Kentucky Basketball Roster Tracker: Oscar back, Sharpe testing

It’s been a busy week for the 2022-23 roster. On Wednesday, Kentucky got the best possible news when Oscar Tshiebwe announced he is returning for a senior season. A day later, those good vibes were dampened a bit by Shaedon Sharpe‘s announcement that he will test the NBA Draft waters. Although Sharpe says he is maintaining his eligibility while he gathers feedback, there are still reports he will ultimately keep his name in the draft.

On top of all that, this morning John Calipari made a surprise appearance on “Sports Talk with Dan Issel & Mike Pratt” to discuss Oscar, Sharpe, and next season’s roster, which gave us some clarity on who he expects back in Lexington. The buzz also continues to build with Illinois State guard Antonio Reeves, who visited campus last weekend.

To catch you up, we’ve updated our roster tracker. Here is where we stand with Kentucky’s 2022-23 roster as of April 22, and the latest that Jack Pilgrim is hearing behind the scenes. New information will be marked with the date in red.

Important Dates/Deadlines

• April 24: NBA Early Entry Deadline
• May 1: Transfer Portal deadline (Date by which players must tell their school they’re leaving)
• May 16-22: NBA Draft Combine
• June 1: NCAA “Stay or Go” Deadline
• June 23: 2022 NBA Draft

Staying

Oscar Tshiebwe (C, Jr.) – Oscar won all six National Player of the Year awards, making him the first unanimous POY in Kentucky Basketball history. He led Kentucky in scoring (17.4), rebounding (15.1), steals (1.8), and blocks (1.6). On April 20, Oscar announced he is returning to Kentucky for his senior season.

• 2021-22 season: 17.4 PPG, 15.1 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 1.6 BPG, 31.9 MPG

UPDATE 4/22: Oscar’s return is the best thing that could happen to Kentucky’s 2022-23 roster. He was responsible for 37.8% of Kentucky’s rebounds last year, 41.2% if you take away team rebounds. He also accounted for 21.8% of the team’s scoring. John Calipari has a machine in the middle to build around, fans have a beloved player to cheer for, and the path is clearing for Oscar to make boatloads of NIL money. Win-win-win.

Daimion Collins (F, Fr.) – Following initial reports after the season indicating Daimion Collins would return to Kentucky for a sophomore season, the 6-foot-9 forward announced his return to Lexington on April 23. On his final radio show of the season, John Calipari said he believes Collins can be “one of the best players in the country” next year because “the things he does, normal players can’t do.”

• 2021-22 season: 2.9 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.7 BPG, 7.5 MPG

CJ Fredrick (SG, R. Jr.) – Fredrick underwent surgery to repair a left hamstring injury in November and spent the 2021-22 season rehabbing. By the end of the season, he was occasionally seen shooting threes during Kentucky’s warm-ups. On April 16, Fredrick announced he will return to Kentucky for the 2022-23 season and could be in Lexington for three more seasons if the NCAA grants him a medical waiver.

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Leaving

TyTy Washington (G, Fr.) – TyTy Washington shined in his freshman season in Lexington, even breaking John Wall’s single-season record with 17 assists, but was hampered by a leg injury throughout the second half of the year. On April 6, TyTy announced he is declaring for the NBA Draft and signing with an agent, ending his time as a Kentucky Wildcat. He is currently projected to go No. 14 in ESPN’s latest NBA Mock Draft.

• 2021-22 season: 12.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.9 APG, 29.2 MPG

Dontaie Allen (G, R So.) – Allen announced he was entering the transfer portal on March 24, ending his career at Kentucky. He committed to Western Kentucky on April 13. In two seasons, he averaged 3.9 points off 35.8% shooting and 1.4 rebounds in 10.5 minutes per game.

• 2021-22 season: 2.2 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 6.4 MPG
• 2020-21 season: 5.4 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 14.0 MPG

Bryce Hopkins (F, Fr.) – Hopkins played in 28 of Kentucky’s 34 games this season. His best performance came against LSU when he scored 13 points and pulled down 4 rebounds in 16 minutes to help the Cats beat the Tigers without TyTy Washington or Sahvir Wheeler. On April 7, Hopkins announced he is entering the transfer portal, ending his time in Lexington.

