by LARRY VAUGHT
Veteran Sporting News columnist Mike DeCourcy believes that returning players Malachi Moreno and Kam Williams along with transfer point guard Zoom Diallo give Kentucky “a pretty good starting point” for next season.However, he’s also realistic about the roster that coach Mark Pope has assembled so far.
“I don’t think it is a perfect roster. Justin McBride (Richmond) and Alex Wilkins (Furman) have to make really successful transitions to the SEC from mid-major teams. That might be a lot. We have seen lots of players do it but it is not a given,” said DeCourcy.
“(Washington transfer) Franck Kepnang, when healthy, is a physical, powerful, great shot blocker. He is a perfect backup big guy as long as Moreno is back, Kepnang will not get overwhelmed.”
DeCourcy watched Diallo play several times last year and considers him a “capable” point guard.
“He knows how to handle the ball and get it to the right places and that’s important,” the Sporting News columnist said. “The pieces are there. But they have got to have Wilkins and/or McBride transfer their mid-major level of success to a high major level and I understand why some worry about that.”
However, DeCourcy also urged UK fans to think back to a year ago.
“How many were critical of this roster a year ago? Most were doing somersaults over the construction of the roster. It didn’t work. Kentucky lost 14 games,” DeCourcy said. “So you just never know exactly how any roster is going to turn out and Kentucky fans need to remember that.”
