SDSU transfer Baylor Scheierman commits to Creighton

South Dakota State transfer Baylor Scheierman, a previous Kentucky basketball target, has committed to Creighton.

After cutting his list down to Arkansas, Clemson, Creighton, Duke and Nebraska, the 6-foot-6 forward officially chose the Bluejays on Tuesday.

Scheierman’s previous top 10 included Kentucky, Arkansas, Clemson, Creighton, Duke, Kansas, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Texas, and Wake Forest.

The Wildcats heavily pursued the sharpshooting wing before cutting ties due to NIL demands, sources tells KSR. With Scheierman looking for money and role guarantees, it was simply not a path Kentucky was willing to go down.

Kentucky cut ties with the South Dakota State transfer when clear NIL demands were made. Just not a road UK will go down.

Baylor Scheierman will decide between Arkansas, Clemson, Creighton, Duke and Nebraska. Kentucky looking elsewhere. https://t.co/fGnMAMFRt0

— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) May 2, 2022

Scheierman is represented by NEXT Sports Agency, which recently negotiated Nijel Pack‘s two-year, $800,000 NIL deal with Florida businessman John Ruiz when Pack transferred from Kansas State to Miami. NEXT Sports Agency also represents Miami guard Isaiah Wong, who threatened to enter the transfer portal if his NIL compensation wasn’t increased. Wong ultimately backtracked and is leaving the option to return to Miami open if he withdraws from the NBA Draft.

In a guest radio appearance with Mike Pratt and Dan Issel on Monday, Calipari made it clear that players looking for financial guarantees will not be recruited by Kentucky moving forward.

“The problem is the name, image and likeness should not be a part of it and it’s become a part of it,” Calipari said. “And if anybody is talking to me about name, image and likeness as part of the transfer, I’m not really interested.”

Scheierman averaged 16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per outing on shooting splits of 50.8/46.9/80.2 this past season. Now, he’s taking his talents to Creighton.

As for Kentucky, the Wildcats have signed Illinois State transfer Antonio Reeves out of the portal, a player Calipari says is coming to Lexington for the right reasons.

“The player, Antonio Reeves,” Calipari said, “we zeroed in on somebody that we said, ‘He fits what we need and we can help add to what he needs.’ And that’s what it came down to for us. And we’ve looked at other guys, talked to some other guys, most of it has gone nowhere. But no disrespect to any other player and how they’re going about it, what they’re trying to do.”

Kentucky will look to add an additional piece or two out of the portal, prioritizing fit with the program.