Jemarl Baker makes UK debut vs. Seton Hall

Jemarl Baker has made his Kentucky Wildcats debut.

It came in the Wildcats’ matchup with the Seton Hall Pirates in Madison Square Garden. With just over a minute left in the half and several UK guards in foul trouble, Baker checked in for the first time in any type of competitive collegiate game. He did not attempt a shot.

Baker has been sitting out since the Blue-White Game after swelling in his knee emerged. He missed all of his freshman season while recovering from knee surgery. He has been in and out of practice since then, but he must have done enough that John Calipari felt it was safe to play him in this game.

Kentucky ended up taking a 31-25 lead into halftime.

Baker came to Kentucky as a four-star Class of 2017 recruit known as a lights-out shooter. Coming off a 2017-18 season where Kentucky lost their 1,047-game streak with at least one three-pointer and finished with a .355 three-point percentage that ranked 130th in the country, a healthy Baker would be a huge boost.

However, the setback with his knee led to Baker not appearing in the first eight games. Kentucky’s three-point shooting is improved this season, though Baker could still provide more help, especially in games like this that are ugly with guards in foul trouble.

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