the money side of things, with Reeves bringing in six figures in year one, sources tell KSR. That’d be more than a true G-League contract, less than a two-way deal with an NBA team. He’d make more as a known commodity on the team from the start, an early star option. NIL will be there for him should he return. And that could be just enough to move the needle.

Cons

• Age
• A scoring niche, but limited upside
• Roster of ball-dominant guards

Reeves is 22 years old, now four years removed from high school. He’s got a niche, like Lou Williams or Jamal Crawford did in the NBA. The Kansas State game was an obvious setback, but his offensive talents are still obvious. If teams believe he is who he is at this point as a player, it may be beneficial to strike while the iron is hot to get his professional clock rolling. And it’s not out of the realm of possibility a team falls in love with him during the draft process and takes a chance on a two-way deal with him — likely more money than he’d see with NIL.

It’s also worth noting that Wagner and Dillingham are ball-dominant guards who are at their best when they are the primary playmakers. Reeves would likely get the same catch-and-shoot opportunities he got this past season, but if he wants to grow as a primary on-ball threat, he’ll have some competition. It’d work from a team standpoint, but may limit him from exploding individually, if that’s what he’s looking for.

KSR Intel

Money will be the biggest factor one way or the other, Reeves doing whatever will make the most financial sense for him and his family. He did very well with NIL this past year and could see that take a serious jump with a star role in year two as a Wildcat. If no roster spot or two-way deal is offered during the draft process, the 6-foot-6 guard is quite content with coming back for one more season. Should a solid pro opportunity present itself, the expectation is he will take advantage and forgo his final season of eligibility, striking while the iron is hot.

Reeves and his family will lean on John Calipari during this process, trusting his input one way or the other. It starts with putting his name in the draft with the option of returning to college, a step that could come soon. From there, it depends solely on the feedback he receives from NBA teams in the coming weeks.