Wildcats boast 5 picks in ESPN’s first 2024 NBA Draft

The Kentucky Wildcats have the nation’s greatest recruiting class subsequent 12 months. They’ve 5 gamers which have signed their letter of intent to play in Lexington subsequent season, and it’d go down as among the finest courses Kentucky has delivered to the Bluegrass State.

Justin Edwards and DJ Wagner are the 2 names that come out — respectively No. 2 and No. 3 within the nation per 247 Sports activities. Edwards was current for the win over Tennessee on Saturday whereas embracing the ocean of blue.

Aaron Bradshaw, a 7-foot heart, is No. 4, whereas Robert Dillingham is No. 9. Reed Sheppard is the lone four-star recruit however is ranked No. 30 within the nation. It’s completely separated with Kentucky reloading at every of the 5 positions as nicely.

This class is completely loaded and is predicted to have a number of one-and-done prospects with all 4 five-star recruits changing into first-round picks in ESPN’s first 2024 NBA Mock Draft. Draft analyst Jonathan Givony wrote the column and is particularly intrigued with Edwards, noting his “very excessive ground.”

For Givony, Edwards is taking No. 4 by the Houston Rockets. Wagner goes No. 7 to the Washington Wizards, then Bradshaw and Dillingham respectfully are available No. 28 and No. 30 to the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics.

Ugonna Onyenso is the fifth Wildcat drafted and the lone second-round choose, going No. 40 to the Orlando Magic.

The possibilities that Wagner and Edwards drop given their pure expertise is unlikely, and Bradshaw, given his body, ought to be a high choose as nicely. Dillingham will arguably have essentially the most to achieve or lose throughout his freshman season at Kentucky.

Chris Livingston can be one other to regulate within the 2024 draft class if he continues to enhance on the charge he’s now and returns for a 12 months 2.