Forget this year’s NBA Draft, Kentucky basketball newcomers are all over 2024 mocks

Random notes:

▪ After last weekend’s Nike Hoop Summit, Yahoo Sports posted an NBA mock draft for 2024. Incoming UK freshman Justin Edwards was at No. 8. Fellow UK newcomer D.J. Wagner was at No. 13. A third UK freshman-to-be, center Aaron Bradshaw, was at No. 16.

▪ Big news out of the ACC with Kyle Filipowski announcing he will return to Duke for his sophomore season. The 7-footer averaged 15.1 points and 8.9 rebounds last season. If guard Jeremy Roach returns — he entered the NBA Draft but is keeping his college eligibility — the Blue Devils could be preseason No. 1.

▪ Or maybe not. Mackenzie Mgbako, Duke’s top-10 recruit for 2023, reportedly wants to reopen his recruitment. Louisville is reportedly a possibility for Mgbako.

▪ Interesting that now former Louisville center Jae’Lyn Withers has committed to North Carolina via the transfer portal. Withers averaged 8.9 points and 5.3 rebounds last season for the 4-28 Cardinals.

▪ Indiana made an interesting transfer portal addition in former Oregon center Kel’el Ware, a 7-footer with lots of potential.

▪ Especially considering that its home opener date conflicted with the opening weekend of Keeneland and Blue Grass Stakes day, Lexington Sporting Club’s attendance figure of 3,029 last Saturday has to be seen as encouraging.

▪ LSC is back at home this Saturday against Tormenta FC of Statesboro, Georgia, at 7 p.m. at Georgetown College.

▪ Kentucky Derby contenders Practical Move and Mandarin Hero each earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure while finishing 1-2 in Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby. At present, Mandarin Hero needs defections to make the May 6 race.

▪ Tapit Trice earned a 99 Beyer for his win in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. Lord Miles earned a 93 Beyer for his upset win in the Wood Memorial.

▪ After serving his 10-year suspension for numerous violations, Rick Dutrow is back training in New York. The trainer of 2008 Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown has not been granted a training license in Kentucky.

▪ According to Football Scoop, Kentucky’s Liam Coen is the college football’s fifth-highest paid offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at $1.7 million.

Washington’s Ryan Grubb is No. 1 at $2 million. Oklahoma’s Jeff Lebby and Alabama’s Tommy Rees are tied at No. 2 at $1.9 million. Clemson’s Garrett Riley is fourth at $1.75 million.

▪ Mel Kiper’s latest NFL mock draft dropped Tuesday morning. His first four picks are quarterbacks. Kiper has Carolina choosing Alabama’s Bryce Young at No. 1; Houston taking Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud at No. 2; Tennessee trading up to take Florida’s Anthony Richardson at No. 3; Indianapolis picking Kentucky’s Will Levis at No. 4.

▪ Levis held a private workout for the Colts in Lexington last Thursday.

▪ Speaking of the NFL, YouTube has announced its NFL Sunday Ticket prices for next season after taking the property over from the DirecTV. It ill cost $349 for YouTube TV subscribers, $449 for non-subscribers. Bundled with RedZone it’s $389 for subscribers, $489 for non-subscribers. You can get $100 off if you sign up before June 6.

▪ Through nine games, the Cincinnati Reds’ bullpen leads the league in losses with five. It’s tied for second in blown saves with three.

After taking a 4-3 lead in the top of the 10th inning in Atlanta on Monday night, Reds reliever Derek Law gave up a two-run homer to Sean Murphy in the bottom of the inning for a Braves win.

▪ Kudos to both the Louisville and Kentucky baseball programs for postponing Tuesday’s scheduled game at U of L after the mass shooting in Louisville on Monday morning.

▪ Happy retirement to former Kentucky defensive lineman Corey Peters, who is hanging it up after a 12-year NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals and Jacksonville Jaguars.

▪ Way late on this but condolences to the family of former UK linebacker Frank LeMaster, who passed away March 23 at age 71.

After a stellar career at Bryan Station High School and as a Wildcat, LeMaster played nine seasons in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles. LeMaster started in the 1980 Super Bowl with the Eagles and was selected to the 1981 Pro Bowl.

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