Kentucky basketball: Updated starting lineup predictions for the Wildcats

Projected Kentucky basketball starting lineup: Keion Brooks, PF

It seems like a rarity for Kentucky to have a returning starter but that is the case with Keion Brooks. The Wildcats used Brooks as a role player during his freshman year but he finally cracked the lineup by the end of the regular season.

It was fitting that Brooks’ best performance came in Kentucky’s last game, a win at Florida on March 7. Brooks scored 10 points in that contest, grabbing three rebounds while shooting 80 percent from the floor.

If you just look at Brooks’ total stats, they look very modest, as he averaged just 4.5 points and 3.2 rebounds a game. Brooks was still a five-star recruit, so the talent is there, but there were people ahead of him for Kentucky last season.

An opportunity should no longer be a problem for the 6-foot-7 Brooks, who figures to start at the four for the Wildcats. Brooks’ experience will also be vital for another very young Kentucky team that may have less practice time than usual in the offseason due to the pandemic.

Expect Calipari to place a ton of trust in Brooks to not only be a key contributor on offense but a leader as well. Brooks has the pedigree to handle the increased responsibility as a vital member of the program.