By halftime the only question was how long the 20 or so NBA scouts, like New York Knicks president Phil Jackson, would continue to watch?
Jackson exited during the final TV timeout, with the Wildcats leading, 80-57.
Credit Trey Lyles and Andrew Harrison with 18 points. Willie Cauley-Stein had nine rebounds, four blocks and two steals. Karl-Anthony Towns made four of five shots while Tyler Ulis made four of six. Aaron Harrison had five steals.
The NBA posse arrived early to scout both teams. Jackson, the man who is trying to make the Knicks a power like the teams he coached with the Bulls and Lakers, sat on the baseline near the Arkansas bench. The Knicks are awful, which means their odds are better than any other team to draft first in June.
What did I learn from the NBA guys?
Two things:
1.) Don't be certain that Duke freshman Jahlil Okafor will be the first pick in the 2015 NBA Draft;
2.) Look for as many as three UK players to be taken in lottery, two more in the first round and at least two others in the second.
Which Kentucky player could overtake Okafor?
One basketball person told me Karl-Anthony Towns, UK's mammoth freshman. The other said Willie Cauley-Stein, the Kentucky junior who can play center, forward, guard, assistant coach and blogger.
“Towns is more athletic than Okafor,” one basketball man said. “He's got a greater upside. He's longer and harder to score on.”
And Cauley-Stein?
“I was here two weeks ago and saw him stand out there and make two tough 16- or 17-foot shots,” another basketball scout said. “When I saw that, that changed my perception of him because if he adds that to his game, look out.
“You hear everybody say that Cauley-Stein can guard all five positions – and that's true. But he's much more than that. He's become a much better offensive player. And he might be the best athlete in the draft at any position. All he needs is a little confidence.”
The Wildcats' third lottery selection will be freshman guard Devin Booker.
The other two first-round selections? Freshman forward Trey Lyles and Dakari Johnson, the sophomore center.
