LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kerry Blackshear Jr. became the hottest potential graduate transfer in college basketball on Tuesday afternoon when the 6-foot-10, 250-pound center from Virginia Tech put his name into the NCAA’s transfer portal. It didn’t take long for his father’s phone to start ringing. “Off the hook,” Kerry Blackshear Sr. told The Athletic on Tuesday night. “It’s only been a couple of hours since he put his name in, and it’s been nonstop. You name the school, they’ve called.” Well, except Kentucky. Despite reports the Wildcats have made contact — and there is reason to believe there at least has been an acknowledgement of interest between someone on UK’s staff and a member of Blackshear’s camp — neither John Calipari nor any of his assistants had spoken to Blackshear’s father, who is running point on this decision, as of dinnertime Tuesday.<doc-sep>The Kentucky Wildcats have already landed one big man graduate transfer for next season. Nate Sestina represents Coach John Calipari’s changing philosophies after he saw the huge impact another grad transfer, Reid Travis, made on this year’s team. With the Cats slim on frontcourt options for next season, there’s another name in the transfer portal who got a call from Lexington: Kerry Blackshear, Jr. Source tells KSR Kentucky has made inquiries with Kerry Blackshear of Virginia Tech as a Grad Transfer Definitely worth watching — Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) April 17, 2019 Blackshear announced via Instagram that he would be entering his name into the 2019 NBA Draft, as well as entering the the NCAA Transfer Portal. Blackshear is a 6-10, 250-pound big man for the Virginia Tech Hokies. He did leave open the possibility of a return to Blacksburg, but it doesn’t seem likely after his head coach, Buzz Williams, recently left for Texas A&M. Next season, Kentucky will likely return Nick Richards and EJ Montgomery and add Sestina and Keion Brooks, Jr. Brooks is more of a wing, but he can play the four, especially in small-ball lineups. Yes, Sestina is a great addition and a very good college basketball player, but he’s no Travis. He’s a guy that will probably come off the bench and give you a spark, as well as add some veteran leadership, but he won’t dominate the way Travis did. Clearly, the Cats are in need of some more help in the frontcourt. The best possible options in the 2019 recruiting class are Jaden McDaniels and Matthew Hurt. McDaniels is nowhere near a decision, nor he is much of a force on the block. He’s more like a Kevin Knox type of forward. And Hurt is likely headed to Duke. There are a couple 2020 big men like N’Faly Dante or Makur Maker who could reclassify, but they’re raw prospects trying to get to the NBA as soon as possible. Blackshear is better than any recruit available. I’d take him over almost any big man in the 2019 recruiting class. He’s a proven college basketball player with experience in the best conference in the country. Last season, Blackshear averaged 14.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He was also a 73.6 percent free throw shooter and made 21 threes. He had 18 points and five rebounds in Rupp a couple of seasons ago. His long-range shot has steadily improved over the course of his career and he could continue to work on that in Lexington, a la PJ Washington and Travis. And it’s also good news for Kentucky that he’s testing the NBA waters. That would give UK a chance to figure things out with Hurt and McDaniels. Remember, players have until the end of May before they have to pull their name out of the draft. Kentucky could pick up a player like McDaniels and forget about Blackshear. Or they could miss out and it would give them plenty of time to still pursue him. I’m not sure if Blackshear’s interested in coming to UK. I’m sure College Station will be on his short list, but Cal should definitely make him a priority. He has the potential to be the Reid Travis of next year’s squad.<doc-sep>The worst news of the Mike Young Era at Virginia Tech has come true as redshirt Junior big-man Kerry Blackshear Jr. has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. His entrance to the new tool by the NCAA, which allows players an option to evaluate the remainder of their collegiate careers, has become an increasing popular option for many Virginia Tech players in the wake of Buzz Williams departing the University for Texas A&M. Wabissa Bede, Chris Clarke, and Landers Nolley have also entered the NCAA Transfer Portal prior to Blackshear Jr. The entry into the portal does not mean that Blackshear Jr. may not return to Virginia Tech. In fact, everyone that has entered may return with the exception of Clarke, who's eligibility is in question by University standards. However, this does complicate a poetic return to finish out his final year of eligibility for Blackshear Jr. as well as the remainder of the careers of Bede and Nolley. Blackshear Jr. was named a Second Team All-ACC performer after a stellar redshirt Junior season that saw him record career highs in nearly every statistical category. The 6-foot-10 250-pound forward averaged 14.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. His averages all were increased due to the departure of Justin Robinson mid season, as he was asked to be the focal point of the offense. A return isn't out of the question, but there are a few likely scenarios that could take place in the coming days. The first - test the NBA Draft waters. Blackshear Jr. massively improved his stock this season and showed that he is a capable big-man in the modern NBA. Though he may never project as a first round pick, there may be interest in the second round that will warrant him a roster position in the pros. He quite literally played himself into the NBA discussion as a Junior and without fear of returning to the collegiate level, as players can withdraw their names from the NBA Draft, Blackshear Jr. could see if his stock is good enough to make the jump. The second, and more likely scenario, is that Blackshear Jr. will play out his final year as part of a winning team. This would allow him a final year of exposure on the highest possible level and allow him to further develop his game. Though Hokies fans will not want to hear it - a very obvious consideration will be Texas A&M. Buzz Williams and Blackshear Jr. are very close and it would not come as a surprise to see the talented big-man reunite with his head coach. The last of the scenarios is a return to Virginia Tech. The jump to the NBA could be too risky, while playing for another University in his final year could be a culture shock. Though it is unlikely, Mike Young has the ability to re-recruit the big-man back into the fold. The main point of emphasis will be the familiarity of Virginia Tech and cementing his legacy as one of the all-time greats in the basketball program. VTScoop will keep you posted as the situation plays itself out.<doc-sep>
With all of the decisions that are going to be made in regards to transfer destinations and the NBA draft over the course of the next six weeks, none will have a bigger impact on the 2019-2020 college basketball season than that of Kerry Blackshear Jr. The 6-foot-10, 250 pound Blackshear averaged 14.9 points, 7.5 boards and 2.4 assists for a Virginia Tech team that played at one of the slowest paces in college basketball last season. He’s a bully in the paint, he has the ability to step out on the perimeter and beat players off the dribble and he was a 33 percent three-point shooter this past season. And not only has the redshirt junior entered the NBA draft, he has entered the transfer portal as well. Let’s be clear: There’s a chance that Blackshear ends up keeping his name in the NBA draft. He could end up being a second round pick given his size and his skill-set, and at 22 years old, there isn’t all that much that he has left to do from a development perspective. He is who he is at this point, and that is a player that is on the verge of being good enough to make an NBA roster. Returning to school when it is going to potentially be with a new team and a new coach where there’s no guarantee that he’ll fit in the system as well as he did with Buzz Williams is a risk. That said, Blackshear will probably be a preseason All-American if he opts to return for another season. This is different than the Reid Travis situation from last season, where Travis went from being a high-usage player in a conference that didn’t have the players to guard him to a role player on a really good team. Blackshear was already something of a role player. Justin Robinson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker were the stars of that Virginia Tech team, and Blackshear thrived as a secondary option. To be clear, if Blackshear opts to return to school, there are very few teams where he won’t immediately be the best player on the roster, or, at the very least, the best big man on the roster. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Blackshear can be the difference between a team being top ten-ish and being a legitimate national title contender. If he decides to come back to school for a year. Buckle up, because it’s going to be a wild six weeks while we wait.