How Many Years Did Devin Booker Play At Kentucky

Kentucky guard Devin Booker (1) celebrates after scoring during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Alabama, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Kentucky won 70-48. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Associated Press

Star-studded higher basketball teams like this season'southward version of the Kentucky Wildcats are the reason why the idea of tanking is fifty-fifty discussed in the NBA in the kickoff identify.

After all, in DraftExpress' latest mock draft, Karl-Anthony Towns checked in as the projected No. 3 pick, Willie Cauley-Stein was No. 6, Trey Lyles was No. 25, Dakari Johnson was No. 30, Andrew Harrison was No. 47 and Aaron Harrison was No. 51.

Naturally, freshman Devin Booker has emerged from that group as arguably Kentucky's best offensive threat—and the No. 14 actor in that mock typhoon—even though he doesn't fifty-fifty start for head bus John Calipari.

The scary thing for the residue of the nation is that, even with those hereafter NBA players for teammates, Booker could get the squad's go-to scorer for the residuum of the season.

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

On the year, Booker is 2d on the team in scoring at x.8 points per game and first in three-indicate percent at a l percent clip. Even so, he has played his best offensive basketball game as of late and topped double-digit point totals in vi of the last nine games, including 3 performances of at least 18 points.

CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein was rather impressed with Booker's most contempo attempt in the win over South Carolina:

Jon Rothstein @ JonRothstein
Devin Booker continues to evidence why he'south not merely ane of the best frosh in CBB - he's one of the best players. 6-ix for 18 points at SC. #BBN

The reason this may seem so surprising even though Booker is an incredibly talented histrion is that he was somewhat overshadowed by his own recruiting class when he arrived at Kentucky alongside Towns, Lyles and Tyler Ulis.

Towns was arguably the most anticipated recruit in the land this side of Knuckles'south Jahlil Okafor, Lyles was the centerpiece of a heated recruiting battle and Ulis simply stood out because of how talented he was for a 5'8" player.

It was through no error of his ain, but Booker was overshadowed even though he would take been the crown jewel for most teams' classes across the nation.

Booker is no longer overshadowed now primarily because of his ability to hit from deep.

As mentioned, he is leading the Wildcats in three-signal shooting and has hit 22 of his last 33 shots from downtown in the past nine games for a 66.7 percent marking. He is also capable of attacking the handbasket if needed and playing solid defense, but he is most valuable for this Kentucky squad because of his shooting stroke.

Seth Davis of Sports Illustrated had a rather humorous take on Booker'due south shot:

Seth Davis @ SethDavisHoops
I accept a solution for the lack of offense in higher hoops this season: Devin Booker should take every shot for every team.

Because Booker'due south recent shooting, beau freshman Ulis discussed his strategy on the floor with The Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com): "I just effort to discover him. We came to school together. He gets the task done. He can shoot the ball so if I need to outlet, he's going to be at that place."

That type of outside product is and then critical for Kentucky because this squad is loaded in the frontcourt, and for equally clutch every bit Aaron Harrison has been from behind the arc in his career, Booker and Ulis are the only players shooting better than 36 percentage from deep on the roster.

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

The Wildcats need that blazon of shooting to space the floor and forcefulness defenders to pick their poison with this loaded roster.

If the opposing defenses double any of the bigs or collapse on Ulis' penetration, Booker will be in that location to drill the open three every time.

There are and then many options on the 19-0 Wildcats that calling whatsoever one individual the go-to scorer is almost irresponsible—fifty-fifty with Booker'south recent play.

Start off, Calipari has been liberal enough with his commutation patterns in an endeavour to get everyone playing time that nobody on the team actually has the opportunity to put up monster numbers like a star player would if he were on the floor for 35 minutes.

In fact, seven players average more 20 minutes a night and nine average more than than xviii (including Alex Poythress, who is out for the season).

What's more, the ball finds the hot hand on this team because in that location are then many future NBA players on the roster, and points guards Andrew Harrison and Ulis are willing to share. Lately, that hot hand has been Booker, but it has been Cauley-Stein, Towns, the Harrisons and Ulis at different points of the season.

Booker is immensely talented and has increased his stock more than than any other Kentucky actor this year, based on the combination of impressive results and slightly lower expectations coming into the season.

If nosotros are request whether Booker is capable of becoming the Wildcats' go-to scorer, then the reply is a resounding yes.

James Crisp/Associated Press

He has proven as much over the grade of the past 9 games and deserves the recognition.

However, circumstances and the sheer number of offensive options on Booker's squad volition foreclose that scenario from becoming a night-to-dark reality.

Withal, you lot shouldn't be surprised when he goes off a few more times before March.

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