Official: Meeks Not Returning

As I reported last week, Jodie Meeks will keep his name in the NBA Draft and not return to Kentucky. He made it official earlier today. "I want to thank the fans and the city of Lexington. They have been great and I will always be a Kentucky Wildcat," Meeks said in a statement. "I feel comfortable with my decision and I’m confident in my ability. My family and I talked over the weekend and decided this was the best decision." Meeks is a likely second-round pick.

If Meeks had decided to return, Kentucky could make an excellent case for being ranked No. 1 heading into the season. However, with him now out of the equation, the Wildcats could drop a notch or two. Still, John Calipari has one of the most talented teams in the country, with All-American Patrick Patterson returning to go with four five-star recruits, namely John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins.