By JOSH NEWMAN
In the wake of Kentucky’s season coming to an end at the Final Four, at least one Wildcat will have a decision on his future sooner than later.
Makini Campbell, the mother of 6-foot-11 Kentucky sophomore Dakari Johnson, says the New York native will decide whether or not to leave Lexington for the NBA Draft before the end of this week.
“The family with Dakari is gathering information and will make a decision by week’s end,” Campbell told SNY.tv.
Johnson is currently slotted at No. 39 overall according to the latest DraftExpress mock draft.
After the official announcement on Sunday that Kentucky head coach John Calipari had been selected for induction to the Hall of Fame, he told reporters he expects at least five — and possibly seven — Wildcats to declare for the NBA Draft.
We reported here last week that an NBA scout said as many as seven players “are gone” to the NBA.
Calipari said he expects freshman Karl-Anthony Towns, the projected No. 1 pick by DraftExpress.com, to declare, along with junior big man Willie Cauley-Stein (No. 6), freshman forward Trey Lyles (No. 17) and sophomore guards Andrew and Aaron Harrison. Andrew is projected No. 52 by DraftExpress.com, while Aaron is projected to go undrafted.
Calipari also said freshman shooting guard Devin Booker (No. 17) and Johnson are considering.
Booker’s father, Melvin, told SNY.tv they are ‘gathering info’ and that there is ‘no timetable yet.’
“The only ones who would stay [if they lose] would be a [Trey] Lyles, maybe a [Devin] Booker,” one NBA scout told SNY.tv last week. “The rest of them are all going, I don’t care if they win or lose. I think if they lose there’s maybe a moment [of pause] by Trey Lyles or Devin Booker. Those are the only two that I think may pause at all. Regardless what happens, I’m fairly confident that the Harrison twins, Dakari, Karl and Willie are all gone. No doubt in my mind.”
The deadline to declare for the NBA Draft is April 26.
