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The Kentucky Wildcats got a huge addition in Stanford graduate transfer Reid Travis Wednesday, and Twitter took notice.
From fans, to analysts to reporters to members of the program, everyone was talking about the news and/or celebrating it.
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello recapped what has been a wild and busy offseason in Lexington:
Kentucky since the regular season ended...
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) June 20, 2018
In:
- Reid Travis
- Ashton Hagans
- E.J. Montgomery
- Tyrese Maxey (2019)
- D.J. Jeffries (2019)
Out:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Hamidou Diallo
- Kevin Knox
- Jarred Vanderbilt
- Wenyen Gabriel
- Killeya-Jones
- Wynyard
Busy spring.
Kyle Tucker and Jon Rothstein both pointed out that John Calipari went from off his game to at his best.
Three months ago, there was a growing notion that John Calipari had lost his recruiting touch. Since then, he's added the No. 1 PF in 2018, No. 1 PG in 2019 (who reclassified and is on campus) and No. 1 grad transfer, a McDonald's All-American turned All-Pac 12 pick.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_SEC) June 20, 2018
Only John Calipari could land the biggest transfer of the year the day before the NBA Draft and then have two lottery picks the next night. Kentucky Basketball never stops. #BBN
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) June 20, 2018
With the transfer being official, Calipari is allowed to comment, and he has already done so.
Our fans know when it comes to talent and experience, I’m always picking talent, but Reid gives us both. And what a great kid! #BBN, you are going to love him. Really looking forward to coaching him.
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) June 20, 2018
So did Joel Justus:
— Joel Justus (@UKCoachJustus) June 20, 2018
CoachCal.com’s social media manager was pretty excited too.
Reid + PJ + Quade + Nick + Jemarl + EJ + Keldon + Tyler + Immanuel + Ashton + Jonny + Brad + Zan pic.twitter.com/J8biaNkC2L
— CoachCal.com (@CoachCalDotCom) June 20, 2018
The program itself sent out some messages of celebration:
Been a pretty good week, huh, #BBN? In the last four days along we've added @2ReidTravis2 and @H23Ash. Let's cap it off tomorrow with a heck of an @NBADraft.
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) June 20, 2018
Simply put, we've got a heck of basketball player joining us:
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) June 20, 2018
Averaged 19.5 points, 8.7 rebounds last season
Two-time First Team All-Pac-12
More than 1,400 career points and 700 career rebounds
NABC and USBWA All-District pick
Three-year captain at Stanford
And of course, the fan reactions are outstanding as well.
— Roy Combs™ (@broncofan4life) June 20, 2018
Calipari has obtained the Final Infinity Stone. His name is Reid Travis pic.twitter.com/siitRrWf5w
— Lil Joe B. Hall (@LilJoeBHall) June 20, 2018
WE ARE GONNA BE SO GOOD YALL OH MY GODDD IM SO HAPPY
— Logan Kirby (@lkirbyyy) June 20, 2018
Mood #BBN LETSSS GOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/X9gda4bp4S
— KentuckyDude (@JHNNsports) June 20, 2018
Last year in the Pac-12:
— Big Blue Drew (@BigBlueDrew33) June 20, 2018
Likely #1 pick DeAndre Ayton:
20.1 points 11.6 rebounds
Reid Travis: 19.5 points 8.7 rebounds
☝️ #BBN
Reid Travis to UK is huge..best pick up of the summer
— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) June 20, 2018
In 2015, Calipari loved talking "tanks coming over the hill" — UK's ability to shell a team for a few minutes with one unit and then just crush their will when they looked up and saw a second wave of reinforcements, with equal fire power, rolling over the horizon. Has that again.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_SEC) June 20, 2018
Today: pic.twitter.com/Qjs86iGN1M
— TJ Beisner (@tjbeisner) June 20, 2018
Reid Travis has scored 1,427 points in college. The last time Kentucky had a 1,000 point scorer on the roster was 2012 when Darius Miller, Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones all hit the mark during the season. 15 points a game and no injuries would get PJ Washington there as well.
— Big Blue Express (@bigbluexpress) June 20, 2018
Coach Cal gonna be in the green room of the draft tomorrow greeting everybody like this. pic.twitter.com/XOKnvElHf9
— Scott Charlton (@Scott_Charlton) June 20, 2018
Be sure to check out Travis’ commitment video, which was also posted on Twitter. With the addition, there are now early callings for Kentucky to be National Championship bound, and at least Final Four bound.
With a roster this deep and with this much talent, it’s hard to see how expectations could be anything short of a Final Four run.
I want to thank everyone who has helped me with this process of taking the next step to pursue my dreams. I couldn’t be more excited for the future! pic.twitter.com/xIwtBfFzLr
— Reid Travis (@2ReidTravis2) June 20, 2018