Projecting Kentucky's 2016-17 Rotation After 5-Star PG De'Aaron Fox Commits

The Kentucky Wildcats basketball team landed yet another a blue-chip prospect with the commitment of 2016 point guard De'Aaron Fox, per Kyle Tucker of the Courier-Journal.

Rated the No. 3 overall player in the 247Sports composite rankings, the 5-star guard continues a great tradition of elite point guards heading to Lexington. While opposing fans might be tired of seeing all the great players head to Kentucky, commitments like this are vital to replace so much top talent heading out each year.

The list of players leaving for the NBA draft might be shorter this season, but DraftExpress still projects Skal Labissiere (No. 1 overall), Jamal Murray (No. 6), Isaiah Briscoe (No. 18) and Marcus Lee (No. 29) to be first-round picks in the 2016 draft. Lee might stay and Tyler Ulis leaving is a possibility, although he is considered a fit for the 2017 draft. 

All of this will be highly dependent on how each player performs this season, but for now let's assume the top four players will be gone by next year. With Alex Poythress also graduating there should once again be a lot of turnover.

While you can bet coach John Calipari will add more players before all is said and done, here is an early look at the projected 2016-17 rotation.

G Tyler Ulis

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Considering he has the chance to be one of the top point guards in the nation this season, another year could make Tyler Ulis truly dominant at the college level.

The 5'9" point guard makes up for his lack of size with his quickness to get around any defender. Just as important, he has excellent vision that could allow him to rack up double-digit assists on a consistent basis.

On a team with so many newcomers, Ulis could be a leader as a sophomore for the Wildcats this season.

One of the big questions going forward is whether he can convince NBA scouts he can play at that level. If he puts together All-American level numbers and proves he can defend taller players, there is certainly a chance he could leave after his sophomore year. 

At this point, he does seem like someone who can help Kentucky not only this year but in the future.

G De'Aaron Fox

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De'Aaron Fox is the type of talent who will start no matter who else is on the roster. If Tyler Ulis returns, Fox easily has the size at 6'4" to play the 2. On the other hand, the incoming freshman is more than capable of running the point if necessary.

ESPN's Jeff Goodman had high praise for the Texas native, tweeting, "Has John Wall-type of speed and athleticism. Also can be an elite defender. Simply put: he is a stud."

Fox uses his length to his advantage on both ends of the court, helping him get shots off on offense while causing disruptions defensively. He is more of a scoring guard at the moment, but he has shown the ability to get teammates involved as well.

Regardless of how the rest of the class shapes up, Fox will likely be a go-to offensive option as a freshman and won't be on campus too long before heading to the NBA.

G Charles Matthews

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The 4-star prospect is a clear step behind the trio of Tyler Ulis, Isaiah Briscoe and Jamal Murray, but Charles Matthews should make a big impact during his freshman season, even if it's off the bench.

At 6'6" with athleticism, Matthews can be an excellent on-ball defender who can take out an opponent's best player. He is not much of a shooter, but he can slash into the lane and finish at or above the rim with consistency.

By the time he is a sophomore, the wing should be an impact player on both ends of the court.

Another big-time recruit like Malik Monk, Kobi Simmons or Rawle Alkins could certainly displace Matthews in the starting lineup next season, but the Wildcats would still be in good shape with this man at the wing.

F Sacha Killeya-Jones

This might be a bit of a surprise with Wenyen Gabriel currently ranked higher as the No. 16 overall player in the class, per 247Sports. Sacha Killeya-Jones is listed at No. 26 overall.

That said, Killeya-Jones is still a 5-star prospect and for good reason. He is a skilled forward with a lot of polish for a high school big man. He not only runs the floor well but he can score with his back to the basket as well as stepping out to hit a jump shot.

His versatility at 6'10" makes him a matchup nightmare for opponents, and he could perfectly fit into John Calipari's system at Kentucky.

Gabriel has clear talent, although his ranking is mostly based on upside. He has excellent athleticism and good timing to block shots on defense, making him a likely pro prospect in time. However, he might be a bit too raw to come in and perform at a high level as a freshman.

C Isaac Humphries

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Not every program in college basketball has a true center in the lineup, but this position is a fixture for Kentucky teams. Isaac Humphries is the best option at the spot who, at 7'0", can do a lot on both ends of the court.

While the Australian native will be overshadowed this season by Skal Labissiere, the young player has plenty of ability and will only get better with time. John Calipari was excited when he initially signed him, per Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv:

"

I watched Isaac when he first came over to the United States in high school in Indiana and was impressed with his skill and size. He reminded me of a much bigger Josh Harrellson. He’s very skilled, has great hands and is a great passer. To have a 7-footer who just turned 17, he has a lot still in front of him, and the best part is he wants the challenge of playing at Kentucky.

"

After a season of going head to head against Labissiere and Marcus Lee in practice, Humphries should be ready to make a real impact on the big stage. With his size, he should at the very least be an imposing defender and rebounder.

There are still a number of top big men uncommitted for the 2016 class—Wenyen Gabriel has the tools to play an undersized center—but Humphries appears to be the center-in-waiting at this point.

Key Bench Players

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F Wenyen Gabriel

Whether he starts or not, Wenyen Gabriel will certainly have a role on this team. The forward is a dynamic athlete in the mold of Marcus Lee, and he will be able to contribute early even if it is just in rebounding, blocks and putbacks.

In any case, his best basketball is in front of him, and Gabriel has loads of potential to eventually be a star at the college level and possibly in the NBA.

F Derek Willis

Kentucky players rarely seem to have the normal college path of struggling to find minutes early before working for more playing time as a junior or senior. Derek Willis is one of the rare ones as a junior with a versatile skill set who earned a spot in the rotation alongside higher rated recruits.

By the time he is a senior, Willis will have a chance to start or at least get significant playing time. As a quality inside scorer who can also hit a jump shot and defend well on-ball, his impact will be huge.

G Mychal Mulder

Although Mychal Mulder is known primarily as an outside shooter, this will be an extremely valuable skill throughout his likely two seasons in Lexington. Championship teams need someone who can spread the floor and hit a shot in a big moment, and the junior college transfer fits this description.

Even if he doesn't get tons of playing time during the 2015-16 season, Kentucky will need him to provide depth in the backcourt next year.