Kyle Tucker gives positive updates on Isaiah Jackson, Davion Mintz and Keion Brooks Jr.

And then there were three.

BJ Boston and Terrence Clarke have declared for the NBA Draft and signed with agents, while Devin Askew, Dontaie Allen, Lance Ware and Jacob Toppin have all indicated they will be returning to Kentucky either themselves or through parent interviews. Cam’Ron Fletcher also put his name in the transfer portal, leaving the program after just one year in Lexington, while John Calipari indicated after the season that Olivier Sarr came in on a one-year plan and was expected to follow through with that, even if no formal announcement has been made.

With those eight decisions finalized (or close to it) one way or another, only three remain this offseason: Isaiah Jackson has entered the draft without an agent, leaving the door open for a potential return to Kentucky, while Davion Mintz and Keion Brooks Jr. have yet to make official announcements either way.

Where are they leaning? Could any or all return to Lexington next season? Kyle Tucker of The Athletic caught up with each of the players’ fathers to find out the latest.

And for those holding out hope on a surprise or two, you’ll like what the parents had to say.

For Jackson, the standout forward is holding out hope for a lottery grade during the draft process. If that grade doesn’t come, the possibility of returning for a sophomore campaign is very real, with Jackson’s father recently speaking with PJ Washington’s father about his son’s decision to return for a second season back in 2019.

“It’s not about income,” Wesley Jackson told The Athletic. “Me and his mom have been working for years, and if I have to work another year or two, it’s no skin off my bones. And we had to let him know that, to take the pressure off him. I can wait.”

Mintz’s father, Sean, said if it were up to the graduate transfer guard’s family, they’d push for a return after having a “heck of a time” in Lexington this past season.

“Me and the family here, we’re selfishly hoping he comes back, because we had a heck of a time there,” Sean Mintz said. “… This thing is a journey and these guys play to one day earn a living at it, and we don’t want to keep him from that, but we want him to go at the right time.”

As for Brooks, the sophomore forward’s father says his son is expected to put his name in the draft without an agent, with his two options being a return to Kentucky or the NBA. No transfer is on the table.

And with minimal draft stock at this point in time, one would think a return to UK is in the cards after exploring the process.

“He’s going to put his name in the draft, see what that does and then go from there,” Keion Brooks Sr. told The Athletic. “(If he returns to college) it wouldn’t be nowhere else but Kentucky, unless he throws me a curveball.”

After what has felt like a constant turnstile of talent leaving the Kentucky program in recent years, it’s certainly refreshing to hear optimism regarding the possibility of three crucial pieces returning next season. Get one or two back? Quite impressive. All three? Look out.

For the other remaining quotes with the trio of player fathers – and there are plenty of good ones – head on over to The Athletic here.