Marcus Lee-Sophomore Forward
Marcus Lee did not make many headlines last year-until the Elite 8 game vs. Michigan. He had 10 points and 8 rebounds in a game that he was desperately needed. Lee will most likely not be starting for the Wildcats for the second straight year, but expect for him to play more minutes off the bench that last year. As evident in the Big Blue Bahamas Tour, Lee has a more polished offensive game, and he may be able to step out and hit a jumper from ten feet away. His athleticism and defense will still be his calling card, but he will be drastically improved come November.
Devin Booker-Freshman Guard
Booker may not be a top freshman, or maybe even the top freshman on the team, but he can make an immediate impact. He proved this with his 6-of-14 shooting from downtown in the Bahamas, and he was the only freshman that started for the Cats. The All-American played on the wing alongside the Harrison twins, and looked comfortable in the system. Although this may be the first team under John Calapari where no freshman are starting, Booker could make a run for SEC Freshman of the Year if he maintains his shooting.
Tyler Ulis- Freshman Guard
In a day and age where tall point guards are the norm, Ulis stands out. The All-American point guard is only 5'9" and 155 lbs, but he has the potential to be one of the best point guards in the nation in the near future. Ulis is a strong shooter and great distrubuter, which needs to happen for him to play point in a power conference. Ulis will be overshadowed by the Harrison twins, but look him for him to have a few big games. In his sophomore and junior seasons, Ulis will be a name to know.
Aaron Harrison- Sophomore Guard
Aaron Harrison is, and always will be, known as one of the Harrison twins. But Aaron and his brother Andrew have different styles of play. Aaron made headlines last year for his shooting, which is considered the strong part of his game. Aaron plays more shooting guard, which leads to more scoring opportunities. His shooting is really the only part of his game that stands out. His defense is not on par with most pro prospects, and he has average athleticism. Aaron is good right now, but he could stand to get better.
Andrew Harrison- Sophomore Guard
Andrew Harrison starts at point guard, the opposite guard position from his brother Aaron. This may be because Andrew's only real strong part is his court vision, opposed to his brother's shooting. Andrew's shooting is suspect, which allows defenses to play off of him on the perimeter. He also isn't a great athlete or defensive player. Harrison is pretty much locked in as Kentucky's point guard for now, but Tyler Ulis could steal his spot. Harrison needs to watch his back or he can end up on the bench at the end of the year.
Karl-Anthony Towns- Freshman Forward
Towns, another All-American, may be the best freshman in this class. He received the Male High School Athlete of the Year Award at the ESPYs. His name has become synonymous with one thing: scoring. Towns is an athletic 6'11" power forward who has a sweet touch from beyond the arc. He isn't afraid to carve out space in the post, and he has all the tools he needs to become a deadly scoring option. He most likely will not start at the beginning of the year, but watch out for him come February and March when he has a chance to shine.
Willie Cauley-Stein- Junior Forward
Willie Cauley-Stein is a rare breed among players under John Calapari: he was a highly touted freshman and now he is a junior. As a freshman, he played behind Nerlens Noel until Noel was injured. He played well, but Kentucky ran into the ground and lost in the first round of the NIT. Cauley-Stein opted not to go to the draft, and in his sophomore season, he played well until he was injured in the tournament. Cauley-Stein has two more years left to go, and he should use his athletic ability to be a defensive anchor.
Alex Poythress- Junior Forward
Poythress has always failed to meet his sky-high expectations in previous years, but he won't this year. His amazing display of offense in the Bahamas shows he can do more now as a junior than he could as a freshman or sophomore. Poythress, always a great athlete, now has a reliable three-point stroke and a playmaking ability. If Kentucky is going to be a great team, they need Poythress to step up in a leadership role. Expect for him to deliver, and make a case for the All-America Team this year.
Trey Lyles- Freshman Forward
Trey Lyles is kind of a lower key Karl-Anthony Towns. Lyles has a good shooting game and is a decent athlete. He is looking at not having too much playing time in Kentucky's stacked frontcourt, but he will have an opportunity. If he capitalized, you are looking at a nice stretch-four who can put the ball on the floor and explode to the rim.
Dakari Johnson- Sophomore Center
Last but not least; center Dakari Johnson could be starting in what would be one of the biggest lineups in the nation. This potential lineup would be the Harrison twins (6'6"), Alex Poythress (6'8"), Willie Cauley-Stein (7'0"), and Johnson (7'0"). Johnson is a center who is utilized best as a rebounder and defensive stopper. His size and athleticism is most of his game, but he will still be able to contribute to the Wildcat squad.
