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Kentucky Basketball’s roster is officially finalized at 15 players. Let’s break down the entire team.
Starters:
PG: Zoom Diallo, 6’4”, 195 lbs. (JR)
Last Year: 15.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 4.5 APG (49/32/83)
Zoom Diallo will be the best point guard Coach Pope has had up to this point. He has versatility as a lead guard who can beat defenders one-on-one off the dribble, create his own shot by getting downhill and into the mid-range area, as well as playmake and read/react to defenses to put his teammates in better scoring positions.
You can see on tape Zoom’s ability to really defend, not only one-on-one, but also by getting engaged in gaps and passing lanes within the scheme. I think Zoom will take a massive step as a leader and voice on this team that Kentucky can count on nightly to do his job.
SG: Alex Wilkins, 6’6”, 175 lbs. (SO)
Last Year: 17.8 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 4.7 APG (46/33/82)
Alex Wilkins is an extremely talented scoring guard from all three levels. He does most of his work on the ball, breaking down defenders and getting to his scoring spots in the mid-range area or at the rim, where despite his size, he finishes efficiently and draws fouls.
His positional height at 6’6” and ability to play both guard spots gave him plenty of advantages at Furman, but moving up to the SEC and into a different role with much less usage is going to be something to watch.
I think Alex can adapt to playing more off the ball and becoming a reliable shooter who you have to chase on defense, and that’ll open up his potential even more. Alex will have plenty of special moments this year, but I also believe this season could have a learning curve for him, and his second year at Kentucky is where we’ll see the consistent star power.
SF: Milan Momcilovic, 6’9”, 225 lbs. (SR)
Last Year: 16.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.0 APG (51/49/88)
Milan Momcilovic is the best shooter in college basketball and was arguably the No. 1 transfer this year. He has shown scoring and shooting improvement every single year.
He has a really underrated ability to get by defenders and get to the rim when he’s being over guarded on the perimeter, but at the same time, he has unlimited range and can effortlessly get his shot off if a defender gives him space.
At 6’9”, he utilizes his mid-range game when needed against smaller wings and has a ridiculous one-leg fadeaway he uses. You can post him up around either side of the free-throw line and let him work through his footwork.
Shooting and offensive production aren’t going to be concerns at all for Kentucky. He does have to take another step in two areas: perimeter defense and rebounding. Those are two areas where Kentucky has to get some improvement from Milan for them to be at their very best.
I think Milan is in for a huge season playing in Kentucky’s offense. The schemes and space he’ll get will be very fun to watch.
PF: Mark Mitchell Jr., 6’9”, 230 lbs. (SR)
Last Year: 18.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.6 APG (55/39/67)
Mark Mitchell will be the most versatile player Mark Pope has had up to this point. He is extremely dominant around the rim and moves defenders with ease. His footwork is very advanced, and he has a high IQ when challenging shot blockers and utilizing a strong pump fake to create the space he needs.
Mark is one of, if not the best, interior scorers in college basketball.
He has really improved his perimeter skills as well, improving his ball handling and shooting ability. He gets downhill and to the rim effortlessly with the ball in his hands and can knock down perimeter shots off the catch.
Mark is going to have a dominant year for Kentucky, and I’m very curious to see exactly how good he can be with two playmaking point guards on the court at all times and elite shooters and spacing around him that he didn’t have at Missouri. It can open up an entirely new game for him to dominate with so much space.
C: Malachi Moreno, 7’0”, 245 lbs. (SO)
Last Year: 7.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.8 APG (58/0/70)
Malachi Moreno has the potential to be the most dominant big in the SEC, maybe even the country. What this team needs most from him is elite rebounding, consistent rim protection, and high-level hands.
Playing with two point guards who get downhill and playmake at a high level, Malachi needs to make sure his hands are good enough to make tough catches and finishes.
Boxing out and holding his man was an issue last year, as was his inconsistent rim protection. I have a feeling Moreno has put in the work to be EXACTLY what Kentucky needs from him to be elite.
If he can also show consistent footwork and the ability to score when it’s dumped into the post and he’s allowed to work, Kentucky goes to another level.
Bench:
PG: Zyon Hawthorne, 6’2”, 170 lbs. (FR)
He’s not going to have a role on this year’s team, but he’ll be a very capable practice body who is going to help these guards earn their reps all year.
