Kentucky basketball roster intel from the Jordan Brand Classic

Whispers regarding Kentucky basketball draft, transfer and roster decisions continue to grow louder and louder as the offseason moves forward. The winds are shifting and reality is beginning to separate itself from rumor, creating a better picture of how next year’s roster is shaping up. It starts up top with Shaedon Sharpe and Oscar Tshiebwe, then trickles down to incoming and outgoing transfers, along with a few remaining high school targets.

Some rumblings come from conversations on Kentucky’s side of things, confidence within the program about a player or lack thereof. Other buzz comes at the national level with college insiders. But what about the pros?

An anonymous NBA scout shared his thoughts with KSR on the Kentucky basketball roster and some upcoming decisions at the Jordan Brand Classic in Chicago on Friday. Topics ranged from draft stock to stay-or-go decisions to thoughts on UK’s pair of high school signees, Cason Wallace and Chris Livingston, to recruiting.

Keep in mind these are the thoughts of one scout from one NBA team and their conversations within the front office and in league circles. It’s simply to share a different perspective on where things stand with the draft inching closer.

We’ll start with the big one, Shaedon Sharpe. The general consensus in league circles is that Sharpe and his camp are looking for a draft guarantee in the top 10, one the scout firmly expects them to get. Physically, he’s 6-foot-5 with a 7-foot wingspan with elite three-level scoring abilities. There are slight concerns about the five-star freshman’s motor, the only thing stopping him from being a clear top-five pick, the scout said. Film is also extremely limited on Sharpe between Peach Jam and his senior year of high school, with in-person workout opportunities presenting little substance this past semester in Lexington. There’s risk involved, but serious upside.

There are still questions regarding Sharpe’s eligibility for the draft, with his high school graduation status remaining up in the air. He meets the age requirement — 19 years old the year of the draft — but league rules state players must be one NBA season removed from high school graduation to be eligible. He didn’t officially graduate till December, but Sharpe’s camp can argue that he had enough credits to do so in October when the NBA season began. Should he file to test the draft waters by Sunday’s deadline — Sharpe’s camp did not confirm with KSR this process had begun as of Monday afternoon — the league will then have to rule on his official eligibility. Will they go by the official rules and say he was not a high school graduate by the start of the NBA season? Or will having the credits in time suffice?

The scout’s take? Teams are operating under the assumption Sharpe will eventually be declared eligible regardless, though it is a case admittedly different than most — if not all — they’ve come across in the past. There’s also intrigue in the fact it’s taken this long to start the process, especially considering Sharpe won’t have his case reviewed by the NBA until he officially declares. It could be as simple as his camp building the case before taking the next step, but something to keep in mind.

Considering all circumstances, though, teams expect the standout guard to receive good news regarding draft grade and eligibility before ultimately leaving Kentucky without playing a single minute in college. They are planning on Sharpe being an available target.

As for Kentucky’s other major draft decision, Oscar Tshiebwe’s draft stock has continued to climb in recent weeks, with the scout telling KSR he’s now viewed as a late-first, early-second round pick in league circles. Teams are interested in taking a shot on an immediate plug-and-play production player off the bench, someone with an elite skill and niche as a rebounder. Will that grade be enough for him to turn pro? Unlikely, as Tshiebwe’s NIL opportunities will be more lucrative, and he’ll likely stay in that same draft range a year from now. The standout center wants to return to Kentucky, and teams understand that. They may not get him this draft, but interest is there.

Another name of interest for Kentucky? Five-star senior Leonard Miller, who took an official visit to Lexington this past weekend. Teams like the 6-foot-11 wing as a long-term prospect, but believe he will be a multi-year player in the G League if he enters the draft immediately. Down to Arizona, Kentucky and the G League Ignite, the consensus in league circles is that Miller doesn’t want to go to school and would prefer the pro route. There was talk after his visit to the Ignite facilities that he contemplated signing with the program before leaving, but opted to follow through on the college visits. His trip to Kentucky went well and certainly gave him something to think about, but the scout made it clear he would be shocked if Miller went to school.

What about Kentucky’s current signees? The scout was very high on both Chris Livingston and Cason Wallace. The league views Livingston as a two or a three, though he could play a small-ball four role at Kentucky with his unique blend of size, skill and athleticism. His ability to grab the rebound and go coast-to-coast for scores at the rim drew praise, as did his versatility on the defensive end. The scout agreed he needed stronger hands and to continue finding consistency with his shot, but felt he had clear pro skills. As for Wallace, his defensive production was on full display and his sneaky athleticism stood out. His position in college remains up in the air — he’s capable of playing one through three — but the scout felt he projected as an off-ball two in the NBA with spot minutes as a lead guard.

A few player comparisons discussed at Jordan Brand Classic practices and the game itself: Dillon Brooks for Livingston and Jrue Holiday for Wallace.

One final note on a hot topic in the world of recruiting. When 2023 five-star guard DJ Wagner came up, the scout noted that Milt Wagner is not expected to become a full-time assistant at Louisville, adding that Kenny Payne prefers to avoid the circus that would come with that hire. Instead, Milt plans to be involved with his grandson behind the scenes at the school of his choosing. Connected on the issue, the scout felt it was truly down the middle between Kentucky and Louisville. The Cardinals are picking up the current momentum while the Wildcats have been in the driver’s seat since Wagner emerged as a blue-chip prospect.

Again, all notes from a single scout and their conversations at the pro level, but a new angle as fans navigate through the offseason.