NBA Draft Rumors: Seven Kentucky players could be declaring

Despite dropping the title game to the UConn Huskies, the Kentucky Wildcats had an absolutely amazing run through the 2014 NCAA Tournament. What made the run even more incredible was the fact that it was orchestrated by mainly all freshman.

In this era, though, that means that there’s a chance most of them will not be back for another run next season, instead taking their momentum they’ve earned with the tourney run and entering the NBA Draft.

Well, Chad Ford is reporting that this may be exactly what happens as he expects seven players from this Midwest Region championship winning roster, including sophomore Willie Cauley-Stein, could be headed to the professional ranks.

"Julius Randle and James Young are, for sure, gone. I would say Willie Cauley-Stein too, but his comments the other day indicated he might not be a sure thing to leave. The Harrison twins have wanted to leave all year according to multiple sources around the twins, but their draft stock made them iffy first rounders. While they improved their stock, I’m not sure it’s to the point that they are clear first rounders. Andrew probably has the most claim, but he’s not a lock. Another year at Kentucky would help. Dakari Johnson would be a bubble first rounder as well. Ditto for Poythress. I think there’s a chance ALL of them are gone. There are certainly rumblings that direction. But the only three that really make sense right now are Randle, Young and Cauley-Stein."

This would be in no way shocking, and actually should be expected, and you could tell recently that even UK head coach John Calipari realizes that.