Three Kentucky Wildcats invited to 2023 NBA Draft Combine

With the 2023 NBA Draft Combine set to begin next week, the official list of expected participants was released on Tuesday. Among the dozens upon dozens of prospects that will go through the process, three of them played for Kentucky this past season.

According to a release sent out by the NBA, a trio of Wildcats — Cason Wallace, Oscar Tshiebwe, and Chris Livingston — were listed as invitees. All three will go through the NBA Draft Combine, which begins on May 15 and runs through May 21 at the Wintrust Arena and Marriott Marquis in Chicago.

Wallace is expected to go in the first round in the 2023 NBA Draft, likely as a lottery pick, and will not return to Kentucky, while Tshiebwe and Livingston have both declared for the draft but have left open the opportunity to return for another college season. The deadline to withdraw from draft consideration is May 31.

Here is the full combine list, per the NBA. Note that Victor Wembanyama is not participating, with his season still in progress in France. pic.twitter.com/ddPGSkeQFg

— Jeremy Woo (@JeremyWoo) May 9, 2023

A total of 78 players were invited to the event. That being said, there will be just 58 picks in this year’s draft, which takes place on Thursday, June 22.

Notably, Kentucky forward Jacob Toppin, who signed with an agent and will not return to college, was not listed among the Combine invitees. Neither was Kentucky guard Antonio Reeves, who can still return to Lexington for another year. However, both were invited to the NBA G League Elite Camp which will be held from May 13-14 in Chicago.

In the NBA’s press release, it revealed that “a select number of standout players” from the G League Elite Camp will be invited to the actual Combine, meaning Toppin and Reeves could both play their way into the event.

Portions of the NBA Draft Combine, which includes five-on-five games as well as shooting and strength and agility drills, will be available for viewing consumption. Coverage begins on Monday, May 15 from 3-5 p.m. EST on the NBA App, continues on Wednesday, May 17 from 2-6 p.m. EST on ESPN2, and wraps up on Thursday, May 18 from 4-8 p.m. EST on ESPN2.