Next week’s NBA pre-draft events in Chicago a critical juncture for Kentucky players

Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe, Chris Livingston and Cason Wallace were among 78 players who received invitations to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine, the league announced Tuesday night.

Wallace has entered the June 22 NBA Draft with no plans to return to college basketball as he’s projected to be a first-round selection. Tshiebwe and Livingston have kept open the option of continuing their collegiate careers.

The deadline for players to decide whether to remain in the draft or return to school is May 31 at 11:59 p.m.

The NBA Combine is scheduled for May 15-21 in Chicago, a week in which prospects perform in front of league scouts and college coaches. Two other Kentucky players who entered their names in the draft, Jacob Toppin and Antonio Reeves, did not receive invitations to the combine.

However, Toppin and Reeves were invited to the NBA G League Elite Camp in Chicago May 13-14, from which an undetermined number of top players will earn spots in the combine later next week. Former Morehead State standout Johni Broome of Auburn was also invited to the G League Elite Camp.

Toppin does not plan to return to college basketball. Reeves has left open that possibility.

Joining Tshiebwe, Livingston and Wallace in receiving invitations to the NBA Draft Combine were nine other players from the Southeastern Conference, including four from Arkansas: Anthony Black, Ricky Council IV, Nick Smith and Jordan Walsh. Also invited from the SEC were Noah Clowney and Brandon Miller of Alabama, Kobe Brown of Missouri, GG Jackson of South Carolina and Julian Phillips of Tennessee.

French sensation and presumed No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama will not attend the combine because his season is still in progress back home.

That means Wembanyama will still be overseas when the draft lottery is held on May 16 in Chicago – deciding which team wins the sweepstakes to select the generational talent.

The combine will welcome most other top-end draft prospects, including projected lottery picks Scoot Henderson (G League Ignite), brothers Amen and Ausar Thompson (Overtime Elite), Jarace Walker (Houston) and Cam Whitmore (Villanova).