Injured UK freshman guard Jemarl Baker won’t return this season

One of the best shooters Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari has in his arsenal will likely be sidelined for the rest of the 2017-18 campaign.

The coach said in a press conference that Jemarl Baker’s return “likely won’t happen.”

Back in October, the the 6-foot-4 freshman guard had knee surgery after a previous operation he received before coming to Lexington did not go well. Baker’s basketball have gradually increased as he been shooting shots during warmups at home games.

With a young team struggling to find rhythm from behind the three-point line, the absence of Baker will continue to be felt.

”It’s not what I can see happening,” Calipari said.

This was expected, but there had been some sliver of hope that Baker could suit up at some point in the final regular-season games, or perhaps even in the SEC Tournament. You rarely see players make their debut that late in the season, but as bad as UK’s offense has been, they could probably find a way to use him that late if he’s healthy enough to play.