Mike Daum is a name to watch for if UK loses more big men

It seems like each day presents a new option for the Kentucky Wildcats to add for next season. It also seems like a new potential departure arises each day.

Coming into the offseason, most assumed that Quade Green, PJ Washington, Sacha Killeya-Jones, Wenyen Gabriel and Jarred Vanderbilt would all be back for the 2018-19 season.

Now, there’s a very real chance all but one or two of them will be gone. Sacha has already transferred, Gabriel appears to be leaning toward gong pro, PJ is testing the NBA Draft waters and wants to leave if he’ll be drafted high enough, and Green is mulling over a transfer.

With the potential to lose 3-4 of those guys, John Calipari is keeping an eye on grad transfers. You already know about Reid Travis, who isn’t even officially a grad transfer yet, but it’s looking more and more likely that he’s somewhere other than Stanford next season.

Travis would be at or near the top of UK’s wishlist in terms of adding a graduate transfer, but there could be another frontcourt option.

Over at KSR, TJ Walker mentioned South Dakota State’s Mike Daum as a possible frontcourt target on the grad transfer market.

Daum, who measures in at 6-9 and 250 pounds, just led the Jackrabbits to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year is a stretch forward that could make a major impact at the 4 and 5 spots. He’s more of a finesse big that averages 6.5 three-point attempts per game, but he hits them at a 42.5-percent clip. He finished this past season averaging 23.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.

And while Daum played in a smaller conference in the Summit League. he still put up monster numbers against great opponents. Against Ohio State and potential first-round big man Keita Bates-Diop, Daum put up 27 points and six rebounds in an 81-73 loss.

Early in the season, Daum went for 21 and 11 in a 98-64 loss at Kansas. In a 95-85 loss at Wichita State, Daum went for 31 and six. It’s safe to say he can produce against elite competition, which has helped make him the most coveted graduate transfer thus far.

However, like Travis, it’s not a done deal that Daum even opts to be a grad transfer. It’s been more speculation at this point, but there’s been a little too much smoke to think he’s not at least pondering a move to a bigger school.

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