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Kentucky basketball: 2019-20 season review and 2020-2021 early preview

By Cody Williams

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - JANUARY 25: Guard Ashton Hagans #0 and head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half of the college basketball game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on January 25, 2020 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - JANUARY 25: Guard Ashton Hagans #0 and head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half of the college basketball game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on January 25, 2020 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Early 2020-21 preview

As is customary with Kentucky basketball, there should be quite a bit of roster turnover from the 2019-20 season to the 2020-21 campaign. Tyrese Maxey figures to be one-and-done in Lexington as a projected NBA lottery pick. Nick Richards also seems likely to leave and Ashton Hagans could join his two teammates with the Wildcats losing three of their four leading scorers.

The big question mark is Immanuel Quickley, who led Kentucky in scoring and was, bar none, their best player this past season. Even still, he’s not gotten a ton of NBA Draft buzz at this point, which could lead to him returning for his junior season. Whether or not that happens is among the biggest factors in determining the fate of Calipari’s team in 2020-21.

Regardless of Quickley’s looming decision though, Kentucky basketball is going to be in good hands. They have the top-ranked recruiting class for 2020 according to 247Sports Composite Rankings as they bring in three five-star and three four-star recruits that all are ranked inside the top 50.

Furthermore, the backcourt losses, whether they include Quickley or not, can be rectified by the arrival of the top-two shooting guards in the class, Terrence Clark and BJ Boston, along with point guard Devin Askew, the No. 25 overall recruit.

Assuming Quickley stays to prove himself as a point guard for NBA scouts as a junior, the Wildcats would likely trot out a starting five of Quickley, Clark, Boston, E.J. Montgomery and either Keion Brooks or incoming freshmen Isaiah Jackson and Lance Ware.

Kentucky should find themselves in a familiar position. The Wildcats check in at No. 4 on FanSided’s way-too-early Top 25. Young, ultra-talented and capable of winning a national championship once again if they’re able to coalesce at the right time of the 2020-21 season.

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