Power ranking Kentucky's available point guard options

The off-season is always a time of change in Lexington, and so far, six weeks after Kentucky’s season ended, the 2021 off-season is no different. In is Kellan Grady (along with previous commits and signees Oscar Tshiebwe, Nolan Hickman, Bryce Hopkins and Daimion Collins) and out are Devin Askew and Cam’Ron Fletcher, with the possibility another player or two could leave as well.

Still, with only about six more weeks left until the 2021-2022 Wildcats report to campus for summer workouts, there is one major shoe that has yet to drop: We’re still trying to figure out who Kentucky’s point guard will be for the 2021-2022 season.

Over the last few weeks UK fans have (understandably) consistently refreshed this website and others that follow transfer portal news, trying to get any piece of information possible about who could fill the single most important position on the floor, with news to show for it. There are plenty of names out there, the question is, who will take that coveted spot and when will happen?

While we wait, I thought it’d worthwhile to do a quick power ranking of the guys who are available and how they might fit. Jack Pilgrim has done an awesome job of giving you names and sharing his opinion on who UK should pursue. I’m just piggybacking with my own list and order of preference, given Kentucky’s roster for next season.

One quick note before we start: I will not include Davion Mintz nor Iowa transfer CJ Frederick on this list. Frederick is definitely not a point guard, and Mintz proved time and again that he is best playing off the ball this year. And that’s under the assumption he comes back at all.

So who should UK pursue and in what order? Here is one guy’s opinion.

1. Marcus Carr, Minnesota

Carr has been No. 1 on my ever-evolving transfer big board all summer long, and I truly believe that he should remain the top player on Kentucky’s list overall. Based on all the reports out there, he definitely appears to be just that.

The reasons are obvious.

He is a 22-year-old, fifth year senior who has not only been around college basketball, but has produced at the highest level. He averaged 19 points per game this season to go along with five assists per game, and the idea of playing on a stage like Kentucky doesn’t strike me as all that intimidating for a guy who has played road games at Michigan State, Michigan, Indiana and all the other tough opposing venues you find in the Big Ten.

Now admittedly, he isn’t a perfect fit. He was a high-volume shooter at Minnesota, and there are questions about how he would fit playing alongside the talent he’d be with in Lexington. Beyond that he wasn’t a great three-point shooter this season at 32 percent overall. At the same time, it’s worth noting that he shot closer to 37 percent as a junior in 2020. And more importantly, I’m not personally as worried about his shooting, mainly because his primary role will be to beat guys off the dribble and get to the basket. It’s the one thing that Kentucky didn’t have last year and he definitely provides it. Which should make life that much easier for the likes of Kellan Grady, Dontaie Allen and (hopefully) either Mintz or Frederick on the perimeter.

Of course the big question with Carr is whether he actually wants to play college basketball next year, as a guy who has been a college campus for five years already and is currently testing the NBA Draft process.

Considering that process might go on into June or July, Kentucky has a tough question to ask itself: Carr’s talent is indisputable. But can they afford to wait on him?

2. Adam Miller, Illinois

Until we get more information on Carr’s pro stock and plans I’m not really sure I consider him a real option for UK. So of the realistic options, Miller is easily the top choice on my board.

As everyone knows by now, Miller is a former Top 40 recruit, who played big minutes on a national title contending team at Illinois this season. To me, that matters. This guy has already played, competed and contributed at the highest levels of college basketball and held his own. Still, with Illinois set to return fellow sophomore-to-be Andre Curbelo on the ball, Miller decided to move on, believing that he is a point guard and lead playmaker and looking for the chance to prove it.

The combination of that last fact, and his high school pedigree, makes it a no-brainer that he would be near the top of this list. Yes, it worries me a little bit that he wasn’t a true “point guard” at Illinois, but again, the combination of his pedigree and a normal summer with John Calipari and his staff makes me believe this kid will be ready to go when the season tips off. This isn’t the equivalent of giving the ball to an overmatched freshman, but again, a guy with major college experience.

Right now it appears as though Miller is set to make a college choice soon. For the sake of everyone reading, let’s hope he picks UK.

3. De’Vion Harmon, Oklahoma

When Harmon initially entered the transfer portal it seemed as though UK was in hot pursuit, but in recent days it seems interest has cooled, with Oregon, Texas and Arkansas jumping out as leaders for Harmon according to 247 Sports. Whether that means UK’s interest has dwindled or vice versa remains to be seen.

#Arkansas, #Oregon, and #Texas have been the programs recruiting #BoomerSooner transfer guard De'Vion Harmon the hardest. Porter Moser and the new Oklahoma staff has also been trying to recruit Harmon to stay in Norman, per source.

— Brandon Jenkins (@BJenkins247) April 19, 2021

Still, Harmon would be a solid addition to the particular UK roster that would surround him. I’ll be the first to admit that he probably doesn’t have the long-term upside of Miller and explosive playmaking ability of Carr.

