ESPN's First 2024 NBA Mock Draft Features Five Kentucky Wildcats

It's never too early to predict the future, especially when you're talking about the future of the NBA. Per usual, it's expected that a heap of the players that will be taken in the 2024 draft will come from Lexington.

For a moment in time this year, all Kentucky basketball fans wanted to speak about was the incoming freshman class for the 2023-24 season. 

Mostly due to the shortcomings that the current group of Wildcats were facing, but also due to the immense amount of hype that was already being placed upon the seventh No. 1 class in UK's history under coach John Calipari. 

"I couldn’t be more excited about this class,” Calipari said. “We have five talented and dynamic players who have the drive and commitment it takes to succeed at Kentucky."

D.J. Wagner, Justin Edwards, Aaron Bradshaw, Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard combine for an exciting mixture of shooting, athleticism and defense. Four of the five were named McDonald's All-Americans, with Dillingham being the odd man out due to his affiliation with Overtime Elite making him ineligible.

Both Wagner and Edwards have since been named to the 2023 Nike Hoops Summit, while all but Sheppard were tabbed to the Iverson Classic. Safe to say, expectations are going to be through the roof upon the quintet's arrival to Lexington.

The hype only grew on Wednesday, as ESPN's Jonathan Givony released a 2024 NBA mock draft, featuring four of the five future Wildcats, as well as a current Cat set to make a big jump next season. 

• No. 4 overall — Justin Edwards
• No. 7 — D.J. Wagner
• No. 28 — Aaron Bradshaw
• No. 30 — Rob Dillingham 
• No. 40 — Ugonna Onyenso

"Justin has the ability to impact the game in a variety of ways," Calipari said of Edwards. "He has terrific size, can play multiple positions and can score the ball at all three levels. I really like how active he is defensively and his desire to rebound every ball.

On Wagner:

"Above all he is a competitor. He attacks the offensive end and is a versatile scorer, but he is equally as tough on defense. I love the spirit he’ll bring to practice every day, and I love that he wanted to be at Kentucky."

Bradshaw:

“The most impactful trait we can have on the defensive end is the ability to block shots, and Aaron is elite at that. He also has all of the tools that a versatile big in today’s game needs."

Dillingham:

“Our best teams have had really good guards and this class has that. Rob has the ability to make good decisions, can create for others or get his own shot. He can make contested layups, which opens the court for him offensively."

The last time Kentucky had four first-rounders in a draft? 2015.

More on UK's road win over Florida HERE.

Game notes from the victory can be seen 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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