Advertisement

Kentucky’s Kevin Knox II still unsure about leaving for NBA draft

The former Tampa Catholic standout will talk with his family about his basketball future after the NCAA tournament.
 
Published March 21, 2018|Updated March 21, 2018

On Tuesday, Oklahoma's Trae Young and Texas' Mohamed Bamba both announced they were leaving their college teams to enter the NBA draft.

Kevin Knox II played with both in last year's McDonald's All-American Game.

Will the former Tampa Catholic standout be the next freshman to bolt for the pros?

Knox II's goal all along was to be a one-and-done, a player who declares for the NBA draft after one season of college basketball.

RELATED: NBA or bust: Kevin Knox's lifelong push for the pros

That may still be the case, but Knox II could decide to stay another season at Kentucky.

His father said he will head to Lexington the first week of April to talk to his son about his basketball future.

It is similar to the process the family went through when weighing college offers last season.

RELATED: Coveted basketball recruit Kevin Knox in no hurry to decide future

"We have a certain criteria that we're considering," Knox Sr. said. "We're going to check the boxes off, stir it up and see if we come up with the right gumbo."

The biggest factors are where Knox II is projected to be drafted and whether he has developed enough after one season at Kentucky to be ready for the NBA.

Knox II, who averaged a team-leading 15.6 points per game and was named the co-SEC freshman of the year, could be among the top 12 players selected.

He will head home to Tampa the weekend of April 7-9 to discuss his options more with the entire family.

"It's a decision that will be made sooner rather than later," Knox Sr. said. "It's not a done deal that Kevin is going. He really enjoys Kentucky. He loves the stage and the basketball program and BBN (Big Blue Nation)."

Knox Sr. went to the Wildcats' opening-round games this past weekend. The whole family will be in Atlanta on Thursday for Kentucky's Sweet 16 matchup with Kansas State.

"We don't really know what Kevin's decision will be so where trying to get to as many games as we can because you never know when his college career will be over," Knox Sr. said.