Summer basketball preview: Begins with Bam
Bam Adebayo's offer list was as long as a Game of Thrones novel. Maybe not literally but Rivals listed him with 23 offers and there a handful not listed.
Had Adebayo not chosen UK's offer, the Cats' 2016-2017 season may have had a Game of Thrones like death. Ugly and quick.
Senior season: Bam Adebayo put up eye-popping stats during his senior season at High Point Christian, but believe it or not his numbers would have actually been better had he not transferred from Northside in Pinetown, N.C. His junior season Adebayo averaged 32.2 points and 21 rebounds per game.
The North Carolina native made the switch to the more prestigious High Point Christian because it would allow him to play a more difficult schedule, further improve his game and get more national recognition. It's safe to say all those things came to fruition for Adebayo.
Adebayo worked his way to average a double-double of 18.9 points and 13 rebounds per game. He was named to the All-USA Today second team, earned a trip to the McDonald's All-American game and the Jordan Brand Classic. He finished No.7 in the Rivals.com rankings, being the No.2 big in the class.
Before doing all that, Adebayo surprisingly committed to Kentucky in the early signing period. Many thought N.C. State may be the leader since Adebayo's best friend Dennis Smith Jr., had already committed to the Wolfpack.
But on national television Adebayo picked UK over the Pack.
It becomes repetitive to say a high school prospect has a high ceiling and plenty of potential, but that's obviously true for Adebayo. Before transferring Adebayo wasn't pushed and could get away with putting up big numbers with ease. He could live in the paint if he wanted and just rebound his own misses until he eventually connected.
The difference between his junior year and his senior year were apparent. He developed actual post moves. Although he still has a ways to go, he found a face-up game that went hand-in-hand with his emerging jump shot.
Players get better in time, that's natural, but the jump from junior to senior year should have Kentucky fans ecstatic for what's yet to come.
Adebayo's freshman impact: It better be significant, to sum it up in a sentence. Kentucky has two major question marks heading into the upcoming season: Outside shooting and more importantly- will the Cats be better on the boards?
Adebayo should be the answer to the latter. John Calipari hasn't had many physical specimens like Adebayo. His outdated height and weight has him at 6 foot 9, 230 pounds, but when UK updates its roster Adebayo will likely be a legitimate 6-foot-10, 250-pound power forward.
Adebayo can run the floor as well as any past Kentucky big, and has the muscle to be in the Julius Randle and Terrence Jones conversation.
If Adebayo isn't cleaning up the glass and giving the Cats some scoring on the block, who will for UK? If he can't defend the block against bruising fours and fives, who will? Isaac Humphries showed flashes but still seems to be a little ways away. Tai Wynyard is a complete wildcard and is likely a few years away.
Sacha Killeya-Jones and Wenyen Gabriel will provide some help, and especially length, but don't have near the muscle mass as Adebayo.
Adebayo has to be the answer down-low for Kentucky or the Cats will have some major interior deficiencies.
But there's no reason to believe Adebayo won't shine. He does have the muscle. He has the aggression that UK was lacking last season. He has the drive and a little nastiness about his game. He will talk trash and has the ability to back it up.
And to go with the intangibles Adebayo is also an ever-improving skilled basketball player. He can score on the block and as mentioned above his jumpshot is improving. He has solid handles for a big that will allow him to attack outside-in. Don't be surprised to see Adebayo leading some fast breaks that will likely resemble a freight-train.
One concern for Adebayo for the upcoming season is being able to play within himself. Being such an alpha-male he will try to do too much at times. He will have some turnovers. But most importantly he needs to keep his aggression under control and stay out of foul trouble. That will be his biggest challenge adjusting from high school to college, knowing when to contest and when to concede. If he gets in foul trouble it could hurt Kentucky's chances in key games.
Adebayo will be a fan favorite among the Kentucky faithful. He's still scratching the surface but if he lives up to the hype the Cats will have a long and exciting season.