Isaiah Jackson might be gone but Keion Brooks is back

John Calipari believes this should be Keion Brooks' year. (Vicky Graff Photo)

First came the announcement from the University of Kentucky late Thursday afternoon that Keion Brooks would be one of the players available to the media next week at Elizabethtown when UK basketball hosts satellite camps across the state. That seemed to indicate Brooks, a junior, would be back on the Kentucky roster next season even though there had been no official word from him about that.

Then on his Zoom call with media members Friday, Kentucky coach John Calipari said early that Brooks would be back.

“Lance (Ware) and Keion are going to be big players for us,” Calipari said.

Brooks averaged 10.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game as a sophomore despite missing all the non-conference games with a foot injury. He became a much better free throw shooter last season when he raised his percentage from 63 percent to 80 percent.

With the official announcement Friday that Isaiah Jackson was going to keep his name in the NBA draft and not return to UK, that makes Brooks’ return and experience even more important for the UK front court that will also have Oscar Tshiebwe, Daimion Collins, Bryce Hopkins, and Lance Ware.

“This should be Keion’s year,” Calipari said. “He’s that veteran that you’re saying, ‘You’ve got to be the center of this.'”

Calipari did indicate that guard Davion Mintz continues to evaluate his professional options but twice mentioned having six guards on the roster for next season — a total that would include Mintz. He also talked about wanting to play “four out” at times meaning he would need shooters that likely would include Mintz.

But even before it was officially announced that Jackson was not coming back, Calipari indicated no more roster additions were likely even if Jackson and Mintz both opted not to return.

“We have no intention of adding anybody. We’re not out searching, and I don’t see anything,” Calipari said. “Would something happen late-late? I don’t think so. I think we will stay right where we are.”

And where Kentucky is now does not include Jackson, does include Brooks, and may or may not include Mintz.