PG: Mason Williams, 6’3”, 210 lbs. (FR)
I will not be surprised to see Mason be the backup PG all season and thrive in that role. Very high-IQ player. Pro body already as a freshman. Smooth jumper. Attacked downhill off picks at a high level in high school.
He has a bright future learning behind two quality guards.
CG: Jerone Morton, 6’4”, 190 lbs. (SR)
Jerone brings a legitimate veteran voice to the locker room. He could earn a significant role off the bench as an elite defender and three-point shotmaker.
Whether he has a significant role or not, I do believe he’ll be a great veteran guard for the younger guys to hear from daily.
G/F: Kam Williams, 6’8”, 215 lbs. (JR)
Kam missed all summer recovering from a second ankle surgery. When he gets back healthy and back to full speed, I still think Kam will bring an immediate 3-and-D role and can play extended minutes when needed.
Between the end of the season and his last surgery, he had been working very hard on his ball handling and shot creation off the dribble. If he can consistently add that to his game, watch out.
G/F: Braydon Hawthorne, 6’8”, 195 lbs. (RFR)
Braydon is going to have an opportunity to earn a significant role at the 2 or 3, depending on what’s needed. He has continued to bulk up, and although he reportedly didn’t have the summer we were all hoping to see, there is still plenty of practice to come before the season starts.
My stock in Braydon as an elite three-level shotmaker who can bring versatility on defense remains very high.
Getting stronger and improving his ball handling, shot creation, defense, and rebounding will be major keys to what kind of role he earns.
SF: Trent Noah, 6’5”, 220 lbs. (JR)
I’m not sure exactly what role Trent Noah will have, but he continues to put on muscle and develop his body, and he continues to be a standout over the summer as a knockdown shooter.
We’ll see what kind of role he carves out. It’ll have to be more than just three-point shooting to earn a significant role on this team. He still needs to improve defensively, guarding 3s and even 2s if he really wants to carve out a bigger role for Kentucky.
PF: Justin McBride, 6’8”, 230 lbs. (SR)
Before Mark Mitchell committed, I thought Justin McBride had a really good shot to win the starting power forward spot.
After trimming some weight, he’s expected to bring some wing versatility as well. He can stretch the floor and knock down 3s consistently while also being a legitimate ball handler and playmaker who can even initiate some Zoom offense.
His physicality will be major. If he can defend and rebound well, I think Justin will have a big role off the bench this season for Kentucky.
PF: Ousmane N’Diaye, 7’0”, 220 lbs. (JR)
Ousmane is admittedly a bit of a tough scout for me when trying to predict his role. You can see he has the size, skills, and versatility to be a contributor at power forward or center.
At a legit 7’0”, he shoots the ball extremely well. His range is limitless, and he will pull up from 3 in nearly any scenario if he has the space.
His ball handling is above average for sure, but he’s not going to blow you away with the ball in his hands, and he has an insane end-to-end motor.
I question exactly how impactful he can be because of a few things. Mainly, he wasn’t a major impact player during his overseas career. His shot selection at times is very questionable, and it keeps him from being as efficient as he could be. His lack of an interior game also limits how much versatility he can give offensively, and at times he wanders too much on the perimeter.
He is expected to be a two-year player for Kentucky, though. I do believe in his ability to become a very big contributor for Kentucky in his second year.
C: Franck Kepnang, 7’0”, 270 lbs. (SR)
Franck Kepnang is an absolute dawg. He’s the perfect backup to Malachi Moreno because he helps cover some of the deficiencies Moreno had last season as a freshman.
As long as he can stay healthy and give Kentucky 8–12 minutes per game as an elite rebounder and shot blocker, then he’s done his job.
He also has unique chemistry with Zoom Diallo after being teammates for two years at Washington. I expect that connection to be consistent all season.
C: Reece Potter, 7’1”, 230 lbs. (RJR)
Reece may actually end up playing a much bigger role than expected if Franck’s health somehow doesn’t hold up.
I believe in his ability as a backup 5 to come in and run the offense and maybe even bring a little more offensive and perimeter versatility than what Moreno and Kepnang are going to bring.
But even if he’s just a veteran voice again and a body that challenges the bigs in practice, that’s about as good as you’ll find for a 15th man.
