Davidson transfer Kellan Grady has already scored 2,000 points in college. (Tim Cowie/Davidson College)
Reshaping the Kentucky basketball roster for next season had to include improving UK’s woeful 3-point shooting from last season. That’s why adding Davidson graduate transfer Kellan Grady Monday seemed like a perfect addition for coach John Calipari’s team.
“Kellan has established himself as one of the best players in the country,” Calipari said. “His size, his skills, his scoring ability, and his playmaking ability speak volumes to the player that he is.
Here’s why he seems to be just what UK needs:
— He’s 6-5. He’s a big guard who can get his shot off against SEC defenses. He can also play either guard position.
— He has scored over 2,000 points and averaged 17.4 points per game. He was consistent with his scoring as he averaged between 17.1 points and 18.0 points per game in his four seasons and his senior season average was his lowest when he also averaged 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
That kind of consistency is something UK did not have offensively last season when it had the lowest scoring average and field goal percentage in Calipari’s 12 seasons at UK. Grady has 96 double-figure scoring games and hit 20 points 44 times at Davidson.
— He has 240 career 3-pointers and made at least 51 3-pointers each season while shooting 38.2 percent from long range. If that doesn’t excite you, consider he has 21 games with at least four 3-pointers.
— Grady, a Boston native, has already played four years but will be eligible for another year and eligible immediately.
Calipari got an in-person look at Grady in the 2018 NCAA Tournament when he had 16 points in a 78-73 loss to UK.
“I’m very excited to be a Wildcat again and play for coach Calipari at the University of Kentucky. It is a tremendous opportunity to compete at the highest level and pursue my dreams. I’m grateful for the opportunity and eager to get to work,” Grady said in a release from UK.
Calipari says his scoring, passing, and defense will be welcome on a team “that was close last season but needed what he gives us to get over to the top.”
Now one has to wonder does the addition of Grady mean that Davion Mintz will not return for another as he could do with the COVID do-over rule. However, with Devin Askew, Jacob Toppin, and Dontaie Allen returning and point guard Nolan Hickman joining the roster in June, does that mean Mintz will not be back — especially since Calipari could still add other transfers because it seems like almost every player that enters the transfer portal is linked to UK.
Bottom line here, though, is that Grady is too good to not take because he has shown he can score and a team that went 9-16 last season certainly needs scoring.
