Alex Poythress has announced he will return to Kentucky to play his senior season. He is returning from an ACL injury that he suffered during practice last December. Poythress was a big piece to Calipari's system last season, and his presence would have bolstered Kentucky's chances to win a National Title while going undefeated even more. Entering the draft along with the seven other Kentucky players crossed Poythress' mind, but in order to improve his stock, he decided it would be best to come back to be a leader for another talented and young Kentucky team.
Last season in just eight games, Poythress averaged 8.8 points and 3.8 assists for the Wildcats.
Poythress will return to Kentucky along with point guard Tyler Ulis and center Marcus Lee who gained plenty of experience during their freshman years this past season. So far, two 5-star players, Skal Labisierre and Isaiah Briscoe, have committed to play for the Wildcats along with 4- star Charles Matthews and the top-ranked JUCO player in the country Mychal Mulder.
"It's been real tough, a struggle and a journey," Poythress said. "It will be all worth it when I finish rehab and everything. Things happen for a reason and God has plans for me, and I'm just trying to work out that plan."
The leadership of Poythress will be critical as he has been in Calipari's system all four years. With such a young team this past season, there was no senior leadership considering there was no seniors on the roster that played important minutes, but Poythress can fill that roll this season in hopes to get Kentucky back in the Final four and to the National Championship.
Another plan that Poythress will work out is bringing a National Championship back to Lexington and becoming a lottery pick in next year's NBA draft.