• 2021-22 season: 2.1 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 6.4 MPG

Davion Mintz (G, Gr.) – Mintz used his sixth year of eligibility to return to Kentucky for the 2021-22 season. From here, he will explore professional options.

• 2021-22 season: 8.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 24.7 MPG
• 2020-21 season: 11.5 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 3.1 APG, 30.7 MPG

Kellan Grady (G, Gr.) – Grady was a grad transfer this season and has no eligibility remaining. Kentucky’s third-leading scorer will now pursue his professional options.

• 2021-22 season: 11.4 PPG (44.6% FG, 41.7% 3PT FG) , 2.1 RPG, 1.3 APG, 32.9 MPG

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Testing The Waters

Keion Brooks (F, Jr.) – In his junior season, Brooks was Kentucky’s fourth-leading scorer and started 33 games. Brooks announced on March 28 that he would be testing the draft waters while maintaining his college eligibility.

• 2021-22 season: 10.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 24.5 MPG
• 2020-21 season: 10.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 23.6 MPG
• 2019-20 season: 4.5 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 15.1 MPG

UPDATE 4/22: For what it’s worth, John Calipari did not mention Brooks today when discussing next season’s roster.

Pilgrim’s Insider Notes: Brooks weighed a potential transfer last offseason before ultimately deciding to return to Kentucky. A potential break-up is again on the table this offseason should he decide to pull his name out of the draft, though no final decision has been made.

Jacob Toppin (F, Jr.) – Toppin was Kentucky’s seventh man this season, appearing in all but five games. He transferred to Kentucky from Rhode Island in 2020 and received a waiver to play immediately. On April 12, Toppin announced he will enter the 2022 NBA Draft but left the option to return to school open. At under 20 minutes a game in his second season as a Wildcat, Toppin stands to see an increased role next year once he receives NBA feedback from the draft process. He is not considered a legitimate NBA Draft prospect for this upcoming draft.

• 2021-22 season: 6.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 17.7 MPG
• 2020-21 season: 5.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 17.1 MPG

UPDATE 4/22: John Calipari mentioned Toppin today when discussing next season’s roster, furthering the buzz he is testing the waters simply to receive feedback on what to work on for next year.

Pilgrim’s Insider Notes: An intriguing prospect with phenomenal upside, the school expects Toppin to return in 2022-23, building on a solid junior season in Lexington.

Shaedon Sharpe (SG, Fr.) – Sharpe enrolled at Kentucky in January. Prior to reclassifying, he was the No. 1 recruit in the 2022 class. When he arrived in Lexington, Sharpe said his plan was to practice with the team this season and play next season. In February, John Calipari ended speculation that Sharpe would play in 2021-22 but doubled down on him being on next year’s squad. On his final radio show of the season, Calipari said he sat down with Sharpe and his family and they decided it would be in his best interest to test the NBA Draft waters to receive feedback. On April 21, Sharpe did just that, although there were reports earlier in the day that he would stay in the draft. He is currently No. 6 in ESPN’s latest NBA Mock Draft.

UPDATE 4/22: As you surely know by now, Sharpe is testing the draft waters. Although it seems the writing is on the wall regarding his future at Kentucky, John Calipari insists it’s not over yet. Cal said he met with Sharpe this morning and is in contact with his parents once a week (notice he did not say “mentor”).

Nothing has changed in the last two months about how we’re going about this. I’m talking to his mother and father. And we’re talking once a week, I’m not overbearing with this stuff, but they will play a part in this. What changed is, he was coming back, that was the plan. Then all of a sudden some circumstances changed and maybe he can be picked in those early, early picks. Maybe he can’t. He signed up for classes, both summer and fall. He put his stuff from his room in the basement of the Lodge because you can’t keep it in there (during the offseason). Kids that are coming back just put it down there, he put his stuff down there. We don’t know.

