Kentucky basketball: 3 starting lineup options for 2020-2021

Kentucky basketball: 3 starting lineup options for 2020-2021 season

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 21: Ashton Hagans #0, Immanuel Quickley #5, EJ Montgomery #23, Tyrese Maxey #3 and Nate Sestina #1 of the Kentucky Wildcats walk back on the court after a timeout in their game against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the CBS Sports Classic at T-Mobile Arena on December 21, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Buckeyes defeated the Wildcats 71-65. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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LEXINGTON, KY – FEBRUARY 29: Immanuel Quickley #5 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots a free throw during the game against the Auburn Tigers at Rupp Arena on February 29, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Best-case scenario

The best-case scenario for the Kentucky Wildcats? It has a lot to do with keeping their current talent. Three Wildcats could be headed to the first round of the NBA Draft. The best of the three is Tyrese Maxey who is going to be a lottery pick. There’s probably no scenario where they can keep him in Lexington. This is a weak draft class and he could go as high as the top-five in certain scenarios.

The other two players who most experts say are as good as gone are Nick Richards and Ashton Hagans. They are both listed as potential second-round picks, which makes it confusing why they’d be so eager to leave, but that’s still an NBA salary. However, Richards especially feels like he has the most to gain from stick around. He needs help with his feel as a passer and he was on the upswing but the fact there was no tournament really hurt his value.

Hagans is incredibly inconsistent but if he plans on working on that, he could move into a much better spot in 2021. If the Wildcats can convince him of that, they’d gain a lot by his staying around. Immanuel Quickly is more than likely staying around so keeping Hagans and Richards would give them some of the best depth in the NCAA.

As far as recruiting, the prize is Greg Brown. The Texas product would give them once of the best weapons in the frontcourt. However, they are currently fighting his hometown Texas Longhorns to get him to sign on. Can they get him to choose a shot at a national championship over staying home?

On top of all of this, they are tied to sharp-shooting guard Amauri Hardy. He already made it clear he wants to transfer from UNLV. On top of all that, he’s the brother of Jaden Hardy, the top recruit of the 2021 class. Keeping these players from joining the NBA Draft, and then bringing in these recruits would make Kentucky an outright favorite next season, when that was to begin.

This team would have incredible depth and maybe too much depth.