Trey Lyles Declares for 2015 NBA Draft: Latest Details and Reaction
Trey Lyles recorded a grand total of two double-doubles and played 23 minutes per game at Kentucky. The 6'10" forward will hope he flashed enough talent in those minutes to become a lottery pick, as Lyles announced on Thursday he would forgo his final three years of eligibility to enter the 2015 NBA draft.
Kentucky basketball's official Twitter feed reported the news:
Lyles, 19, averaged 8.7 points and 5.2 rebounds in his lone season in Lexington. The power forward was one of seven Kentucky players to declare for the draft. Wildcats coach John Calipari has long been a proponent of allowing his young players to make their own decisions.
"There's not going to be any brainwashing, forcing, pushing either in or out. I want each kid to make a decision for themselves," Calipari told reporters earlier this month. "I did tell a couple of the kids that it's a man's league; it's not a child's league. If you're not ready for a man's league, you need to come back."
Lyles entering the draft does not come as a surprise, but he's certainly going to have to prove himself to scouts. DraftExpress' big board currently has him as the 19th-best player in the 2015 class while ESPN.com's Chad Ford has him one spot higher. A 2014 McDonald's All-American, Lyles arrived in Kentucky as the No. 10 player in his high school class.
He'll enter the NBA as far more of a project than a finished product. Though he offered glimpses of his potential, he dealt with a crowded Kentucky frontcourt and was sometimes pushed to the background. With Willie Cauley-Stein and Karl-Anthony Towns getting extended playing time, it was often difficult for Lyles to get minutes at his more natural 4 spot.
Lyles as a pro should be able to flash more of his all-around game, especially as a stretch power forward. He has a decent enough jumper that can (but probably shouldn't) stretch out to the college three-point line, and he adjusted his game well to space the floor when needed. He'll need to be far more consistent with his jumper in workouts to overcome his shaky defensive film; on most possessions, he was the weakest defender Kentucky had on the floor.
That said, he's a clear first-rounder with a ton of room to grow over the next few years. Even if he's only a role player at the next level, it's unlikely any team will select him high enough to put him in bust territory.
Recruiting information via 247Sports unless otherwise noted.
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