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Heading into the 2020-21 season, Kentucky first-year goaltender Brandon Boston Jr. was seen as the infallible and infallible superstar of the team, who would likely end the season by leading the team in an in-depth tournament of the NCAA on its way to a peak. -five draft selection.
Unfortunately for Boston and the Wildcats, the five-star prospect’s freshman campaign fell short of the preseason hype, averaging just 12.0 points on 36.0 percent shots and 30.3% of three to go with 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.4 steals per contest. . He’s had his moments – 21 points against South Carolina, 17 points against Auburn, 17 points against Arkansas, 18 points against LSU, 18 points against Georgia, 20 points against Richmond, 15 points against Morehead State – but the one Boston’s constant shooting struggles caused the former potential’s title in the first five draft to drop well outside the lottery, with a few outlets even dropping it in the second round of their final mock drafts.
Even given the struggles and inconsistencies, most assumed that Boston’s original plan was a one-shot plan was still the certainty it once led to his stay in Lexington, until Kentucky’s resounding victory over North Carolina. South in the regular season. final. After what many believed to be Boston’s last home game at Rupp Arena as the Wildcat – and it was a good game too, finishing with 21 points of 7-13 on shooting and 6-10 of three to go with four rebounds, three assists and a steal – John Calipari has turned heads by hinting that the former five-star prospect may in fact be on a two-year plan.
Asked about Boston’s struggles and end-of-season turnaround, the UK head coach compared his situation to that of Emmanuel Quickley and PJ Washington, players who have decided to return for a second season seeking to prove that they were able to improve.
“He never lost the fight. This stuff was hard on him. And it’s also telling to know as an individual player, man, physically, that’s – I’m not where I need to be physically, ”Calipari said. “We’ve had other guys, it’s like Immanuel Quickley. Immanuel Quickley walked into my office and said, “Coach, I know you said it would be difficult. It’s after his first year. “It’s a lot harder than I thought and I haven’t had a good year. But I come back and you watch. No one will surpass me. These are the guys who should be coming back. This mentality. PJ Washington. This mentality. I’m not coming back to do showtime. I’m not coming back to say, “Hey, this is my team”. I’m coming back because I’m going to get better and I can accept that I didn’t play the way I needed to play. And it’s much more difficult than I thought.
He went further by confirming that he would encourage his players to test the waters of the NBA Draft, but that he might not like what they heard from the scouts. And if the returns aren’t good, they “can’t be wrong” about their position as players.
“I like it when kids go through the process because the teams are not going to lie to them. They will tell them the truth. It’s good to follow the process, ”he said. “Let it be one of those guys. You cannot be delusional because if you are, it will surprise you. You have to be real and you can’t blame anyone for your performance. You own it. And then you say, here’s what I can do and how I can improve. “
At first glance, the idea of a player of Boston’s caliber and previous status as one of the top ten prospects and top five potential rookies returning for a second season is hard to imagine, especially in Kentucky. In Calipari’s 12 years in Lexington, UK, they just never brought these types of players back, so why would that change now?
For starters, the difference in money could be substantial, which could be all Boston needs to hear when the time comes for them to make a final decision.
Taking a look at the 2020 NBA Draft Class and rookie ladders for each of the Top 10 picks – where Boston was to be taken in 2021 before the season begins – all freshman salaries topped 4, $ 24 million and four years. salaries were close to or well over the $ 20 million range.
- Choice # 1 – $ 9.75 million freshman salary, $ 44.27 million salary over four years
- Choice # 2 – $ 8.73 million freshman salary, $ 39.62 million salary over four years
- Choice # 3 – $ 7.84 million freshman salary, $ 35.59 million salary over four years
- Choice # 4 – $ 7.07 million salary in first year, $ 32.10 million salary over four years
- Choice # 5 – $ 6.40 million freshman salary, $ 29.08 million salary over four years
- Choice # 6 – $ 5.81 million freshman salary, $ 26.42 million salary over four years
- Choice # 7 – $ 5.31 million freshman salary, $ 24.13 million salary over four years
- Choice # 8 – $ 4.86 million freshman salary, $ 22.12 million salary over four years
- Choice # 9 – $ 4.47 million freshman salary, $ 20.34 million salary over four years
- Choice # 10 – $ 4.24 million salary in first year, $ 19.33 million salary over four years
Comparing these dollar numbers to Boston’s current stance on the various top simulation projects, the difference is substantial.
- NBC Sports – No.16 – $ 3.12 million in freshman salary, $ 15.09 million in salary over four years
- NBADraft.net – # 21 – Freshman salary of $ 2.48 million, salary of $ 12.15 million over four years
- Hoopshype – # 21 – $ 2.48 Million Freshman Salary, $ 12.15 Million Four Year Salary
- ESPN – # 26 – $ 2.04 million freshman salary, $ 10.45 million salary over four years
- CBS Sports – # 27 – $ 1.97 million freshman salary, $ 10.15 million salary over four years
- The Athletic – # 33 – $ 898,310 freshman salary, $ 2.4 million salary over two years
- Tankathon – # 36 – $ 449,115 one year salary (two way contract)
If the difference is, for example, pick 16 in 2021 and pick 10 in 2022, the risk of injury and stock-taking may not be worth the difference of a million per year over the course of four seasons in the League. Should he slip into the 20s, we’re now talking about a difference of around $ 20 million from the first five draft he planned to enter in his time at Kentucky.
Guaranteed money is important, but there is a glaring difference between the life-changing money that was just selected at the end of the first round and the generational money that comes with being in the top five. first choices. And as the 2022 NBA Draft is expected to be exponentially weaker than the 2021 class, it’s certainly not out of the question to return to that top five status with efficient shooting, improved strength, and continued growth as a defender in 2021-22. .
If Boston goes back to school and averages, say, 18 points on 45 percent shots and 35 percent three to go with 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per fight, it’s back on track. And that’s a difference of 6.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.6 steals per game more than the current average, in addition to increasing his field goal percentage by 9. % and the percentage of field goals of 3 points of just under 5%. All the jumps doable, and with Boston undeniably overflowing with confidence – he once said he wanted to be the greatest basketball player of all time – you’d think he wouldn’t be afraid to bet on himself.
Beyond the numbers and the money – and this is certainly the most important part – Boston failed to get Kentucky experience he enrolled in when he joined the program in July 2019. He did not receive the hard-hitting cheers of the sold-out crowds at Rupp Arena, the warm welcome that comes with Big Blue Madness, the typical spotlight and fanfare that comes with events like the Champions Classic and CBS Sports Classic, harsh road environments, and crowds packed with SEC and NCAA tournaments. Outside of the ground he was unable to interact with If Anything, his experience in Sierra Canyon as a senior playing alongside Ziaire Williams, Bronny James and Zaire Wade in sold-out arenas with seated celebrities. the field every time he played was more “Kentucky” than Kentucky this season. It is where he thrived and increased his draft supply the first time around, not listening to the sounds of dribbling, shoe squeaking and coach screams echoing in empty places.
Improving his stats and increasing his draft supply could go hand in hand with a return to normal in the 2021-22 season.
Is it a deal that Boston turns down the professional route in favor of returning to Kentucky for one more season? Goodness no. In fact, if Calipari hadn’t opened the door to this possibility last weekend, I’m not sure anyone would discuss it as a legitimate possibility right now.
But Cal opened that door, and it’s definitely something worth exploring.
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