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It seems like the 2019-20 college basketball season ended a decade ago.
As we all know, the NCAA Tournament was canceled after the NBA decided to suspend their season back in the middle of March.
Fast-forward eight months, and the NBA has crowned their champion in the Los Angeles Lakers. Next up, 60 young athletes will have their dreams come true in the 2020 NBA Draft.
It’s going to look a lot different than it has in the past, but I’m sure all of us are growing a bit tired of that phrase.
Nearly every player from last year’s team has either declared for the draft (Nick Richards, Ashton Hagans, Immanuel Quickley, EJ Montgomery, Tyrese Maxey) or transferred (Johnny Juzang, Kahlil Whitney), while Nate Sestina graduated and signed a contract overseas.
However, one player from the Cats has managed to separate himself from the pack in how he’s performed in workouts: Immanuel Quickley.
Quickley’s first season with Kentucky was average at best. He didn’t get much playing time, and when he did, it looked disorganized. He came back with a vengeance in his sophomore season, averaging 18.4 points per game while shooting 47.8% (44/92) from three-point range and 92% from the free throw line in SEC games. That earned Quickley the SEC Player of the Year award.
Now, according to draft expert and ESPN reporter Jonathan Givony, Quickley was one of the top shooters in several testing categories during the NBA Combine, including:
- No. 2 in the three-point shooting endurance drill and the three-point star drill.
- No. 4 in free throw percentage.
- No. 8 in spot-up three-pointers.
Immanuel Quickley made 15 of 20 three pointers in this drill at the Combine. @IQ_GodSon pic.twitter.com/A2CElMZWoE
— Cats Coverage (@CatsCoverage_) November 5, 2020
Have said since March, and stand by it: I don't care what the mock drafts say. Immanuel Quickley will be a first round pick on draft night. His skill-set translates perfectly to the modern NBA - can play on and off the ball, dead eye shooter, team player. It's a no-brainer https://t.co/f1BjDDuC29
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) November 5, 2020
Quickley has been projected to go No. 38 overall to the New York Knicks in recent mock drafts from Sports Illustrated’s Jeremy Woo and The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie. Quickley has reportedly met with the Knicks twice in addition to the Thunder and Pistons. The Miami Wildcats Heat are also showing interest.
In addition, to prepare for the draft, Quickley recently released a documentary outlining his story and case to be an NBA Player. Check it out!
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