Nike Sibande emerges as new name to watch for

The Kentucky Wildcats have a new name to keep an eye on in the transfer market, though it’s not someone you’d expect.

While all of the focus is on how Kentucky will solidify its frontcourt for next season, there’s potentially a new backcourt target emerging in the form of Nike Sibande.

Today, Sibande announced he was leaving Miami (OH) to pursue a transfer. Not long after, Cats Pause reported that Kentucky has contacted Sibande.

And for what it’s worth, Sibande is following the Kentucky Men’s Basketball Twitter account and John Calipari on Instagram.

This past season, the 6-4, 183-pound Sibande averaged 13.9 points (44% shooting), 5.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 28.8 minutes per game. His final game was a 31-point outing (10/14 shooting) to go with six boards in a win over Buffalo in the MAC Tournament. He averaged 16.1 points (39.4% shooting), 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists the previous season.

Sibande is a respectable shooter from deep, as he’s shot 33.6% through three seasons in the MAC.

For now, Sibande would be a traditional transfer that must sit out next season. But if the NCAA passes the one-time transfer waiver, he’ll be eligible wherever he goes.

Kentucky is pretty stacked in the backcourt with Davion Mintz, Devin Askew, Terrence Clarke, Brandon Boston and Dontaie Allen, but with so little experience among that group, it’s easy to see why John Calipari would like another veteran in his backcourt.

Plus, this could mean Kentucky is planning to play more small-ball next season. Of that group, Allen is the biggest at 6-6 and 201 pounds with a reported 7-foot wingspan, so perhaps he could play some 4 next season.

Whatever the case may be, Sibande has a lot of potential to make a big impact for some Power 5 program, and Kentucky could use another impact player.

Check out some highlights of Sibande in action:

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