Kentucky Basketball Roster Tracker: Oscar Tshiebwe vs. Hunter Dickinson

by:KSR•04/18/23

We’ve yet to receive any official updates regarding next year’s roster this week, but there have been plenty of rumblings. On Monday, Matt Jones shared that Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson is very interested in coming to Kentucky, but only if Oscar Tshiebwe does not return for a final season. Furthermore, Dickinson would like to make his decision this week, creating a complicated situation for Oscar, who is still training and gathering feedback as he tests the NBA Draft waters, and the Kentucky coaching staff.

While there’s plenty of uncertainty in the frontcourt, there has been some clarity on one of Kentucky’s wings who is also testing the draft waters. Here’s an updated look at where we stand with Kentucky’s 2023-24 roster and what Jack Pilgrim is hearing behind the scenes. Previous intel will be marked as such, with new updates highlighted in red.

nba-discusses-changing-draft-eligibility-age-to-18-allowing-high-school-athletes — Photo by Jeenah Moon/Getty Images

Important Dates/Deadlines

April 23: NBA Early Entry Deadline
May 11: Transfer Portal closes (Date by which players must tell their school they’re leaving)
May 14-21: NBA Draft Combine
May 31: NCAA “Stay or Go” Deadline
June 22: 2023 NBA Draft

LEAVING (Confirmed)

Jacob Toppin (F, Sr.) – NBA DRAFT – On March 31, Toppin announced he is declaring the NBA Draft and forgoing his eligibility. In his senior season at Kentucky, Toppin moved into a starting role and flourished, doubling his point and rebounding totals. He is not listed on any of the major mock drafts.

2022-23 season: 12.4 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.2 APG, 31.5 MPG
2021-22 season: 6.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 17.7 MPG
2020-21 season: 5.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 17.1 MPG

Cason Wallace (G, Fr.) – NBA DRAFT – As expected, Cason Wallace announced on April 1 he will enter the draft and stay in. A projected lottery pick, Wallace was hampered by injuries throughout his freshman season, but still shined, especially after assuming the starting point guard role.

2022-23 season: 11.7 PPG, 4.3 APG, 3.7 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 32.1 MPG

Sahvir Wheeler (PG, Sr.) – TRANSFER PORTAL – Wheeler entered the transfer portal on March 27, bringing his two-year career in Lexington to an end. Due to injuries, he only played 21 games this season, eventually as a backup to Cason Wallace. John Calipari confirmed that Wheeler wants one more season elsewhere as a fresh start.

2022-23 season: 7.7 PPG, 5.6 APG, 2.3 RPG, 28.5 MPG
2021-22 season: 10.1 PPG, 6.9 APG, 2.6 RPG, 31.2 MPG

Pilgrim’s Intel: Wheeler is trending toward Washington, who hosted the 5-foot-9 point guard on a visit this past weekend. He also took a trip to Georgia to weigh a potential return to where his career started in Athens, but Seattle has emerged as the likely landing spot. Kansas State and Texas A&M were other early options with varying levels of interest.

TESTING

Antonio Reeves (G, Sr.) – Reeves announced on April 4 he will test the waters of the NBA Draft, leaving open the option to return. In his first season in Lexington, the Illinois State transfer was Kentucky’s second-leading scorer and, by season’s end, carried the Cats offensively on more than one occasion.

2022-23 season: 14.4 PPG (41.6% FG, 39.8% 3PT), 2.1 RPG, 1.1 APG, 27.9 MPG

Pilgrim’s Intel: John Calipari has encouraged the 22-year-old to explore the draft and receive feedback from NBA franchises, a process that is officially underway. Reeves has not yet worked out for teams, nor has paperwork been returned regarding his official draft grade, but the expectation is that the dynamic scorer will be strongly encouraged to consider a return to Kentucky. And that’s a path Reeves and those around him are happy to take advantage of.

Reeves is not interested in grinding things out in the G-League with minimal financial return, certainly not when NIL is available in Lexington with one final year of eligibility. NBA teams are pessimistic the 6-foot-6 guard will be drafted and would struggle to find a two-way deal, a reality Reeves embraces. The draft process, though, will allow him to learn what he needs to work on before ultimately returning to Kentucky. And assuming NIL makes sense and a similar role remains on the table, all sides involved expect that to be the final decision for the native of Chicago.

Make good money, develop with another season under Coach Cal and make a push for the draft next summer in a weak class overall. That’s the ongoing expectation.

Oscar Tshiebwe (C, Sr.) – Oscar announced on April 7 he will test the waters of the NBA Draft. The reigning national player of the year returned to Kentucky for a senior year, but a preseason knee procedure prevented him from reaching full health until midway through. That said, we still got glimpses of his dominant form, and, of course, huge heart. Although his NBA stock is not high, Oscar was Kentucky’s biggest NIL earner this past season.

2022-23 season: 16.5 PPG, 13.7 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 1.6 APG, 1.0 BPG, 33.5 MPG
2021-22 season: 17.4 PPG, 15.1 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 1.6 BPG, 31.9 MPG

Pilgrim’s Intel: Will it be Tshiebwe, Hunter Dickinson or neither? That’s the big question Big Blue Nation is dying to have answered.