But what he is – and could be – is a really, really good college player, and as we see time and time again, it’s really good college players that are key pieces on title contenders every year. It’s also worth mentioning that – with due respect to what Lon Kruger built at Oklahoma – the UK roster who would play alongside Harmon next year, would be the most talented he’s played with in college.

Put Harmon next to Grady, Tshiebwe, Allen, and maybe Frederick or Mintz and that’s a really, really talented team heading into 2021-2022.

4. Mac McClung, Texas Tech

If you read my weekly Transfer Big Board you’ll know that McClung was No. 2 on that list. Which probably leads you to one question: Why is he No. 4 here?

It’s simple really: While McClung is an insanely talented player. I’m just not sure how I like the fit at UK.

Look, at this point, we all know who McClung is: He’s one of the best playmakers and bucket getters in college basketball. You don’t average 16 a game in the Big 12 and make second-team All-League by accident.

At the same time, I remember talking to Chris Beard last summer shortly after McClung arrived and one thing he mentioned was “We’re working with Mac on shot selection,” which struck me as a nice way of saying “he gets a liiiiiiiiittle too shot happy at times.” And if you watched Texas Tech this season, it was confirmed. While McClung did a good job of figuring out how to fit in on that roster, there were also times where he just took a bad shot that completely took the team out of its offensive rhythm. And I guess, on another talented team at Kentucky, I would worry about the fit alongside the likes of Grady, Allen and others next year.

Put simply, if you bring in McClung you’ve simply got to be willing to take the good with the bad with him. As long as you do, you have yourself one of the most talented players in college basketball in 2021-2022.

5. TyTy Washington, high school

As one of the few remaining elite high school players left on the market, Washington has become the apple of the eye of many different college basketball programs. And with good reason: He is a talented playmaker, with the ability to both attack the rim and hit an open three-pointer.

I guess my concern at this point with Washington is just this: We’ve seen the fringe five-star freshman point guard come to Kentucky and it’s pretty hit or miss at this point. In a best case scenario it turns out like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but there have been at least a few others (I won’t name names but you can figure it out) who simply couldn’t perform at the level expected of a “Kentucky point guard.”

On the flip side it is worth noting that Washington would be surrounded by talented veteran pieces who could help with his transition to college basketball, guys like Grady, Tshiebwe and maybe Mintz who know the ropes of the sport.

Still, next year is a big season for UK. And I’d rather put my trust in a college veteran.

6. Rocket Watts, Michigan State

While there were reports of interest between Watts and Kentucky, it seems as though it was cursory and died off rather quickly. To be blunt, it’s better for both sides.

As I’ve said in my transfer rankings, Watts’ best moments in college basketball came playing alongside Cassius Winston, off the ball two years ago. This year he was thrust into the point guard spot and it didn’t really work for either he or Michigan State.

Watts can be a really good college basketball player. I’m just not sure it’s at point guard.

Names that haven’t been linked to Kentucky but should be considered

James Akinjo, Arizona

As soon as Akinjo hit the portal last week, I put all my cards on the table. I truly believe, maybe even more so than Carr or Miller that Akinjo is the guy UK should go after.

James Akinjo was an All Pac 12 point guard at Arizona this year. He is now in the portal, and it doesn't seem as though he plans to return to Arizona.

Kentucky fans have asked and here is my answer: Of all the realistic point guard options – this is the guy I would go get 👊👊 https://t.co/oC3FJC28ls

— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) April 17, 2021

Put simply, Akinjo is just a really good college point guard. He has now produced at the highest level at two schools, winning Big East Freshman of the Year at Georgetown, before electing to transfer mid-way through the 2019-2020 season. In his first year at Arizona last season, Akinjo was an All-Pac 12 first team performer averaging 15.6 points and five assists on a team that would’ve made the NCAA Tournament if they were eligible. He is now in the portal following the firing of Sean  Miller at Arizona.

At this point it’s too early to know if UK has interest, if Akinjo is being re-recruited by Arizona, or – because he’s already transferred once – if he’d even be eligible next season.

But assuming UK believes they can get him eligible (it’d be the same issue with McClung) he’d be the guy I’d go get.

Sahvir Wheeler, Georgia

Shout out to Tom Crean, who gets paid $3.2 million a year to lose a bunch of games during the season, then lose all his best players via the transfer portal after it. After losing third leading scorer Toumani Camara a few weeks ago, Wheeler – the Bulldogs’ best player – put his name in the portal Tuesday morning.

Now it’s worth noting that Wheeler is also testing his pro options, but realistically I don’t think the NBA is in his immediate future, and assuming he does return to college, UK could do a lot worse. Wheeler does turn the ball over a bit too much (nearly four times per game), something he clearly needs to get better at. But he also averaged 7.4 assists per game last season, which was tops in the SEC.

Considering that there were games where Kentucky didn’t even have seven assists as a team last year, Kentucky should absolutely reach out and gauge interest.