By: LARRY VAUGHT
Former Kentucky All-American Mike Pratt thinks four players will be key to how successful the Wildcats are next season — but it’s not the four players many might expect.
Pratt, the color analyst on the UK Radio Network, feels Alex Poythress, Derek Willis, Marcus Lee and Dominique Hawkins are the keys to having another team capable of challenging for a national title.
They are four of UK’s five returning players along with point guard Tyler Ulis.
“Ulis is tough and will get you six assists, 10 points, couple of rebounds and be solid,” said Pratt during his apperanace at the Ohio UK Convention in Franklin, Ohio, Saturday. “The other four returning guys are the keys.”
He says Poythress, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, is “critical” to UK’s success.
“We have got to see the Alex we have heard about,” Pratt said. “It’s critical for him to be that player.
“But we need to see Derek and Marcus blossom. They have got to get minutes and be productive. Little Hawkins is a tough bird. He can defend. He’s got to make practice tough for the young guards. Maybe he’ll be better than one of those guys they are bringing in.”
Pratt said the four have to be valuable leaders as well.
“They have to show leadership in practice by communicating the effort it takes and all the things the general public cannot see that is important,” Pratt said. “Last year the guys returning knew what Calipari wanted. You saw in the Bahamas there had been communication between the old guys and new guys.
“When you see somebody practice at a certain level and doing things the coach wants, you figure out pretty quickly you better pick up the pace. That’s why I think those four guys are the most important players going into the season for different reasons than most others would think.”
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