Kentucky guard Antonio Reeves has made the decision to withdraw from the 2023 NBA Draft, as reported by CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein. However, Reeves’ future with the Kentucky Wildcats remains uncertain as he weighs his options.
Reeves, who initially entered the draft on April 4 while preserving his eligibility, is considering the possibility of graduating from UK this summer and entering the transfer portal as a graduate transfer. Having transferred from Illinois State, Reeves had an impressive season with the Wildcats, ranking second on the team in scoring with an average of 14.4 points per game off the bench. His performance earned him the SEC Co-Sixth Man of the Year honors.
Although Reeves struggled in Kentucky’s loss to Kansas State in the NCAA Tournament, shooting just 1 of 10, he managed to make his mark in the program’s history. He became only the 11th player to make 80 three-pointers in a season, finishing with a shooting percentage of 39.8% from beyond the arc. This achievement places him sixth among all first-year players at UK, trailing behind notable names like Jamal Murray, Malik Monk, and Brandon Knight.
Reeves consistently showcased his shooting prowess throughout the season, making multiple three-pointers in 21 out of 34 games. He recorded three or more threes in 14 games, four or more in 10 games, five or more in four games, and six or more in two games. As the season progressed, Reeves found his rhythm and scored in double figures in 26 out of 34 games. He had impressive performances, including a career-high 37 points in a victory against Arkansas, 22 points in a first-round NCAA Tournament win over Providence, and notable contributions in other games against Auburn, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M.
One of Reeves’ standout performances came in the regular season finale against the Arkansas Razorbacks. Despite playing without point guards Cason Wallace and Sahvir Wheeler, Reeves delivered an exceptional performance, shooting 12 of 17 from the field, 2 of 4 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 11 of 11 from the free-throw line. His 37-point performance tied for the third-highest individual scoring output in the John Calipari era and was the highest for a Wildcat in a true road game under Calipari, leading Kentucky to a remarkable 88-79 victory.
Reeves’ contributions extended beyond the regular season, as he was named the Most Valuable Player of Kentucky’s four-game trip to the Bahamas the previous summer. In just 19.3 minutes per game, he averaged a team-high 17.0 points, shooting an impressive 52.4% from the field and 51.9% from long range, while maintaining a perfect free-throw percentage.
During the previous offseason, Reeves had several options when choosing a college program. Ultimately, he selected Kentucky over DePaul, Nebraska, Oregon, and Xavier. Originally from Chicago, Reeves attended Simeon High School, known for its basketball excellence, and played for the Mac Irvin Fire of the Nike EYBL, where Kentucky assistant Chin Coleman once held a leadership position.
In other Kentucky Wildcats news, two-time All-American and former national player of the year Oscar Tshiebwe announced his decision to remain in the 2023 NBA Draft, officially concluding his successful tenure at Kentucky. The team is also eagerly awaiting a final decision from All-SEC Freshman forward Chris Livingston, who has until 11:59 PM ET to withdraw from the draft and potentially return to the university.
