[[email protected]Participant]

http://www.nationofblue.com/alex-poythress-to-return-for-sophomore-season/

Alex Poythress to Return for Sophomore Season

By Scott Anderson on April 2, 2013

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Freshman forward joins Cauley-Stein and Wiltjer for 2013-14.
Freshman forward joins Cauley-Stein and Wiltjer for 2013-14.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Freshman forward Alex Poythress will return to the Kentucky men’s basketball program for the 2013-14 season, head coach John Calipari announced Tuesday.

“I’m really happy that, after talking with his family and evaluating his options, Alex has decided to return for his sophomore season,” Calipari said. “Alex is a great kid with a lot of potential and I’m excited to be able to work with him next year. I believe we have only scratched the surface with Alex, and another season in college will get him closer to reaching his dreams.”

Poythress earned Southeastern Conference All-Freshman team accolades following his first season for Kentucky. The Clarksville, Tenn., native started in 30-of-32 games in his freshman campaign. He ranked second on the squad in points (11.4) and rebounds (6.2) per game. He began his career by scoring 20 or more points in four of his first five games. The four-game stretch of 20 or more points was the first for any Wildcat since Jodie Meeks did it during the 2008-09 season.

“This year didn’t end like we wanted it to,” Poythress said. “I want to come back and do what we said we wanted to do and that’s win a national title. I want to develop more as a player and the competition coming in next year should help me do that.”

Joining Willie Cauley-Stein and Kyle Wiltjer as announced returnees, the trio combined for 949 points, 40 percent of UK’s offense in 2012-13. The trio also accounted for 515 rebounds, or the equivalent of 41 percent of the team’s total rebounds.

Additional announcements regarding remaining players will be made at a later date.

[Taylor Gang MikeParticipant]

Good for him, but what does Wiggins do now?? Alex or Wiggins is gonna start at the 3. Alex might be a bench player next year if Wiggins commits… But Wiggins should go to NC, him and Tokoto on the wings is gonna be crazy

[samosasParticipant]

If Wiggins came to UK there’s 0% chance that Alex Poythress would start. There’s 0% he’s going to start next year if Wiggins doesn’t come. Maybe if he learns to hustle during the off season, but he was far too lazy this season to start on a more talented team.

[SiggyParticipant]

I think he’d have to beat out a freshman to start. James Young is a better fit in the SL at SF for what they need since he’s a knock down catch and shoot shooter who can play off the ball.

[[email protected]Participant]

Kyle Wiltjers will now get even less playing time!

[GlenTaylorSucksParticipant]

I think from a learning the game standpoint, he definitely made the right choice. But I wonder how much PT he’ll get with Young, Randle, and the Harrisons coming in?

[scbe2223Participant]

He should get some decent playing time backing up both the three and four. He has the potential to be an absolute monster but really needs to bring it over the summer and show a commitment to improving all facets of his game.

[GoJOSH HUESTISParticipant]

I think people keep looking at Alex as a freshman and not factoring in that he will get better and make the freshman to Soph jump. Even not going hard all the time he put up 11ppg 6 reb and shot 42% from three point range. Imagine what he will be like next year knowing he has to work even harder because the are other guys fighting for his spot, plus knowing what to spect in college basketball and going against other top guys in practice. Yeah a very scary image. And if he didnt have plans of coming back, getting better and working extra hard he would have taken the easy way out and out his self into the draft where he would have been a top 20 pick

[Blizz78Participant]

He must not have wanted to play in the D-League with his boy Goodwin next year. WCS staying was a good move too, anybody remember Daniel Orton.

[McDunkin]

"Son of a B%%^#" – Jon Hood

[Leonard WashingtonParticipant]

Hes got to be feeling like Brucie off the Longest Yard when Michael Irvin and Cheeseburger Eddie joined the squad lol.

[M-EazyParticipant]

Beginning of the year I thought Poythress was a lock in the lottery because he was out muscling people down low and even hitting 3’s. He looked like a can’t miss prospect, but then the season progressed and Poythress regressed. Going against Randle every day at practice should bring the best out of him. Good move to come back.

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