A new ESPN mock draft has two Kentucky Wildcats being picked
ESPN has a new NBA mock draft, and the Kentucky Wildcats have two players predicted to be selected in it.
Despite a disappointing season for the Kentucky Wildcats , the roster had talent, and there are a few players hoping to hear their names called at the NBA draft this summer. Jayden Quaintance seems like a sure-fire first round pick, but will any others be selected? ESPN analyst Jeremy Woo released a new mock draft on Tuesday, and he predicts two Wildcats to be taken, but with a caveat.
Malachi Moreno would need to stay in the draft rather than returning to Lexington. Woo has Quaintance falling to pick No. 20 and the San Antonio Spurs.
It would be a terrific landing spot for the young center who could play alongside one of the game's best in Victory Wembanyama. Quaintance remains one of the biggest wild-card picks in this class, with teams waiting to learn more about the health of his knee. Though he looked explosive and in good shape at his pro day, several NBA observers in the stands noted that he appeared to be favoring his right leg.
Quaintance has an excellent frame with extreme length and real defensive talent, but the fact that he played only four games at Kentucky has made his draft case a bit more complicated. Many teams remain in wait-and-see mode, but in this range of the draft, the perceived risk is more palatable (pending a clean bill of health). Moreno comes in at No.