…All I can tell you is he may do this, but it’s not done…

…So I called mom this morning just to make sure we’re on top of stuff. I’m telling you he may do this. If he’s the fifth or sixth pick and it’s a guarantee, what will I tell him to do? [Go.] Why would you be mad? I did this with Hami (Diallo). He was going to be a second-round pick. What did I tell him? Come back. Not only did I tell him to come back, he says that was the best decision he’s ever made. I went to the workouts with him to make sure no one fooled him. I’ve done this.

You know what? Shaedon knows I want to coach him. Shaedon knows that Oscar (Tshiebwe) is coming back. Don’t let all of the negative stuff affect your decision. If you want to come back, that should play no part. Let that alone. He’s another great kid. He’s a great kid, man. You want him to be more ‘go’ and all that, but he is who he is. Very talented, great teammate.

Sharpe has until June 1 to remove his name from the draft if he wants to return to Kentucky.

Pilgrim’s Insider Notes: There is a disconnect between Sharpe, his parents, his advisor and John Calipari. The Kentucky head coach is maintaining regular contact with the five-star freshman and his parents, discussing a potential return to Lexington while also acknowledging a top-10 draft grade would be difficult to pass up. On the other end, Sharpe’s advisor continues to push for the draft, as has been the case behind the scenes for months. Tension regarding who is calling the shots and how the entire process has unfolded is clear.

There is also tension on the NBA’s side of things, with agents and teams voicing their frustrations about the information made available to them regarding Sharpe’s decision and the way it’s been presented throughout the process. Skepticism regarding his eligibility remains prominent and pushback is coming.

Should he be declared eligible and a top-10 guarantee is made, the expectation is that he ultimately goes. It’s a messy process, though, with countless hurdles to clear before the chaos comes to a close.

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Expected to Return

Lance Ware (F, So.) – In his second season at Kentucky, Ware took a backseat to Oscar Tshiebwe in the frontcourt but flourished as the Cats’ enforcer. He has yet to announce any plans regarding his future.

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

UPDATE 4/22: Ware was among the players Calipari mentioned today when discussing next year’s roster.

Pilgrim’s Insider Notes: Barring an influx of frontcourt talent via the transfer portal, Ware is expected to return to Kentucky for the 2022-23 season.

Sahvir Wheeler (PG, Jr.) – After transferring in from Georgia, Wheeler became Kentucky’s primary point guard, ranking third in the country in assists (6.9). Like Washington, he missed time due to injuries, initially to his neck vs. LSU and later his wrist at Tennessee. He has yet to announce any plans regarding his future.

• 2021-22 season: 10.1 PPG, 6.9 APG, 2.6 RPG, 31.2 MPG

UPDATE 4/22: Calipari spoke at length about Wheeler today, noting that he wasn’t the same after his neck injury but once healthy, will be a key piece of the 2022-23 puzzle.

“I know people — and most of this stuff is a small group — but they were on Sahvir because of that last game. Do you remember Sahvir against North Carolina and against Kansas, how he played? He had a hell of a year until he got injured. And then he gained some weight, he didn’t play as well. But he’s still that guy and I told him, ‘If I can get you right, and get you steady and who you are and keep improving — because he’s improved — I said, ‘You’re the difference in this stuff.'”

Last night, Wheeler shared this highlight reel on Instagram, which could hint at a second season in Lexington. Or, it’s just a highlight reel.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by CB3 🅿️roductions (@cb3productions)

Pilgrim’s Insider Notes: Kentucky expects Sahvir Wheeler to return to school for his senior campaign, hoping to again build the roster with dynamic shooting and scoring threats to maximize his playmaking potential. There is a clear need, though, for ball security and shooting from the position and an added piece is expected through the portal.

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High School Signees

Chris Livingston (SF, Oak Hill Academy) – The five-star small forward committed to Kentucky on Sept. 15, 2021, and signed on Nov. 11. At the McDonald’s All-American Game, Livingston scored 13 points on 5-9 shooting and 2-4 from three to go with six rebounds, five assists, and one block (you can read our scouting report here). At the Jordan Brand Classic, Livingston was one of the top performers, finishing with 21 points (8-16 FG, 2-5 3PT, 3-7 FT), eight rebounds, three steals and five turnovers. He and Wallace will also represent Kentucky at the Iverson Classic on April 30.

