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It Makes Sense for PJ Washington and Jarred Vanderbilt to Return to Kentucky

Photo courtesy of UK Athletics

 

Kentucky signee Keldon Johnson must have impressed scouts during last months McDonald’s All-American event in Atlanta.

 

Johnson, a 6-foot-6 wing from Oak Hill Academy, suffered an ankle injury during the GEICO Nationals, which kept him out of action during the Jordan Brand Classic and Nike Hoop Summit.



 

The performance in the McDonald’s All-American game was enough as ESPN has him at No. 12 overall in the 2019 NBA mock draft, within lottery selection range. Johnson is the only UK signee from the 2018 class that is included in ESPN’s top 100 prospects list.

 

Johnson is a lock to be at Kentucky next season, but will P.J. Washington and Jarred Vanderbilt be joining him? Washington currently sits at No. 50 overall in this years ESPN Top 100 prospects list, but if he returns for a sophomore season, he is listed at No. 18 overall in next years mock draft.

 

As for Vanderbilt, he is No. 64 in this years Top 100 prospects list, but that jumps to No. 33 in 2019. The freshman forward missed majority of the season with multiple ankle injuries. He announced earlier today that he will test the NBA waters without an agent.



 

This is good news for Kentucky fans. Based on predictions, Washington and Vanderbilt SHOULD return to Kentucky next season. Not only that, but signees E.J. Montgomery, Immanuel Quickley, and Tyler Herro are not included in next years ESPN Top 100 prospects list. That said, UK fans don’t get their hopes up when it comes to guys returning for more than one season



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