Projecting Kentucky's 2016-17 Rotation After Wenyen Gabriel's Commitment

Kentucky continued to build its roster for the 2016-17 season on Thursday as it earned the commitment of forward Wenyen Gabriel, according to Adam Finkelstein of ESPN.com. 

Gabriel joins New Zealand's Tai Wynyard and Sacha Killeya-Jones in the class of 2016, which has already produced an impressive frontcourt. 

Head coach John Calipari still has plenty of work to do on the recruiting trail, especially in the backcourt, but Gabriel's commitment to the Wildcats is another step forward for one of the nation's elite programs. 

As the roster begins to take shape, we opted to look at what the starting lineup might look like entering the 2016-17 season with the current personnel on the team's roster. 

This lineup is subject to change based on future commitments, but for now this is what the Wildcats will be sending out to the court just over a year from now. 

Guard: Isaiah Briscoe

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Isaiah Briscoe could easily follow the same career path as Tyler Ulis, especially if Ulis and incoming freshman Jamal Murray steal all the headlines during the 2015-16 season. 

Ulis was a solid contributor in his freshman year, but he did not catch a ton of attention because of the other stars in the Kentucky backcourt. Although the roster isn't as loaded as it was last season, Briscoe could drop to the backburner if Ulis and Murray get off to hot starts.

It also wouldn't hurt Calipari to have an experienced guard in the backcourt if he somehow fails to land a top prospect such as De'Aaron Fox. Although that is unlikely, it is always good to prepare for the worst. 

If Briscoe returns for his sophomore season, he would also help his own stock and could end up getting drafted higher in the 2017 NBA draft. 

Guard: Mychal Mulder

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At the time of writing, Kentucky hasn't brought in a star guard in the class of 2016. 

That leaves Calipari with few options at the position, but his best one at the moment, assuming Ulis and Murray go to the pros, is Mychal Mulder. 

The sharpshooting junior college transfer from Canada will look to be a difference-maker off the bench throughout the 2015-16 season. In his senior year at Kentucky, Mulder could provide the Wildcats with some worthy experience alongside plenty of young faces.

When the recruitment process for the class of 2016 is officially over, we expect someone like Fox or Malik Monk to be in this spot, but for now, Mulder will have to do. 

Forward: Wenyen Gabriel

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Wenyen Gabriel chose Kentucky over Duke on Thursday as he became the third member of the growing class of 2016. 

Gabriel's stock rose this summer, which is why the interest from the Wildcats, Duke and others sparked recently. Instead of completing the recruiting process, he chose Kentucky before he made all of his official visits. 

"Kentucky made it clear that they had a plan for me personally and for helping me to take my game to the next level," Gabriel said, per ESPN.com. 

With a fast trajectory to the NBA in mind, expect Calipari to use Gabriel as a starter in his first season alongside the other members of a potentially dominant frontcourt. 

Forward: Sacha Killeya-Jones

The first American to commit to Kentucky's class of 2016 should also feature heavily in the Kentucky frontcourt during his freshman year. 

Sacha Killeya-Jones, who committed to the Wildcats in August, should help rebuild the Wildcats' front line once Skal Labissiere and Alex Poythress depart the program after the upcoming season. 

The 6'11" power forward will be tasked with most of the rebounding duties down low and some of the scoring responsibilities in the paint while playing next to Gabriel, Marcus Lee and Tai Wynyard.

Just like any Kentucky big man who follows in the footsteps of Karl-Anthony Towns, he will be expected to make an instant impact on the glass in order to help Kentucky achieve a national championship.

Center: Marcus Lee

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Experience is never a bad thing to have, especially when three freshman big men are set to play key roles in the Kentucky offense just over 12 months from now. 

At that point in his college career, Marcus Lee will be a senior with plenty of experience to bank on from Kentucky's deep postseason runs. 

Lee isn't the most powerful paint player in the nation, but he should provide the Wildcats with a steady hand down low while the young stars get acclimated to the collegiate game. 

This could all change if the Wildcats bring in another impressive frontcourt player, which is something we would not put past Calipari, but for the time being, Lee is a nice asset to have while the head coach chases down backcourt talent. 

Bench Contributors

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Tai Wynyard

The big man from New Zealand will fight for a starting spot right away, but Calipari could lean on Lee's experience to start the season. If he proves his worth early in the season, Wynyard will be a key contributor in his first year in Lexington. 

Charles Matthews

Charles Matthews will be a bench contributor in his freshman season, and given Calipari's current hunt for guards in the loaded class of 2016, he should come off the pine during his sophomore year as well.

How much playing time Matthews receives in his second season will depend on how he develops this year and how much talent Calipari brings in from the class of 2016.