• 2021-22 season (high school): 18.2 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.9 SPG
• KSR Film Breakdown

Cason Wallace (CG, Richardson HS) – The five-star combo guard from Dallas, TX committed to Kentucky on Nov. 10, 2021, and signed on Nov. 11. In the McDonald’s All-American Game, he scored seven points on 3-10 shooting and 1-2 from three to go with six assists, five rebounds, and one steal (you can read our scouting report here). He shined at the Jordan Brand Classic, putting up 15 points (6-11 FG, 3-3 FT), four rebounds, two assists and two blocks. He and Livingston will also represent Kentucky at the Iverson Classic on April 30.

• 2021-22 season (high school): 19.9 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 6.1 APG
• KSR Film Breakdown

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High School Recruits

Adou Thiero (G) – On March 26, Calipari publicly extended a scholarship offer to 6’5″ guard Adou Thiero, whose father, Almamy, played for Calipari at Memphis. Thiero also holds offers from Cincinnati, Maryland, Pitt, Duquesne, and UC Santa Barbara and has garnered interest from Indiana, Marquette, Ohio State, and West Virginia, among others. Thiero will visit Kentucky April 27-28. Last week, he visited Pittsburgh and Maryland. He will also visit Xavier, although no date has been confirmed.

• 2021-22 Season: 23.3 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 5.9 APG, 3.9 SPG, 2.3 BPG

Pilgrim’s Insider Notes: Thiero’s announcement of a Kentucky offer opened the floodgates for other high-major offers and interest, most notably scholarships from Xavier, Maryland, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati. The previous expectation was that the unranked guard would ultimately sign somewhere he could be an immediate contributor, but his visit to Lexington is intriguing. There was initial confusion regarding Thiero’s offer status — full-ride, preferred walk-on, or a committable roster spot in general — but a scheduled trip to Kentucky indicates mutual interest one way or another.

Leonard Miller (F) – On March 25, members of Kentucky’s staff visited Miller, a 6’10” power forward from Ontario, Canada, who plays for Fort Erie International Academy. Miller is considered a five-star recruit and the No. 11 overall prospect in the 2022 class by On3 and his stock is on the rise following a six-inch growth spurt. He is down to Kentucky, Arizona, and the NBA’s G League Ignite, and has visited all three, stopping in Lexington April 15-17.

Miller is also testing the draft waters while maintaining his college eligibility, entering on April 23.

Pilgrim’s Insider Notes: Miller is down to the G League, Kentucky and Arizona, taking a trip to all three options in April. He’s also testing the draft waters, an expected development. The pro route has long been seen as the favorite, with college seen as a secondary option. John Calipari and Chin Coleman took a trip to Fort Erie on March 25 to see the five-star prospect in person, with contact ramping up ever since. Miller’s official visit to Kentucky went fine, but talk of avoiding school remains prominent.

NBA teams still expect the 6-foot-11 wing to turn pro, going straight to the draft or signing with the G League. A decision is expected within the next two weeks.

Adrame Diongue (C) – In March, the 7-foot center out of Chandler, Arizona, and a native of Senegal narrowed his list to Kentucky, Kansas, UNLV, Washington State, and Texas Tech. At the GEICO Nationals, he told On3 that he’s working with Kentucky’s staff to set up a visit. He is ranked No. 36 overall and No. 6 at his position in the 2022 On3 Player Rankings.

Pilgrim’s Insider Notes: Brand new to the sport, Diongue is looking for a school that will develop his game over time. The Kentucky connections are also there, as he’s a former teammate of TyTy Washington at AZ Compass Prep. He’s an intriguing multi-year prospect if he’s comfortable waiting his turn.

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Transfer Portal Targets

BACKCOURT

Courtney Ramey, Texas (G, Sr.) – Ramey declared for the draft and entered the transfer portal on March 31 after four seasons at Texas. Ramey was a two-time All-Big 12 selection and considered one of the best on-ball defenders in the league. He is a former four-star prospect and actually committed to play for Louisville under Rick Pitino before flipping to Texas.

