KSR Today: SEC Softball Tournament, Keshad Johnson updates, and a BBNBA takeover
Good morning, folks! We’re still in the heart of the offseason, but it feels like the news just keeps on coming. Most notably, San Diego State transfer Keshad Johnson began his visit to Kentucky men’s basketball on Wednesday, which continues through Friday. As the NBA Draft Combine inches closer and closer, it feels like we’re on the verge of learning exactly what the stay/go decisions from the likes of Oscar Tshiebwe, Antonio Reeves, and Chris Livingston will be.
Additionally, the deadline to enter the transfer portal is tonight at midnight. There will surely be some surprise entries from across the country, too. The deadline to withdraw from the NBA Draft pool is also coming up at the end of the month. We’re likely still a few weeks away from knowing what next season’s UK roster will look like, but we’re learning more and more with each passing day. Stay tuned.
Now let’s dive into the rest of today’s news and notes.
Softball in the SEC Tournament
Kentucky softball (30-19-1; 10-14 SEC) was supposed to begin its SEC Tournament run on Wednesday night, but poor weather conditions in Fayetteville, Arkansas has pushed that start to this morning. The No. 9 Wildcats will take on the No. 8 Florida Gators (35-19; 11-13 SEC) in the first game of the day with first pitch scheduled for 11:00 a.m. EST on the SEC Network.
Rachel Lawson’s group is actually coming off a series win over the Gators from this past weekend, the first time that UK has taken two of three games off UF since 2011. They’ll look to pull off one more win this morning with the winner set to take on top-seeded Tennessee on Friday morning. Earlier in the season, the Volunteers swept the Wildcats in Lexington.
We’ll have a full recap of today’s action after it’s over. Hopefully, we’ll be looking ahead to another game for the Lady Bat ‘Cats.
Sources Say is a must-listen this week
I mean, they’re a must-listen every time they drop a new episode, but this week is especially important as Kentucky MBB continues to figure out next season’s roster.
Among the topics for episode 258? Oscar Tshiebwe and Chris Livingston receiving NBA Draft Combine invites and Antonio Reeves being invited to the G League Elite Camp. Does that help or hurt the Wildcats? What about Keshad Johnson’s visit to Lexington that began yesterday? Could he commit soon?
Let Jack Pilgrim and Shawn Smith explain it all.
Speaking of Keshad Johnson, make sure to check out Brandon Ramsey’s Film Room breakdown of the San Diego State transfer. Drew Franklin also has an in-depth breakdown of what you need to know about Johnson you can find here.
Another WBB player hits the portal
This one stings, too.
6-foot-4 redshirt freshman Tionna Herron will enter the transfer portal. The Texas native was considered a four-star prospect out of DeSoto (TX) High School and the No. 69 overall recruit in the class of 2022 by ESPN. She will have four years of college eligibility remaining.
Herron sat out her freshman season in 2022-23 after undergoing open heart surgery last summer. She was on pace to make her Kentucky debut in 2023-24 but will instead search for a new home through the portal. The Texas native initially chose the ‘Cats over Louisville, Ole Miss, Arizona, Florida State, and Florida.
Her departure will leave a significant hole in the frontcourt for next season. Head coach Kyra Elzy has some other young pieces to help fill that void, but there was a buzz about Herron’s potential from the time she arrived on campus last summer. Kentucky has now lost three players to the portal this offseason and is yet to bring one in.
‘Cats taking over the NBA
What else is new?
On Wednesday night, the three 2022-23 All-NBA Teams were announced by the league office. A trio of former Wildcats made up the 15-player roster.
Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the highest recognized of the bunch, making the All-NBA First Team alongside a superstar group that also included Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Elsewhere, Sacramento Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox and New York Knicks power forward Julius Randle were tabbed to the All-NBA Third Team.
Kentucky led the NBA in terms of the number of former players on opening-day rosters. Since 2015, head coach John Calipari has seen eight of his one-time ‘Cats go on to earn 14 All-NBA honors — the most of any college during that span.
Not too shabby, eh? Below is tonight’s NBA Playoffs schedule where three more talented Wildcats will be in action.
Eastern Conference Finals
7:30 (ESPN): No. 2 Celtics @ No. 3 76ers (Maxey) | PHI leads 3-2
Top 10
- 1
Memphis shakes up CFP
Tigers upsets changes CFP picture
- 2
Charles Woodson
Michigan legend opines on Sherrone Moore
- 3
A Twisted Mess
Big 12 Championship scenarios
- 4Trending
Saban chirped
Big 12 comes after GOAT
- 5Hot
Underranked SEC
Lane Kiffin protests CFP rankings
Western Conference Finals
10:00 (ESPN): No. 1 Nuggets (Murray) @ No. 4 Suns (Booker) | DEN leads 3-2
Will Levis to wear No. 8 jersey
From No. 7 in Lexington to No. 8 in Nashville.
This season, Will Levis will rock No. 8 for the Tennessee Titans. His old Kentucky number is currently worn by a player he’s competing against, Malik Willis, a third-round selection in last year’s NFL Draft. The Titans’ social media sent out a teaser pic of what Levis sporting the No. 8 will look like and it’s hard not to be excited about watching him on Sundays this fall.
Also, the Titans tweeted out the 8-ball emoji with the picture of Levis. Please don’t let that be some sort of nickname for him. Levis will get his first chance to flex the No. 8 during Tennessee’s rookie minicamp this weekend.
To have Kentucky Wildcats news sent straight to your inbox, sign up for the KSR Newsletter.
Kansas contacts transfer Zuby Ejiofor
Over 40 schools have reached out to Kansas transfer big Zuby Ejiofor, who entered the portal back on May 5. Among them? The University of Kentucky, expressing interest in the 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward while the program waits on Oscar Tshiebwe to make a final decision.
Testing the NBA Draft waters, Tshiebwe has until May 31 to withdraw from the draft and return to school. Should he keep his name in, there could be a potential fit with Ejiofor.
“The coaching staff just called to touch base and to let us know that they will come after Zuby if Oscar doesn’t come back,” a source close to the Kansas transfer told KSR’s Jack Pilgrim.
Ejiofor, who averaged 1.2 points and 1.7 rebounds in 5.2 minutes as a freshman at Kansas, currently has four visits scheduled, making trips to see Villanova from May 11-13, St. John’s from May 13-15, TCU on May 27 and San Diego State from May 28-30.
WVU keeping Bob Huggins
No, Bob Huggins will not be fired after using an anti-gay slur in a radio interview this week. Instead, West Virginia has decided to suspend him and reduce his salary by $1 million while also requiring sensitivity training. ESPN’s Pete Thamel broke the news of WVU’s decision Wednesday morning.
West Virginia previously released a statement on Huggins’ behalf following the incident, stating the head coach’s words were ”completely insensitive and abhorrent” while adding he will accept any consequence coming his way.
“I am ashamed and embarrassed and heartbroken for those I have hurt,” Huggins said. ”I must do better, and I will.”
Discuss This Article
Comments have moved.
Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board.
KSBoard