Here’s the thing: Kentucky’s star center is still in the midst of testing the draft waters and is currently in the process of scheduling workouts with NBA teams — some already on the docket. And he’d like to turn pro if the right opportunity presents itself, whether that’s a guaranteed deal as a second-round pick or a two-way contract from a franchise with promising long-term plans to keep Tshiebwe around. Those conversations are ongoing.

Meanwhile, Dickinson is interested in Kentucky and has conveyed that message to the coaching staff. There is concern, though, that the All-American center is using the Wildcats — among other high-profile schools — to drum up NIL guarantees elsewhere. Maryland and Kansas are seen as the top contenders to land his services as of today, with a visit to the latter scheduled for Thursday.

Therein lies the dilemma for Calipari and the program. Do you pass on Dickinson and risk Tshiebwe turning pro? Or do you push for the star transfer knowing there’s a chance he simply turns and takes the highest NIL offer on the table from another school? And does that kill any shot the reigning national player of the year returns to Lexington? It’s a tricky spot for Kentucky.

The Wildcats would take Dickinson’s commitment, but they’re not interested in a bidding war. Not for the Michigan transfer, not for Tshiebwe, not for anyone. Beyond NIL, they’re also not interested in guarantees regarding minutes, touches and role. That’s something to keep in mind as UK weighs its options and any potential demands, past and present.

In short, it’s complicated. But the conversations start with seeing just how serious Dickinson is about coming to Kentucky.

Chris Livingston (F, Fr.) – Livingston declared for the Draft on April 12, with UK adding that he will maintain his eligibility as he goes through the evaluation process. Livingston’s development was one of the storylines of the second half of the season. The five-star freshman hit his stride in February, playing at least 32 minutes in 11 straight games to finish the season and scoring in double figures in five of those contests. By season’s end, he was one of the key pieces of Kentucky’s lineup and could be again next year.

2022-23 season: 6.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 0.7 APG, 22.4 MPG

Pilgrim’s Intel (4/13): Kentucky is recruiting Livingston back to school, but NBA teams believe the freshman forward is set on keeping his name in the draft after testing the waters. That’s the fear on the school’s side, as well, with Klutch (led by superagent Rich Paul) being the driving force of that decision. His draft announcement didn’t do much to build optimism — “I’m declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft,” he wrote, no mention of maintaining eligibility or weighing a return. “It’s only up from here.”

The school had to clarify in a press release he was keeping his options open, with John Calipari adding that he’s “excited for Chris and his family to go through this part of the process on his journey.”

Kentucky believes Livingston could return and catapult himself back to lottery status next draft cycle. NBA scouts see that potential, too — certainly more than they envision him hearing what he’s looking for this go-round. The growing consensus, though, is the 6-foot-6 forward bets on himself and makes the jump.

STAYING (Confirmed)

Brennan Canada (G, Sr.) – Canada announced on March 30 he will use the NCAA’s extra year of eligibility for COVID relief to return for a super-senior season. After three and a half seasons as a walk-on, the Mt. Sterling (KY) native earned a scholarship from John Calipari in January 2023. He provides invaluable leadership as a teammate in practice and off the court.

Ugonna Onyenso (F, Fr.) – Onyenso entered the transfer portal on April 5 but removed his name on April 12, announcing he will return to school. He was a late addition to the roster and came to Lexington with the intent of using his freshman year to learn under Oscar Tshiebwe and Kentucky’s other bigs to prepare for the 2023-24 season. Onyenso never really cracked Kentucky’s rotation but when he did play, showed flashes of promise.

2022-23 season: 2.5 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.0 BPG, 6.9 MPG

Pilgrim’s Intel (4/13): The 6-foot-11 center officially withdrew from the transfer portal and announced his return to Kentucky on April 12, a major win for the Wildcats after a difficult back-and-forth with those in Onyenso’s camp. At the end of the day, the freshman out of Owerri, Nigeria wanted to be in Lexington all along and believes in John Calipari’s vision for his future. Those around Onyenso explored NIL possibilities elsewhere in hopes of cashing in on the standout defender’s upside, but quickly realized the money he was already making at Kentucky, along with the anticipated role he’s expected to have in year two, simply didn’t compare.

STAYING (Expected)

Lance Ware (F, Jr.) – Ware continues to play a reserve role as Kentucky’s enforcer and was named a team captain alongside Jacob Toppin in the postseason. A leader in the locker room, Ware could reunite with his former Camden teammate DJ Wagner if he stays in Lexington for another year.

2022-23 season: 2.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 9.9 MPG
2021-22 season: 1.5 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 6.3 MPG
2020-21 season: 2.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 12.1 MPG

Pilgrim’s Intel (April 4): No indications that Ware is considering a change of scenery.

