With Jai Lucas leaving last summer the fans of BBN are hoping for a return of former Wildcats to the bench and coaching staff. Two names brought up were Rajon Rondo and Tyler Ulis, both of whom are remembered as point guards with high basketball IQ. Ulis joined the coaching staff as a student assistant, eager to learn from John Calipari. Ulis’ NBA career was cut short after a car accident.
Rondo, a former NBA champion, has also been seen back on campus in Lexington recently. He’s taking classes to finish his degree and is rumored to be interested in joining as a student assistant for next season. To be eligible, Rondo must be enrolled at the university and have 12 active student credit hours.
Before Reed Sheppard in 2023, the last McDonald’s All-American to sign with Kentucky was Rondo in 2004. He averaged 9.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists in two seasons with the Wildcats. During his freshman year in 2004-05, Rondo broke the school’s single-season steals record with 87, was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team, and helped lead Kentucky to a 28-6 record and an Elite 8 appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
After a standout 2005-06 All-SEC season and a career ranking top-25 in assists with 285, Rondo was selected 21st overall in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, but was traded to the Boston Celtics on draft night.
Rondo began his high school career at Eastern High in Louisville, before transferring to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia for his senior year. He was rated as a 5-star prospect and ranked 17th in the 247Sports Composite, and ultimately chose Kentucky over Louisville.
