30. Quade Green, PG, Kentucky
As per usual, John Calipari is entering another season with arguably the most stacked team in all of college basketball. Quade Green will be tasked with leading this team to the National Championship. Kentucky has always had a reliable floor general; De’Aaron Fox was the man last year, with Tyler Ulis the year before him.
At the EYBL Circuit, Green showed his elite playmaking ability and his ability to get his teammates involved by averaging 10 assists per game. Additionally, Green scored a decent 14 points per game. Also, Green’s leadership was in full effect as he led his team to the Peach Jam Finals.
Green, however, won’t be tasked with taking on a large scoring role. Instead, the 6-foot-1 guard’s job will be to facilitate the ball, finding the open man and getting his teammates on fire. Moreover, since Green isn’t a fantastic athlete, we may see Calipari run similar plays that he ran for the now-Phoenix Suns guard, Tyler Ulis.
Along with incoming four-star point guard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the ball-handler duties will be split between the pair. Ultimately, I see Green winning the starting job and earning more playing time than Gilgeous-Alexander. If Kentucky can make a run for the National Championship under the guidance of Green, his draft stock may take a rise, similar to Tyus Jones of Duke back in 2015.
Kentucky stands a great chance at winning the National Championship this year. Green will have to be at his best for the team to achieve their main goal of cutting down the nets next year.