Oscar Tshiebwe, CJ Fredrick on Seth Davis' list of "Players With Something To Prove"

On3 imageby:Tyler Thompson09/16/21

MrsTylerKSR

After last season, I think the entire Kentucky Basketball team has something to prove, but Seth Davis has his eye on two Wildcats in particular. Oscar Tshiebwe and CJ Fredrick are on Davis’ list of 25 players with a lot on the line this season. The transfers from West Virginia and Iowa come in at No. 8 and No. 19, respectively.

Davis is excited to see what Tshiebwe can contribute after coming in midway through the season and sitting out the rest of Kentucky’s disastrous 2020-21 campaign. As for Fredrick, the fireworks surrounding his departure from Iowa add extra spice to his first season in Lexington, says Davis.

With the flurry of spring transfers, Fredrick’s decision to leave Iowa for Kentucky shouldn’t have garnered much notice. That changed when Iowa’s compliance office sent out a not-so-thinly veiled tweet suggesting that Kentucky had contacted Fredrick before he put his name into the portal, which would be against NCAA rules, even though everyone knows such communications happen all the time via third parties. Now it’s up to Fredrick to show what all the fuss was about. He made 46.6 percent of his 3-point attempts during his two seasons at Iowa, and if he brings that kind of long-range efficiency to Lexington, it will be a huge boost to the Wildcats’ chances to win an SEC title.

The Athletic

Let’s hope. Other familiar names on the list: Alabama guard Jahvon Quinerly (No. 18); Auburn big man Walker Kessler (No. 10), who transferred from North Carolina; Memphis freshman phenom Emoni Bates (No. 9); Texas guard Marcus Carr (No. 4), who transferred from Minnesota; and former Cat Johnny Juzang (No. 1), the star of UCLA’s run to the Final Four.

CJ Fredrick still recovering from leg procedure

Last week, John Calipari told reporters Fredrick is still sidelined from the minor procedure on his leg back in July. As Davis said, Fredrick could have a huge impact on this year’s team, so Calipari wants him to take his time getting back on the court.

“CJ has not started (practicing),” said Calipari. “I’m hoping within the next two weeks he’ll be on the floor with us. We haven’t seen what he adds to (our complete roster).”

“We’re taking it slow. He’s somebody we’re going to need, and I’m not going to have him come back, and I’m telling the trainers, don’t bring him back early.”

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