Seven Kentucky Wildcats Declare for NBA Draft

For all the records the Kentucky Wildcats set this season, they're setting another one:

Kentucky has a lot of spots to fill now that a record seven players have announced they will enter the NBA draft.

In a news conference Thursday, 7-footers Willie Cauley-Stein, twin guards Andrew and Aaron Harrison and freshman forwards Karl-Anthony Towns and Trey Lyles all said they will turn pro.

Also entering are 7-0 reserve center Dakari Johnson and backup shooting guard Devin Booker, completing an exodus by the Wildcats' top seven scorers.

There would have been an eighth player leaving, most likely, if Alex Poythress had stayed healthy through the whole season. Anyway, all seven of them have anywhere from a decent shot at being drafted somewhere to sure-fire lottery status. John Calipari's sales pitch right now is that he can put players in the NBA, and he's doing it in a big way this year.

Don't cry too hard for UK. Reinforcements are coming from the most talented ranks of high schoolers. As it has been in the past, so it shall be in the future.