Today on KSR: Is Keion Brooks Jr. back?

In terms of new roster additions, it appears the Kentucky basketball team is set. John Calipari has added the likes of Oscar Tshiebwe, Sahvir Wheeler Kellan Grady, CJ Fredrick, TyTy Washington, Daimion Collins and Bryce Hopkins alone, seven new names and faces joining the program. Now, it appears UK is waiting on just three more potential returning pieces to finalize the roster: Isaiah Jackson, Davion Mintz and Keion Brooks.

Jackson and Mintz are both exploring their professional options and will likely wait until in-person workouts begin with NBA teams before making final decisions, with the former expected to ultimately make the jump and the latter being a true 50/50 tossup. As for Brooks, though, the Kentucky program may have let the cat out of the bag regarding his final decision, one that has been expected over the last several weeks.

With UK’s summer satellite basketball camps set to begin next week, the team released a list of names set to speak to the media during the statewide summer tour, with Brooks joining the likes of Jacob Toppin, Dontaie Allen, CJ Fredrick and Jai Lucas on the slate in week one. Brooks’ media opportunity will be on Friday, June 4 at Elizabethtown High School, exactly one week from today.

Now why would a player considering his professional or transfer options participate in a satellite tour with the rest of the team and speak with the media, especially knowing the Kentucky fanbase is dying to receive confirmation that Brooks was returning for a junior campaign? Short answer, you don’t.

We may receive official confirmation when Calipari speaks to the media this morning – more on that in a second – but I don’t think there’s much reason for worry. The 6-foot-7 forward who averaged 10.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per contest in 2020-21 is expected back next season.

While we’re on the topic, let’s look over next week’s camp dates and times, along with sign-up information if you haven’t done so already:

Camp dates

June 1 – Thomas Nelson High School (Bardstown, Kentucky) – 2-5 p.m.

June 2 – Ryle High School (Union, Kentucky) 3-6 p.m.

June 3 – Boyd County Middle School (Ashland, Kentucky) – 3-6 p.m.

June 4 – Elizabethtown High School (Elizabethtown, Kentucky) – 3-6 p.m.

June 5 – Covington Catholic High School (Park Hills, Kentucky) – 2-5 p.m.

Open to: Boys and girls ages 7-17

Price: $99 per camper

If your child would like to attend a Kentucky Basketball camp this summer, spots are still available. Find more information and sign up here. 

Move-in begins this weekend

KSR already confirmed with the parents of TyTy Washington, Daimion Collins and Bryce Hopkins that freshmen will begin the move-in process starting this weekend.

Yesterday, though, CJ Fredrick broke the news that the entire Kentucky roster will head to Lexington this weekend to move in at the Wildcat Coal Lodge, with summer workouts set to begin shortly after.

“I’ll be there this weekend,” Fredrick told KSR. “… We’ve gotten a little group chat going, we’ve all just been talking a little bit. When I committed, everyone was reaching out to me, and I really appreciated that. Returning guys and freshmen who were already committed, just saying they were happy to have me on the team, that was really cool. Still haven’t met any of those guys in person, but I’m excited to meet them this weekend.”

After just two months away, basketball is right around the corner again in Lexington.

CJ Fredrick switching numbers in Terrence Clarke’s honor

Speaking of Fredrick, the former Iowa sharpshooter also confirmed with KSR on Thursday that he will no longer wear No. 5 out of respect for the late Terrence Clarke and his family. Instead, the Kentucky guard will switch to No. 1, sporting the same number he wore at Covington Catholic in high school.

During his radio appearance, Fredrick said he didn’t feel it was his position to wear No. 5 following the tragic passing of Clarke in April.

“This has been something I’ve been thinking about a lot. Out of respect to Terrence (Clarke) and his family — what a terrible tragedy that is and I’ve been praying for him and his family this whole time,” Fredrick told KSR. “I don’t want to be No. 5 this year, I feel like that’s not my position to wear that jersey, it’s his. I’m going to be wearing No. 1, what I was in high school.”

Coach Cal speaks to the media

John Calipari is set to speak to the media this morning at 10:15 a.m. ET, his first public media appearance since Kentucky’s season ended in the SEC Tournament back in March.

Set to discuss the new staff, recent additions to the team, the draft process and upcoming camps, among other topics, it’s certainly going to be a newsy day.

Follow along right here at KSR for all of the updates throughout the morning and into the afternoon.

Football kickoff times announced

Who’s ready for some football?

The SEC released official kickoff times and TV schedules for the first three weeks of football season, including Kentucky’s early-season matchups against Louisiana-Monroe, Missouri and Chattanooga.

Here is the first quarter of the regular season schedule:

Sept. 4, Louisiana-Monroe, Noon, SEC Network
Sept. 11, Missouri, 7:30 pm, SEC Network
Sept. 18, Chattanooga, Noon pm, ESPN+/SEC Network+

Liam Draxl falls in the national semifinal

Kentucky tennis superstar Liam Draxl saw his national championship dreams come to a close on Thursday, falling in the national semifinal to fellow First Team All-SEC honoree Sam Riffice of Florida.

In the Final Four matchup down in Orlando, Draxl lost in three sets (7-6, 2-6, 6-1) to end his run to the title.

Draxl’s semifinal appearance was Kentucky’s first since Eric Quigley reached the final match in 2012. Only a sophomore, Draxl will be back again next season to see if he can make it two steps further and win the whole thing. He will likely be a favorite considering he was the No. 1 overall seed this season.

KSR in an hour

10 a.m. to noon. Tune in.