Willie Cauley-Stein among seven Kentucky players headed to NBA Draft

Kentucky’s Willie Cauley-Stein, a former Kansas high school standout, was one of seven Wildcats who said on Thursday they will enter the NBA Draft this year.

Joining Cauley-Stein, a junior, are freshmen Karl-Anthony Towns, Trey Lyles and Devin Booker, sophomores Dakari Johnson and Andrew and Aaron Harrison.

The losses mean Kentucky, which became the first team in college basketball history to start 38-0 but lost in the national semifinals to Wisconsin, will lose 85 percent of its scoring and 77 percent of its rebounding.

Cauley-Stein, who spent his first two years at Spearville High near Dodge City before finishing at Olathe Northwest, is the most decorated of the Wildcats. He was a unanimous All-American who averaged 8.9 points and 6.4 rebounds in 25.9 minutes.

Most NBA Draft projections have Cauley-Stein selected among the top 10 picks. The NBA Draft is June 25.

The Kentucky group brings to 22 the number of underclassmen who have declared for the draft, including two from Kansas, Kelly Oubre and Cliff Alexander.

The deadline for underclassmen to enter the draft is April 26. If an underclassman has declared, he has until Sunday to withdraw.

Underclassmen who have declared for the draft

Jarell Martin, F, LSU, So.

Myles Turner, C, Texas, Fr.

R.J. Hunter, G, Georgia State, So.

Terry Rozier, G, Louisville, So.

Montrezl Harrell, F, Louisville, Jr.

P.J. Tokoto, F, North Carolina, Jr.

Rashad Vaughn, G, UNLV, Fr.

Tyler Harvey, G, Eastern Washington, So.

Jordan Mickey, F, LSU, So.

Kelly Oubre, F, Kansas, Fr.

Kevon Looney, F, UCLA, Fr.

Andrew Harrison, G, Kentucky, So.

Aaron Harrison, G, Kentucky, So.

Cameron Payne, G, Murray State, So.

Brandon Ashley, F, Arizona, Jr.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, F, Arizona, So.

Cliff Alexander, F, Kansas, Fr.

Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky, Jr.

Karl-Anthony Towns, F, Kentucky, Fr.

Devin Booker, G, Kentucky, Fr.

Trey Lyles, F, Kentucky, Fr.

Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky, So.

This story was originally published April 9, 2015 at 2:52 PM with the headline "Willie Cauley-Stein among seven Kentucky players headed to NBA Draft."