One of the most concerning offseason moves from last year's roster has took a step further this afternoon in terms of finding the next spot in his young career. Antonio Reeves announced on Instagram this morning that he was going to enter his name into the 2023 NBA Draft, while still maintaining his additional year of eligibility in college.
The senior has the chance to return for one more season if he chooses to, which I think most fans are hoping happens. In order for that to happen, he would have to announce his return by May 31. Players can submit paperwork to receive evaluations from the NBA and participate in the NBA Draft Combine if invited, which is scheduled for May 15-21. You usually see all the players wrap-up their decisions right after that event, if they're involved.
The Illinois State transfer spent one full season at Kentucky where he averaged the second most points (14.4 PPG) on the roster, making 80 total three-pointers for the Cats. The kid was ultimately Kellan Grady's replacement last summer that turned out to be able to score from anywhere on the court, and not just behind the arc. He had many high-scoring games last season, including 10 games with at least twenty points, but ultimately he'll go down remembered for his performance in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The "flame thrower" went for 37 points in 40 minutes, backed by 2 assists, 2 three-pointers, and 11/11 from the charity stripe.
“First of all, I want to thank God because none of this would be possible without Him,” Reeves said. “I also want to thank my family for their unwavering support. My time at Kentucky has been everything I dreamt it would be. Coach Cal and the staff pushed me to become a better all-around player and my teammates and I created bonds that will last a lifetime. I want to thank Big Blue Nation. You are the best fans in the country and we felt your passion all season long and everywhere we went."
“I’ve spent time thinking about what’s best for me and my future,” Reeves added. “I’ve determined that testing the waters and getting information back from the NBA is the best thing for me at this time. I’ve always dreamt of becoming a professional basketball player, and I am focused on fulfilling that dream but I’m keeping my options open.”
After the announcement was public on Tuesday afternoon, Head Coach John Calipari had this to say. “Antonio is utilizing the rule in place of testing the waters exactly as he should." He continued with, “Scoring is a premium and Antonio can score on all three levels and showed growth as a player on both ends. I’m excited to see what kind of feedback he receives.”
If the Southeastern Conference Co-Sixth Man of the Year was to return, which is more likely than I think most people believe, it would be the biggest news of the summer. You'd return Kentucky's most dynamic scorer from last year and bring in a player who thrives off of coming off the bench, and would fit very well into a loaded (on paper) group of freshmen. One would have to think he'd be immediately tabbed as the captain and veteran to lead that team to hopefully a great season.