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EJ Montgomery has opted to declare for the NBA Draft, with no intention of coming back for his junior season. Montgomery’s time as a Kentucky Wildcats player comes with much scrutiny, however, fans should respect his decision.
Kentucky has now lost all five starters to the NBA Draft, this first time that has happened since the 2016-17 season when they lost Fox, Monk, Bam, Willis, and Briscoe.
Here’s what social media and the Big Blue Nation had to say about EJ:
.@EJMontgomery23 X #SucceedAndProceed pic.twitter.com/nxRRBFF50R
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) April 15, 2020
At 6-10 with perimeter skills, athleticism and an ability to block shots, someone is going to get a big-time prospect with @EJMontgomery23. His skill set is where the game is going. https://t.co/yoHrxYzFrk
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) April 15, 2020
Montgomery capped the season shooting 51.8% from the field and he hauled in 151 rebounds, both of which ranked second on the squad. His 31 swats also were the second highest on the team.
— Kentucky MBB Stats & Info (@UKMBBStatsInfo) April 15, 2020
And then there were none. Kentucky's entire starting five is entering (and staying in) the NBA Draft. With that, eight of the nine scholarship players who logged minutes for the Cats this season are gone. Insane roster turnover, even by UK standards. https://t.co/UOFHzHMIpO
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) April 15, 2020
An eighth Kentucky player departs this offseason, as EJ Montgomery announces he’s entering the NBA draft. Keion Brooks is the lone rotation player left standing. https://t.co/CuGoop2y3y
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) April 15, 2020
EJ Montgomery is entering the draft. #BBNpic.twitter.com/ryaVvuGa8V
— BBN Polls (@BBNPolls) April 15, 2020
EJ Montgomery’s last play as a Wildcat. pic.twitter.com/hzmxknpecc
— BBNation (@BBNation15) April 15, 2020
Come on down, Matt Haarms.
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) April 15, 2020
Kentucky scored 2,307 points and dished out 415 assists last season. Only 138 of those points and 6 assists came from a player who will be on next season’s roster.
— Big Blue Drew (@BigBlueDrew33) April 15, 2020
Do not think EJ Montgomery would be in my top-150 prospects right now. Might get there once guys decide to return to school.
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) April 15, 2020
I think it would be highly, highly intelligent for him to not hire an agent and reconsider this. https://t.co/fkpFnWEoe0
This tweet is a glimpse of why players love Calipari. Loyalty to his players is unmatched in college coaching https://t.co/F9LX10cEni
— . (@LilJoeBHall) April 15, 2020
People blame the checkerboards. You know what happened shortly after the 2015 season? UK adopted the Crooked-K logo. There's no other logical explanation for the drop-off. https://t.co/N8CsHMfDL3
— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) April 15, 2020
Kentucky scored 2,307 points and dished out 415 assists last season. Only 138 of those points and 6 assists came from a player who will be on next season’s roster.
— Big Blue Drew (@BigBlueDrew33) April 15, 2020
Even by John Calipari's standards, these numbers are unprecedented. Kentucky now stands to lose:
— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) April 15, 2020
96.1% of its starts
92.4% of its minutes
94% of its points
84.4% of its rebounds
98.8% of its assists
92% of its steals
91.5% of its blocks
If you're Matt Haarms considering Kentucky, there is not a clearer path to a starting job and major minutes for a national title contender/NBA factory anywhere in college basketball. If not him, then I'd think any grad-transfer big man with a pulse puts the Cats atop their list.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) April 15, 2020
I'm happy for @EJMontgomery23 and his family and will continue to be here to help throughout this process. #LaFamilia
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) April 15, 2020
In other news, Terrence Clarke shot down rumors of him potentially making the jump to the G-League, a report that surfaced last night and had Kentucky fans worried. Clarke has now confirmed that he will be in Lexington for next season.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the good news:
BBN, don’t worry, my loyalty never changed. I’m here to stay. Can’t wait to get on campus and get to work and chase #9 with my brothers! ✊ pic.twitter.com/64ONm7WzpS
— Terrence Clarke (@terrenceclarke_) April 15, 2020
I want to let the #BBN know I talked to @rod_strickland. I saw all the craziness out there last night. Rod worked for me, was a great assistant and is a great friend. I’m feeling really good about my team. #BBN, let’s focus on this great group we have for next season.
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) April 15, 2020
That's a big, big reaffirmation for Kentucky. https://t.co/h8lgBSj33e
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) April 15, 2020
There had been rumors that Terrence Clarke was another target for the G-League. He appears to put those rumors to rest. https://t.co/oa5VJ2X2xC
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) April 15, 2020
Terrence Clarke answering the rumors
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) April 15, 2020
Good news for #BBN https://t.co/25J0g7fr0c
Five-star guard Terrence Clarke is going to Kentucky, and that's been the case since he signed his Letter of Intent. https://t.co/TWWneZenyE
— Evan Daniels (@EvanDaniels) April 15, 2020
Terrence Clarke just announced on Twitter that he will not be exploring the G League route and will be playing for Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/PZ4P6FcNDS
— BBN Polls (@BBNPolls) April 15, 2020
Terrence Clarke sticking with UK. **sigh of relief**
— Round Daddy (@JStreble82) April 15, 2020
Definitive answers from John Calipari and Terrence Clarke in response to G League rumors. https://t.co/i5qhhkw3fP
— TheCatsPause247 (@TheCatsPause247) April 15, 2020
One thing this should probably tell us is that Terrence Clarke is likely the real deal if the NBA was making this big of a push for him. Looks like UK is back to having top-5 NBA Draft talent.
— Adam Luckett (@AdamLuckettKSR) April 15, 2020
This was the most polite "stay away from my players" I've ever seen. https://t.co/j8CfRlvb0S
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) April 15, 2020
Kentucky could not afford to lose a player of Terrence Clarke’s caliber this late in the game.
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) April 15, 2020
G League money is not going anywhere and there will be more fires to put out in the coming years, but taking care of this one now is huge for John Calipari and the UK staff.
— Trey (@tbuttrr12) April 15, 2020
— SmittyTheSmittster (@SmittySmittster) April 15, 2020
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