Olivier Sarr. UK men’s basketball photo shoot at the Kentucky Theater. Photo by Chet White | UK Athletics
Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook publisher Chris Dortch doesn’t deny that his publication has Kentucky too low in the preseason rankings. Coach John Calipari’s team is ranked 13th. But Dortch and his staff had to make their rankings before they knew if Wake Forest transfer Olivier Sarr would be eligible to play for UK or not
“Our ranking did not reflect his eligibility,” Dortch said. “If we had known for sure (he would be eligible), they would have been elevated into the top five.”
Now that Sarr is eligible, Dortch has no doubt what kind of impact he’ll make for Kentucky.
“I think he is the best transfer Cal has ever had and I don’t care where he’s been,” Dortch, who also writes for NBA.com, said. “He is more skilled than most realize and I have watched a ton of film on him.
“He can face up (to the basket) and score. He can pass. He can run the floor in transition. You can throw it down low to him and he can get a basket that way.
“I think he will easily be one of the top five to eight impactful transfers in the country. I just don’t think Cal has ever had a better transfer. He’s a great kid and great teammate. He definitely elevates Kentucky into a top five situation in my mind.
“Kentucky is right there now with the best teams in the country now that Sarr is eligible.”
