KSR's Scout Take: Kentucky MBB Pro Day

You know the event and what it means, why John Calipari hosts Kentucky Basketball Pro Day annually. NBA scouts and front-office personnel flock to Lexington to see what the newest Wildcats have to offer, hoping to get their eyes on the next generation of potential stars.

ESPN brings its A-team of college basketball analysts to break down the on-court talent while interviewing coaches and players. The current NBA staffers take meticulous notes on the future pro hopefuls, event ends and involved parties go their separate ways.

But what happens afterward? How does a team official take the information they absorb at a Pro Day and turn it into intel for the upcoming draft process? That’s the part that goes unnoticed as attention turns to the regular season with live game action.

“I put it all in my notes and follow up throughout the season,” an anonymous NBA scout in attendance for Kentucky’s Pro Day and a follow-up practice on Thursday told KSR. “I check in to see what I thought at the beginning of the season and see where they’ve improved at the end of the season, all of their strengths and weaknesses. I’ll see how much they’ve added to that when I come back to see them three or four times over the course of a season. I want to see them get better from November to April.”

It starts as a larger grouping system that separates top priorities, fringe draft guys and those who may need time to join the pro conversation.

“There are priority guys I know I need to watch because they have a chance to be drafted,” the scout added. “Other guys show potential and they’re not on the first-round list, but need to be tracked because they could be by the end of the year. It’s really three categories right now.”

So what was the initial feedback from Kentucky’s Pro Day this week?

Rob Dillingham

Your eyes did not deceive you: five-star guard Rob Dillingham is bigger and better.

And he may just be the team’s biggest surprise this season.

“Explosive quickness, he’s got a gift not many people have in college basketball. He’s able to blow by good guards. Elite, elite quickness,” the scout said. “His biggest transition is going to go from being a bucket-getter to being a point guard. If he can learn how to control and harness his energy, he will be one of the biggest surprises on that team.”

“He’s noticeably bigger. That is going to determine what kind of year he has as he gets stronger physically. He’s got the quickness, no doubt, but it’ll make him a better finisher and a better defender. It helps you fight through screens, helps you take contact and finish better. If he continues to work on his body, it only raises his ceiling. I think he’ll be the biggest surprise on that team. He’s unguardable in transition.”

Is he a one-and-done?

“Potentially. Again, how hard he works from here on out will determine that. But he’s definitely on my radar.”

DJ Wagner

Wagner has been in the scouting spotlight since middle school, a half-decade sample size of high-profile events with high-level production. NBA teams know what he does best, but they also know his weaknesses and what needs to be improved before he makes the jump to the next level.

Early returns from Pro Day are positive.

“DJ has made the biggest improvement in becoming more of a leader and trying to become more of a point guard instead of just a guard that scores. The biggest thing I noticed about him is he’s really taking leadership of the team, trying to become more of a playmaker and a leader. He has definitely improved from where that was in high school.”

Jordan Burks

A three-star prospect out of Overtime Elite, Burks may have made himself the most money this week with NBA teams in attendance.

“I thought he was another pleasant surprise. He’s still really raw. And you could tell he hasn’t played a lot of high-level basketball. But you can also tell he’s got some really good physical tools,” the scout said. “He plays hard. He’s a very good athlete. He has long arms. Once he learns how to use his talents, he could be another very big surprise. He’s not a one-and-done, but he’s definitely put himself on people’s radars where he wasn’t before.”

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— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) October 13, 2023

Justin Edwards

As for the player seen as a potential No. 1 pick in some mock drafts, the reviews for Edwards were more mixed leaving Pro Day.

“He made some big shots today, so that’s a great sign. I think he has a chance to be a very productive player.”

But maybe not the top-three pick some are projecting him to be? It’s just early. The potential is there, but early rough patches are inevitable.

“Justin showed me that he’s going to be a freshman. There are gonna be extreme moments of greatness, but there will also be freshman moments. There is no mistaking the talent, not at all,” they added. “I think he has the talent to be everything people say he can be. But I also see that he’s gonna have to learn how to play college basketball, everybody’s a little bit stronger. But don’t get it twisted: I’m still a big Justin Edwards guy.”

Reed Sheppard

Kentucky’s in-state standout turned heads and showed NBA scouts he could make shots at an elite clip at Pro Day. And he’s got the athleticism and nose for the ball to earn counting stats on the defensive end of the floor.

But can he be a high-level on-ball defender? That’s what teams will be monitoring over the course of his freshman campaign.

“Reed Sheppard shot the blood out of it today. It’s going to be interesting to see who’s the best shooter on the team between him and Antonio Reeves. He’s almost automatic with that jump shot. He shoots the ball well enough that he’ll be on the radar, but it’s going to depend on how his defensive ability holds up. He’s a great athlete, but if it translates to the defensive end of the floor, we’ll have to see.”

Antonio Reeves

Speaking of Reeves, the fifth-year senior showed growth in his first look in front of scouts since going through the draft process back in the spring. The shooting has never been in question — he’s a professional bucket-getter. But what about everything else in his game?

“I think he improved on the things that he didn’t do as well. He was a little better defensively. He showed a little more athleticism than he showed previously. So it’s a good sign for him.”

Tre Mitchell

As for Kentucky’s late portal addition who may have saved the early season with frontcourt health an issue, Mitchell made shots and showed just how important he’ll be for the Wildcats. The feel and basketball IQ are there.

Scouts are in wait-and-see mode regarding NBA upside, but it’s clear he’s going to be a big-time player in Lexington.

“He’s going to be a valuable role player because he can stretch the floor and shoot the ball. He’s an experienced player, which they need, because they’ve got a lot of youth,” they said. “He’s not going to be afraid of the big moment. A floor-spacing big who is a limited athlete, but he definitely shot the ball well. He’ll be able to help that team a lot.”

Adou Thiero

The sophomore forward’s time in front of team personnel was short-lived after turning his ankle to open Pro Day and missing practice on Thursday. He looks the part physically, but anything beyond that remains to be seen.

“We didn’t get to see much of Adou. I mean, his body looks good. You can tell he’s a great athlete. But as far as skill-wise and what he’s gonna be able to contribute, we didn’t get to see a whole lot of that this week.”

Zvonimir Ivisic, Aaron Bradshaw and Ugonna Onyenso

The same can be said with Kentucky’s trio of 7-footers, two out due to injury and one just now arriving on campus. Ivisic did not participate in practice Thursday, but rode a stationary bike and interacted with his new coaches and teammates. Bradshaw and Onyenso are still 5-6 weeks away from being ready.

“They’re all on my radar,” the scout said. “None of them played at practice, so it’s hard to get a gauge on them. You know, I’ve seen good clips of Big Z. I’ve watched Aaron Bradshaw be a very skilled stretch big, but it’s how much they improve on the things they didn’t do well that is going to determine what their ceiling is.”

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Pro Day was a major success for the Wildcats available to participate. As for those on the injury report and the new arrival, they’ll have to wait until they get on the floor for feedback.