2024 NBA Draft: Takeaways From Kentucky Wildcat's Matchup With Germany

The Kentucky Wildcats faced off against Germany in their first game in the GLOBL Jam up in Canada. The Wildcats won the tough contest, but what were the biggest takeaways from the game?

The Kentucky Wildcats looked pretty impressive in their first game of the GLOBL Jam event. They were facing off against a talented Germany squad and led the majority of the game. This Kentucky roster has four five-star recruits, including the potential No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA draft in DJ Wagner. Due to injuries, we won’t be able to get an early look at Kentucky’s big men Aaron Bradshaw and Ugonna Onyenso. 

Let’s dive into the big takeaways from top the Kentucky prospects.

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DJ Wagner | Guard

© Peter Ackerman / USA TODAY NETWORK

Wagner looked like Kentucky’s best player in their first game of the event. Most scouts see him as a combo guard, but he looked really impressive running the offense for Kentucky which is a great sign as he’ll likely see a lot of minutes as the lead handler for this Kentucky offense. The 6-foot-3 guard was getting to the rim with ease due to the combination of his quickness, ball-handling skills, and change of speeds.

The finishing at the rim was a bit inconsistent as it’s still an area of improvement for him but he showed flashes of creative finishing. It’s definitely a positive sign that he’s already consistently getting to the rim at a higher level and I anticipate the finishing will improve as he continues to fill out his frame. It was nice to see some tough shot-making ability by him which isn’t anything new as he’s known as an advanced shot-creator and maker.

The playmaking has some highs and lows but I was overall impressed by some of the passes he made. The Kentucky guard did a pretty good job of balancing his scoring and passing which is a common struggle that young combo guards have coming into college. Wagner has a big season ahead of him and still has games left to be played in the event.

Rob Dillingham | Guard

Matt Stone/Courier Journal-USA TODAY NETWORK

Rob Dillingham will likely have a massive green light at Kentucky as his advanced handle and shot-making ability was flashed during the game versus Germany. He plays with a ton of creativity when he has the ball in his hands. Sometimes it can lead to pretty rough plays as the shot selection or overall decision-making can be questionable but nonetheless he’s one of the most talented point guards in the 2024 NBA draft.

It’s important to closely monitor how much he improves upon his mistakes throughout his season at Kentucky as his style of play can be a bit erratic. Luckily for him he has a great coach in John Calipari who has proven time and time again that he has an advanced ability to prepare guards for the NBA.

The Rest

Matt Stone/Courier Journal-USA TODAY NETWORK

Antonio Reeves probably deserves more recognition as a prospect than he gets due to his elite shooting ability at 6-foot-5 and creativity off the dribble. He has a smooth floater in the lane and is just oozing with talent. 

Adou Thiero is super enticing defensively as he stands at 6-foot-6 with nearly a 7-foot wingspan. He had some moments defensively and some nice finishes at the rim, but the jumper is still a work in progress. 

Justin Edwards has some things he still needs to clean up but the slashing tools at 6-foot-7 are really, really good. Expect a bounce back game from him in the next one. Overall, it’s nice to get a preview of this Kentucky squad as we’ll likely find ourselves watching a ton of Kentucky basketball due to how talented this squad is.

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