Ramey’s father told Jon Rothstein that Kentucky, Connecticut, Gonzaga, Marquette, Murray State, TCU, Villanova, and Wisconsin are among the 17 programs that have reached out to him since he entered the portal.

The 6-foot-3 guard has also been a solid 3-point shooter over the course of his four-year career, knocking down 36.5% of his shots from deep on 4.2 attempts per game. He converted on 41.4% of his 3-pointers on a career-high 4.5 attempts per game in 2020-21.

• 2021-22 season: 9.4 PPG (39.7% FG, 35% 3PT), 3.5 RPG, 1.6 APG, 30.1 MPG
• Highlights

Adam Miller, LSU (PG, Soph.) – Miller entered the transfer portal on March 29. The 6’2″ point guard transferred to LSU from Illinois last year but should receive a waiver due to Will Wade’s firing. Last summer, there was buzz Miller could follow Orlando Antigua and Chin Coleman to Kentucky, but he went with the Tigers instead, and unfortunately, tore his ACL in the preseason. As Kentucky looks to rebuild its backcourt, he could be an option once again.

• 2020-21 season (Illinois): 8.3 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 0.8 APG
• Highlights

Antoine Davis, Detroit Mercy (SG, Sr.) – Davis entered the transfer portal on April 14. It didn’t take long for Kentucky to reach out to Brad Calipari’s former teammate, who was the third-leading scorer in college basketball last season. He has also heard from Kansas, Memphis, Auburn, Maryland, Alabama, Purdue, Ohio State, LSU, Kansas State, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, South Carolina, Cincinnati, Hofstra, Minnesota, and Central Florida.

Davis broke Stephen Curry’s freshman 3-point record with 132 makes from deep and averaged 24.6 points over the course of his four-year career. He earned All-Horizon League honors every season at Detroit Mercy.

• 2021-22 season: 23.9 PPG (42.9% FG, 37.9% 3PT FG), 4.4 APG, 3.6 RPG
• Highlights

UPDATE 4/22: According to Jon Rothstein, Davis is visiting Kansas State today and BYU next week. Kentucky does not appear to be on his shortlist right now.

WING

Terrence Shannon Jr., Texas Tech (G, Jr.) – Shannon entered the transfer portal on March 25, the day after his team’s loss to Duke in the Sweet 16. So far, he has heard from Kentucky, UConn, Illinois, and Michigan. He’s a Chicago native and also played for Mac Irvin Fire, which was once coached by current Kentucky assistant Chin Coleman. Shannon is known as arguably the best perimeter defender in the portal and shot 38.4% from three as a junior. He’s considered one of the top available players on the transfer market.

• 2021-22 season: 10.4 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.0 APG, 25.0 MPG
• Highlights

UPDATED 4/22: Shannon’s AAU coach tweeted that he was committing to Michigan this morning, but that tweet has been deleted. Shannon tweeted an emoji of a baseball cap, which to the young people translates as “lies.”

🧢

— Terrence Shannon Jr (@Sn1per_T) April 22, 2022

Antonio Reeves, Illinois State (SG/SF, Jr.) – Reeves entered the transfer portal on March 21 after a stellar junior season with the Redbirds. He led Illinois State in scoring at 20.1 points per game, the most in the Missouri Valley Conference and top 20 in all of Division I. Reeves has also heard from Duke, Texas Tech, Memphis, Alabama, North Carolina, Ohio State, Illinois, and Missouri, among others. So far, he has visited Nebraska and Kentucky.

Standing 6-6 and knocking down 39% of his 3-point attempts, Reeves scored in double figures in 31 of 33 games this season, including 18 20-point performances. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.

• 2021-22 Season: 20.1 PPG (46.9% FG, 39.0% 3PT FG), 3.5 RPG, 1.1 SPG
• Highlights

UPDATED 4/22: Kentucky is still trending as the frontrunner for Reeves following his visit, even with the uncertainty regarding Shaedon Sharpe. There was talk Reeves may visit Memphis this weekend, but according to Jason Munz, that will not happen. A commitment could come soon.

Pilgrim’s Insider Notes: Reeves is on commitment watch for Kentucky, with an announcement expected sooner rather than later.