Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb and Marquis Teague - All 5 Kentucky Wildcats starters to be drafted next NBA Season
All five starters for the Kentucky Wildcats who defeated the Kansas Jayhawks 67-59 for Kentucky`s 8th NCAA Championship have decided that it is time to apply their traits in the NBA.
Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb and Marquis Teague made the announcement in a nationally televised press conference on Tuesday night.
Kentucky who was the number 1 seed in College Basketball was led by a line up of three freshman and two sophomores. The most prominent of the three freshman being Anthony Davis, who was the most outstanding player of the final
four, looks all set to be the number 1 pick in the draft.
Along with being named the MOP, Davis was also named the Freshman of the year, the National Player of the Year and the Defensive Player of the Year for 2012.
The Chicago born Davis has achieved almost everything, College Basketball has to offer. In his freshman year with the Wildcats, he was averaging 14.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.8 blocks per game.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist who looks all set to be number 2 pick in the draft was the second leading scorer in the season for the Wildcats.
In a season full of tough challenges, Gilchrist never disappointed the Wildcat’s fans and was described by Coach John Calipari as the hardest working player of the lot. Gilchrist contributed 11 points in the win against Kansas
for the NCAA Final.
The third freshman in the line up for Kentucky was, Marquis Teague. Brother to the Atlanta Hawks point guard, Jeff Teague, Marquis had a great run with the Wildcats. He was part of the Kentucky team which had great players and
did his part very well throughout his freshman season. Teague scored 14 points in the final game against the Jayhawks. It still remains a question whether he has done enough to impress the NBA scouts to be drafted in the first round. However, Teague believes
that he has done enough and looks all set to fulfil his lifelong dream of playing in the NBA.
The other two players for the Wildcats were Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones who were sophomores. Both of these players were eligible to be drafted last year. However, they made a joint decision to stay back in school to win a National
Championship. Lamb contemplated on the matter by describing it as the only thing that kept them at school.
"The reason I stayed was to win a national championship," Lamb said. "Me and Terrence we talked together last year and we decided to come back this year to win a national championship and we did that. Our dreams came true."
Lamb was the leading scorer for Kentucky in the Championship game as he finished the game with 22 points. Jones on the other hand had 9 points and also grabbed 7 rebounds in the game.
With all five starters leaving the school, one would wonder about the future of Kentucky Basketball but this is not something new for Coach Calipari. Kentucky is known for developing the most ready players for the highest level.
The Wildcats also had 5 player drafted in round 1 of the 2010 draft which was led by the number 1 pick at that time, John Wall.
For these players, professional statuses are about to change so are their lifestyles. Davis was all laughter when asked about the pay check he is going to be receiving.
"I actually haven't thought about that yet. That's right, I am going to be rich," Davis said. "You've just got to manage your money well. Good thing is I like math. So I should be fine."
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