Kerry Blackshear's transfer decision is still a 'give and take' with Kentucky basketball

LEXINGTON - Kentucky’s top remaining recruiting target for its 2019-20 roster is set to visit one of the Wildcats’ biggest rivals this weekend.

But as Virginia Tech graduate transfer Kerry Blackshear listens to Rick Barnes’ pitch at Tennessee, there appears to still be hope he might ultimately pick John Calipari and Kentucky for his final season of college. 274Sports director of recruiting Evan Daniels reported earlier this week Blackshear still plans to visit Kentucky after making trips to Florida, Arkansas and Tennessee.

Blackshear’s former AAU coach sees reasons for the 6-foot-10 forward to consider the Wildcats, too, even with former McDonald’s All-Americans EJ Montgomery and Nick Richards returning in the Kentucky frontcourt.

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“One thing you’ve also got to consider though is Kentucky is one of the only schools that has their pro day where every NBA team is represented,” Willie Anderson, director of the Q6 All-Stars AAU program where Blackshear played in high school, told the Courier Journal Thursday. “It’s a give and take when you look at some of that stuff in terms of where he wants to select a school.

"Obviously, you want to play a lot where you have a big role on a team. You don’t want to go from playing 20-something, 30-something minutes a game to 15 minutes a game just because there are other guys projected to be one-and-done guys.”

Even with Montgomery, Richards and Bucknell graduate transfer Nate Sestina already on the Kentucky roster, Blackshear would almost certainly start for the Wildcats next season.

Blackshear averaged 29.9 minutes for Virginia Tech as a fourth-year junior, contributing 14.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. With four former McDonald’s All-American recruits in the post rotation at Kentucky last season, starters PJ Washington and Reid Travis both averaged at least 28.5 minutes per game.

So, minutes should not be a concern for Blackshear at Kentucky. Style of play might be though, if he wants to play somewhere he can show off his ball-handling and perimeter shooting skills in hopes of impressing NBA scouts after testing the draft waters this spring. Travis had a similar set of goals when he transferred to Kentucky but was predominantly used as a bruiser in the paint, attempting just 26 3-pointers in 32 games.

Blackshear converted 21 of 63 (33.3%) of his 3-point attempts at Virginia Tech last season.

“The NBA game has transcended to more of a pick-and-pop game,” Anderson said. “There’s not as many back-to-the-basket touches. … I think those are two areas where I would definitely say continue your shooting and continue your ball-handling because that’s what the NBA has evolved to, creating on the perimeter a little bit.”

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Kentucky’s roster is stacked with perimeter players between guards Ashton Hagans, Tyrese Maxey, Immanuel Quickley and Johnny Juzang, and forwards Keion Brooks, Kahlil Whitney and Dontaie Allen. Montgomery and Sestina have also shown the ability to stretch the floor out to 3-point range.

At most of the other schools he is considering – Michigan, Texas A&M and Memphis have been linked to Blackshear in addition to the schools he has visited – Blackshear would be likely to receive more shots and more opportunities on the perimeter.

Of course, improving his NBA stock is not the only factor under consideration. Travis proved a year ago he was more than willing to sacrifice some of those individual goals to play on a team capable of making a run to the Final Four.

Kentucky would represent Blackshear’s best chance at a national title among the contenders based on early preseason rankings.

“You want to go somewhere where they’re going to be able to put you in some situations where you can showcase your ability,” Anderson said. “Obviously, trying to win a national championship (though). He’s played on a team that was top 10 in the country, so the next step would be to win a national championship.”

Public comments from the Blackshear family have been scarce since he announced he was taking his name out of the draft pool. Since both Blackshear’s mother and father played basketball at Stetson and his younger brother Kenan recently signed with FAU, the family is well prepared for Kerry’s latest recruiting saga, Anderson said. The AAU coach has simply forwarded along any inquires he receives from coaches.

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Anderson must wait like the rest of the college basketball world to learn where the No. 1-ranked graduate transfer on the market will play next season, but he is certain of one thing.

“He’s a team-first guy,” Anderson said. “There’s not a selfish bone in his body, and you can see that from watching him play. I thought he was one of the best post passers in the country because he just reads it.

“…Whoever gets him, they’re going to get a heck of a student athlete and a heck of a team guy. A guy who wants to win and who’s going to do whatever is necessary.”

Jon Hale:jahale@courier-journal.com; Twitter:@JonHale_CJ. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today:www.courier-journal.com/jonh.