LEXINGTON, Ky. _ With the coronavirus adding a new dimension of uncertainty, the annual will he-won't he regarding Kentucky players and the NBA draft seems murkier than ever.
Kentucky coach John Calipari said Tuesday that he has not spoken to the players who might be trying to make the UK-or-the-highway decision.
"Mainly because I have more questions than answers for them right now," Calipari said during a 53-minute teleconference. "My guess is four or five guys would probably test the waters."
Calipari cited the shifting ground under the NBA and college basketball as adding more mystery to the pre-draft process this year. The UK coach said he believed the NBA combine and NBA draft will be moved to later this year. The combine is usually in mid-May in Chicago, while the NBA draft is in late June.
The NBA has not announced any change in the dates for the combine and draft.
Usually this time of year, players announce they are entering their names in the draft and begin working out for teams. Duke point guard Tre Jones and Georgia freshman Anthony Edwards are among players who have made such an announcement this year, but it's not known if restrictions on travel and group gatherings will prevent workouts for individual teams.
"We don't know when that will happen or if that will happen," Calipari said of players working out for teams prior to the NBA draft.
With many gyms and exercise facilities closed because of the coronavirus, staying in top condition figures to be a greater challenge. Calipari advised doing sit-ups, push-ups and running in place at home.
"I'm telling them, 'You better be conditioning in some way because your body is your castle,' " the UK coach said.
Calipari spoke highly of Ashton Hagans and Nick Richards as NBA prospects. Of Hagans, he said, "if he chooses to go to that league, someone is getting the ultimate competitor."
Richards' ability to defend the pick and roll, block shots and run the floor are talents the NBA prizes, Calipari said. Plus, Richards showed an ability to face the basket and shoot well last season.
As he had earlier this month, Calipari spoke of how he saw the 2019-20 team capable of winning the national championship. That made the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament hard to accept.
"Because of how this team came together," Calipari said, "and the vibe this team had. ... I felt this was a vibe that my best teams had had."
Calipari cited the team's response to adversity, its energy, its unity of purpose.
"I looked at my staff and said, 'Guys, we could be winning the whole thing,'" he said. " ... My hope is this becomes one of the favorite teams in at least my era."
As for next season, Calipari suggested that Dontaie Allen will be healthy. Allen, the 2019 Kentucky Mr. Basketball, sat out this past season as he recovered from a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a shoulder injury.
Allen could have played in the last month of the season, but was behind in terms of plays and strategies, Calipari said. "But, I kept telling him I'm not going to use a year of your eligibility for 30 seconds or two games."
The word seems to be that Immanuel Quickley could improve his stock by returning to Kentucky and showing the NBA that he could play point guard. Quickley could play point guard if he returns to UK, Calipari said.
Quickley came into last season with the goal of being a starter. Of course, he became Kentucky's leading scorer. And the Southeastern Conference coaches voted him Player of the Year.
"His decision is, 'is this the right time?' " Calipari said. "'Am I ready to succeed in that league? Am I mentally ready?' Which I know he is. 'Am I physically ready?' Yeah."
Calipari called Quickley "one of the most grounded young men that I've ever coached."