Adou Thiero (G, Fr.) – Thiero is the son of Almamy Thiero, who played for John Calipari at Memphis (2002-05). A late bloomer, the four-star prospect caught Calipari’s eye in March 2022 and committed to Kentucky in May. Thiero played sparingly this season but was thrust into a featured role late in the year due to injuries in the backcourt. It’s assumed he will return to Kentucky for a sophomore season, but nothing has been announced.

2022-23 season: 2.3 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 0.5 SPG, 0.4 APG, 9.7 MPG

Pilgrim’s Intel (April 8): The freshman guard’s father, Almamy Thiero, tells KSR his son is expected to return to Kentucky for his sophomore campaign, but no official announcement has been made.

COMING IN

Aaron Bradshaw (C, HS) – Bradshaw committed to Kentucky during his visit to Big Blue Madness in October 2022. The versatile 7-footer is teammates with fellow future Cat DJ Wagner and showed off some impressive shooting skills in practices at the McDonald’s All-American Game, which could back up his comments that John Calipari plans to use him at the three-position at Kentucky.

2022-23 season (HS): 12.0 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.4 BPG

Robert Dillingham (CG, OTE) – Dillingham is taking a different path to Lexington than his fellow freshmen. The five-star combo guard left Kanye West’s Donda Academy for Overtime Elite in November 2022. As such, he wasn’t eligible to play in the all-star circuit with the rest of the signees.

2022-23 season (OTE): 14.7 PPG, 4.9 APG, 3.5 RPG, 2.5 SPG

Justin Edwards (SF, HS) – Edwards chose Kentucky over rival Tennessee last July. The crafty wing led Imhotep Charter to its second straight state championship. He is the highest-ranked member of Kentucky’s 2023 class per the On3 Industry Ratings and hasn’t shied away from high expectations for next year’s team, telling reporters at the McDonald’s All-American Game that the incoming freshmen believe they can lead the Cats to a title.

2022-23 season (HS): 17.9 PPG (57.8% FG, 34.1% 3PT), 7.5 RPG

Reed Sheppard (CG, HS) – The North Laurel star and son of former Kentucky Basketball greats Jeff and Stacey Sheppard became the program’s first 2023 commit in November 2021. Since then, he led North Laurel to two straight Boys’ Sweet 16s and made the all-star circuit. A skilled combo guard, Sheppard can score at all three levels and seems ready to follow in his parents’ footsteps in Lexington.

2022-23 season (HS): 22.1 PPG (48.6% FG, 39.3% 3PT), 8.5 RPG

DJ Wagner (CG, HS) – Wagner was the final commit of the 2023 class, but was the first John Calipari pursued. Calipari coached Wagner’s father Dajuan Sr. at Memphis in 2001-02 and remains close with the family. Those ties and Kentucky’s stature helped the Cats hold off a push from Kenny Payne and Louisville, which hired DJ’s grandfather Milt to the staff in an advisory role. Wagner won East Team MVP honors at the McDonald’s All-American Game on March 28.

2022-23 season (HS): 22.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.9 APG

UNKNOWN

CJ Fredrick (G, R. Sr.) – After missing the 2021-22 season with a left hamstring injury, Fredrick battled injuries throughout the 2022-23 season too. The former Iowa transfer appeared in 27 games this season, missing time due to a dislocated finger and cracked ribs. For Fredrick, the decision is whether to hang it up or use the NCAA’s extra year of eligibility in hopes of one full, healthy season at Kentucky.

2022-23 season: 6.1 PPG (35.1% FG, 31.8% 3PT), 1.5 APG, 22.2 MPG

Pilgrim’s Intel: Fredrick openly discussed the possibility of him retiring from basketball following Kentucky’s loss to Kansas State in the NCAA Tournament. He’s dealt with both serious and nagging injuries over the course of his career, keeping him off the floor far more often than he’d like. The wear-and-tear has been hard on the senior guard, and it’s why hanging up his uniform for good was on the table at one point. That being said, Fredrick is ultra-competitive and the possibility of having his first injury-free offseason where he can focus on training rather than rehab is an intriguing one.

He’s taken some time away to clear his mind and consider his options, but there’s a growing expectation that he’ll suit up again. Where will that be? He could return, decide to hit the portal again — a long list of interested suitors would be waiting — or even turn pro and play overseas. Though he’s loved his time in Lexington, a transfer is growing as the likely path, one that would allow him to play an expanded role in his final season of college basketball.

Daimion Collins (F, So.) – Collins was primed for a breakout sophomore season before life stepped in the way. In early November, Collins’ father, Ben, unexpectedly passed away while visiting his son in Lexington. After taking some time with his family, Collins returned to the team and slowly worked his way into the rotation.

2022-23 season: 1.9 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 0.4 BPG, 7.9 MPG
2021-22 season: 2.9 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.7 BPG, 7.5 MPG

Pilgrim’s Intel (April 8): Though he’s developed a strong support system in Lexington, the expectation remains that Collins will ultimately decide to enter the portal and transfer closer to home in Texas. If it were a basketball decision alone, he wouldn’t think twice about a return to Kentucky, but this is bigger than basketball and the sophomore forward has to put his family first. A move home puts him in a better position to do that.