Alex Poythress Will Return to Kentucky for Senior Season: Details, Reaction

Kentucky forward Alex Poythress will return to the Wildcats for the 2015-16 season after missing the majority of the 2014-15 campaign with injury.

Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald-Leader noted Thursday that a Kentucky spokesman confirmed the news, and Poythress himself expressed excitement for the coming season:

Poythress is coming off an ACL tear, but the former McDonald’s All-American was still considered an NBA prospect based on his body of work and potential. A healthy run to the Final Four or beyond in 2015-16 would bolster his chances in the 2016 draft.

The Wildcats lost seven of their primary contributors to the draft this offseason, so Poythress will likely be given a significant role this year. What’s more, he has the opportunity to provide veteran leadership for the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

Myron Medcalf of ESPN.com pointed out that Poythress honed those leadership skills during a difficult injury-plagued 2014-15 campaign: “None of this is easy for Poythress. Still, he's managed the conflicting emotions and provided guidance to Kentucky's youngsters. He's a mentor for the top-seeded Wildcats. ... Although his role has changed, his presence remains.”

Poythress will be more than just a leader, though. John Calipari’s recruiting class, per 247Sports, includes a center, a point guard and a shooting guard, which leaves room for Poythress as a versatile player who can fill the small forward or power forward spot with ease.

At 6’8” with explosive athleticism, Poythress gets involved in the rebounding department and is one of the Wildcats’ better defenders. He is big enough to guard forwards closer to the basket but quick enough to keep up with perimeter-oriented wings as well.

He also averaged 11.2 points per game during the 2012-13 season and is more than capable of filling up the scorecard on a given night.   

Kentucky once again has national championship aspirations after reaching the 2015 Final Four. The return of Poythress is a significant boost to those hopes.