Fansided

College basketball rankings: 2018-2019 FanSided preseason Top 25

By Cody Williams

DURHAM, NC - OCTOBER 19: Zion Williamson #1 and RJ Barrett #5 of the Duke Blue Devils look on during Countdown to Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium on October 19, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - OCTOBER 19: Zion Williamson #1 and RJ Barrett #5 of the Duke Blue Devils look on during Countdown to Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium on October 19, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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LEXINGTON, KY – JANUARY 30: Quade Green #0 of the Kentucky Wildcats drives to the basket against Riley LaChance #13 of the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Rupp Arena on January 30, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY – JANUARY 30: Quade Green #0 of the Kentucky Wildcats drives to the basket against Riley LaChance #13 of the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Rupp Arena on January 30, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
  • Last Season: 26-11, Lost in Sweet 16
  • Notable Losses: Kevin Knox, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Hamidou Diallo, Wenyen Gabriel, Jarred Vanderbilt
  • Notable Additions: Keldon Johnson, Reid Travis (transfer), EJ Montgomery, Immanuel Quickley, Tyler Herro, Ashton Hagans

Lo and behold, John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats actually have returning starters for the 2018-19 college basketball season, something that we’re not quite accustomed to seeing out of Lexington in recent years. However, the Wildcats will be getting PJ Washington, who averaged 10.8 points and 5.7 boards last season, and Nick Richards back for their sophomore seasons. They will also be joined by another talented sophomore, guard Quade Green, who will assume a larger role this season.

Having said that, we know that the bread and butter of the Kentucky program under the watch of Calipari has been bringing in highly touted recruits and developing those guys into NBA-ready products. And though he may not boast the class that Coach K does this year (no one really could), he still has an incoming group that is quite impressive and will make an impact.

With four players in Keldon Johnson, EJ Montgomery, Immanuel Quickley and Tyler Herro that are ranked inside the top 30 for the 2018 class, the talent incoming is again going to play a big role for this Wildcats team, particularly with Johnson and Herro, who should step into sizeable roles right away. Also joining this team as just as big of an addition, though, will be big man Reid Travis, a graduate transfer from Stanford who put up 17.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game for the Cardinal.

As is usual with Kentucky, the biggest key will be getting a new team to gel, but the talent is once again not in question for the Wildcats as Cal looks to work his magic once again.