Consistent effort key for Chris Livingston

LEXINGTON – For many of John Calipari’s Kentucky basketball tenure, it will have been troublesome to think about a five-star freshman arriving on campus as one thing of an afterthought.

However for brand new Wildcat wing Chris Livingston, that may be the case.

Kentucky’s projected 2022-23 roster is headlined by veterans with Nationwide Participant of the Yr Oscar Tshiebwe, two-time Southeastern Convention assists chief Sahvir Wheeler, profession 46.6% 3-point shooter C.J. Fredrick and uber athlete Jacob Toppin all again. Illinois State switch Antonio Reeves averaged greater than 20 factors per sport final season. 5-star freshman guard Cason Wallace is considered because the workforce’s finest NBA draft prospect and most definitely choice to tackle a featured position within the backcourt.

It’s troublesome to seek out room for Livingston in a projected beginning lineup as of now, however how shortly he adapts to varsity basketball could possibly be the distinction in Kentucky turning from workforce to an elite one.

“For the final two years, it’s been fairly up and down together with his consistency and his motor, however the expertise is all there, the instruments are all there,” 247Sports nationwide basketball analyst Travis Branham stated. “He can rating. He’s a proficient passer… His bounce shot has improved.”

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The unsure expectations for Livingston as a freshman is evidenced by a dip in his recruiting rankings during the last yr.

Again in September 2019, Livingston debuted because the No. 3-ranked prospect within the 247Sports Composite class of 2022 rankings, which common the scores of the key recruiting companies. He remained within the prime 5 for 2 years.

However as a substitute of shifting up the record as a number of of the gamers in entrance of him reclassified to graduate highschool early and enroll in faculty basketball, Livingston’s rating dropped over the course of his senior yr. He arrived at Kentucky earlier this month because the No. 11-ranked prospect within the class, in line with the 247Sports Composite.

He’s ranked fifteenth in 247Sports in-house rating. ESPN ranks him twelfth within the class. Rivals ranks him tenth.

“He has all of the talent and all of the expertise,” Branham stated. “His manufacturing and every little thing is all the time decided on if he’s going to play with a motor that day or not.”

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Billed as one of the best participant to return from Akron, Ohio since LeBron James, Livingston performed his senior season at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia.

Taking part in for a similar prep college that despatched Keldon Johnson, Doron Lamb, Rajon Rondo, Ron Mercer and others to Kentucky, Livingston averaged 17.1 factors, eight rebounds and two assists per sport. He shot 33.3% from 3-point vary (24 for 72).

At Oak Hill, Livingston performed alongside two different top-100 prospects within the class of 2022 and five-star 2023 Duke dedication Caleb Foster. That have taking part in with different prime prospects may assist him alter at Kentucky, however Calipari’s observe file suggests he won’t reply nicely to an inconsistent motor from Livingston.

If Kentucky’s Corridor of Fame coach can push the suitable buttons to supply constant effort from Livingston, he could possibly be a distinction maker for the Wildcats.

Livingston is taken into account a streaky 3-point shooter, however his bounce shot could possibly be helped by having a degree guard like Wheeler create beauty for him. Fredrick, who missed all of final season with a hamstring damage after transferring from Iowa, and Reeves might need the within observe to the third spot within the beginning backcourt alongside Wheeler and Wallace due to their 3-point capturing prowess, however neither can match Livingston’s different bodily presents.

At 6-foot-7 and 210 kilos, Livingston presents an intriguing choice as a small-ball 4 able to stretching the ground past the arc, however Toppin and sophomore Daimion Collins are the favorites to begin alongside Tshiebwe within the frontcourt.

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Whereas he faces extra competitors for minutes than Kentucky’s common five-star recruits, the presence of these veterans may assist Livingston’s growth by reducing the strain to be a direct sport changer. ESPN nonetheless currenylprojects Livingston as a first-round decide within the 2023 NBA draft regardless of the uncertainty about his position.

The vary of outcomes for Livingston as a freshman is extensive however with the ability to be affected person with a participant with that a lot expertise needs to be fairly the posh for Calipari and Kentucky.

“If Chris rises to the event like he can, then he’s going to be a productive man who will rating the basketball, who will make some pictures,” Branham stated. “He’ll defend, he’ll rebound, he’ll get out in transition. He simply has that expertise and skill to influence the sport in all kinds of the way if he’s going to be decided to do it on any given day.”

E-mail Jon Hale at jahale@courier-journal.com; Comply with him on Twitter at @JonHale_CJ.