:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53745055/usa_today_9680005.0.jpg)
It looks like Isaac Humphries’ future in Lexington may be in doubt.
In an interview with SEC Country, Humphries said he’ll be weighing his options this offseason as to whether he’ll return to Kentucky or go elsewhere.
Humphries said he’s staying positive and accepting his minutes as they come, but he’s ready to weigh his options once Kentucky’s tournament run is over.
“It’s too early to say what anyone’s going to do,” Humphries said. “Like, I don’t know what my path will be next year. Obviously me being the right age to finally enter the draft, but there’s a lot of options. I don’t know anything yet. I’m trying to finish the season, finish March Madness because it’s about the team right now. It’s not about me. I’ve gotta finish that out and then kinda weigh my options. But Kentucky’s obviously a great place for development. I’m not gonna look past that at all.”
Humphries obviously hasn’t played much during his first two years in Lexington, and it may not get any better with Nick Richards and possibly Mo Bamba coming in next season. Humphries has enough trouble finding minutes this year even though Bam Adebayo is the only other capable center.
Humphries was expected to challenge for the starting 5 spot and have Bam at the 4 this year, but that never materialized due to Humphries not being able to handle that role.
Still, Humphries has shown enough potential to think he’ll eventually develop into a quality center, even if it doesn’t come until his junior or senior season, so hopefully he sticks with Kentucky.
Perhaps Humphries is the mysterious eighth player who John Calipari expects to lose this offseason. Calipari said Sunday night that he expects to lose eight of his players this offseason, three of which being seniors Derek Willis, Mychal Mulder and Dominique Hawkins. You can pretty much lock De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk and Bam Adebayo into the NBA Draft, which is what Isaiah Briscoe is also set on entering.
That leaves an eighth player that could either be Wenyen Gabriel trying to enter the NBA, or a player transferring this offseason. Based on his comments, it certainly sounds like a transfer is something Humphries will consider his offseason.