Cason Wallace Declares for 2023 NBA Draft After One Season at Kentucky

The freshman standout is a projected lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

After one season in Lexington, Kentucky guard Cason Wallace has declared for the 2023 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility. 

The Richardson, Texas native announced his decision on Saturday morning: 

“Close my eyes and think about where I come from when I’m performing” 🤝🏾🫡 pic.twitter.com/JsNquDJu05

— Cason Wallace (@wallace_cason) April 1, 2023

“First and foremost, I want to give a big thank you to my family, teammates, coaches and the fans that packed Rupp Arena every week for your endless support throughout my journey. I’m grateful beyond words for the memories we have created together and I’m honored to be a part of a great community like UK," Wallace wrote. 

With that, I am officially announcing that I’m declaring for the NBA Draft to continue to pursue my life-long dream of playing in the NBA. I will cherish my time with Big Blue Nation and I want to thank you all again for your support and encouragement throughout the year.”

Wallace was a 5-star prospect in the 2022 class, ranked as a top-10 player. He was named a McDonald's All-American before arriving at UK. He then became a vital part of coach John Calipari's rotation. 

After sharing point guard duties with Sahvir Wheeler, Wallace eventually separated himself and became the primary ball-handler, showcasing his elite skill that translated well on both sides of the basketball. 

In 32 games, Wallace averaged 11.7 points, 4.3 assists and 3.7 rebounds. He shot 44.6 percent from the floor and 34.6 percent from 3-point range. He fought through injuries, dealing with back and lower-leg issues over the course of the season while averaging 32.1 minutes a night. 

Wallace had 18 games where he scored 10 or more points and nine games with more than five assists. He managed 27 points and nine assists against Florida A&M on Dec. 21, 24 points, five assists, three boards, three steals and two blocks against Arkansas on Feb. 7 and finished his career as a Wildcat with 21 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals in the NCAA Tournament loss to Kansas State on March 19.

I loved every moment of this year. I mean, getting to know each one of these players. Even as players, but as men and growing a bond with them. Even with Coach and the staff, I mean, I made some lifelong friends here," Wallace said after the loss. 

Now, he'll turn his attention to the NBA draft, where he's expected to be a lottery pick. Draft projections have the guard as a top-15 selection, making his decision to leave Kentucky after one season an easy one. 

Wallace is the second Wildcat to declare for the draft, joining forward Jacob Toppin, who made his announcement on Friday. He is the fourth Cat on the 2022-23 roster to announce a decision, as Wheeler (transferring) and guard Brennan Canada (returning) have also made their plans known. 

The dominoes keep falling. 

Pros and Cons of Tshiebwe Returning for a Third Season at Kentucky

More on the soon-to-be Wildcats HERE.

Inside Kentucky basketball's somber locker room after NCAA Tourney defeat HERE.

More on the potential roster overhaul in Lexington HERE.

More on the loss to Kansas State HERE.

Want the latest on national football and basketball recruiting, including Cats targets? Head over to SI All-American for the latest news, blogs, and updates about the nation's best prospects.

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