John Calipari’s Return To Lexington & Kentucky’s Best Prospect Debate: Who Has the Most NBA Upside?

In this episode of Locked On NBA Big Board, Rafael Barlowe and Leif Thulin break down Kentucky’s top NBA prospects just hours before John Calipari’s highly anticipated return to Lexington as the head coach of Arkansas. With Kentucky ranked No. 12 and having a strong season, the Wildcats face an unusual situation—there’s no clear-cut first or second-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, a stark contrast to the Calipari era, where Kentucky consistently produced multiple first-rounders. Rafael and Leif discuss whether any Wildcats will hear their name called in the draft, evaluating the upside of players like Koby Brea, Otega Oweh, Jaxson Robinson, Amari Williams, and Brandon Garrison. They also touch on Kentucky recruit Jasper Johnson before wrapping up with a discussion on Arkansas’ struggles in SEC play under Calipari.

Bullet Points & Timestamps:
1:53 – Coach Cal’s return to Lexington and the significance of the Kentucky-Arkansas game
6:00 – Who is Kentucky’s best NBA prospect?
7:10 – Koby Brea’s skill set and draft stock
7:56 – Otega Oweh’s two-way potential
11:48 – Jaxson Robinson’s shooting ability and NBA fit
21:15 – Amari Williams’ size and defensive impact
26:05 – Brandon Garrison’s pro potential
28:43 – A look at Kentucky recruit Jasper Johnson
31:15 – What’s wrong with Arkansas? Breaking down their 1-6 SEC record