New year, new roster: Men’s basketball players
November 24, 2020
If there is any group of fans used to learning an abundance of new names every basketball season, it’s Big Blue Nation.
This year is no different, as 12 players will dawn Kentucky blue on the hardwood for the first time in 2020.
Here is what you need to know about the core of the 2020-2021 Wildcat roster:
JACOB TOPPIN – NO. 0
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Position: Forward
2019-20 Stats (Rhode Island)
• 5.1 PPG
• 3.9 RPG
• 0.9 APG
About: Brother of the NCAA 2020 National Player of the Year Obi Toppin, Jacob joined UK after spending his freshman season at Rhode Island. Jacob appeared in all 30 games for the Rams last season.
Fun Fact: Toppin’s pregame superstition is eating candy.
DEVIN ASKEW – NO. 2
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Sacramento, Ca.
Position: Guard
Recruiting Rank: 26th in the 2020 class via ESPN100
2019-20 Stats (Mater Dei HS)
• 16.7 PPG
• 6.3 APG
• 4.9 RPG
About: Considered one of the top point guards in his class, Devin Askew led Mater Dei High School to the CIF Open Division Southern California Regional championship as a sophomore and his Nike Elite Youth Basketball League to the 2019 Peach Jam finals. Askew was named California Interscholastic Federation First Team and Trinity League Player of the Year as a senior.
Fun Fact: Devin plays with a $5 bill in his left sock.
BRANDON BOSTON JR. – NO. 3
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Norcross, Ga.
Position: Guard
Recruiting Rank: 7th in the 2020 class via ESPN100
2019-20 Stats (Sierra Canyon HS)
• 19.7 PPG
• 7.0 RPG
About: Kentucky’s top-ranked player in the class of 2020, Boston has already acquired many accolades. He led his high school Sierra Canyon to a No. 2 national ranking as a senior, was named a First-Team Naismith All-American, SLAM Magazine All-American, Mr. Basketball in California and was selected to the McDonald’s All-American game, among other notable achieve-ments.
Fun Fact: Boston’s favorite movie is He Got Game.
TERRENCE CLARKE – NO. 5
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Boston, Ma.
Position: Guard
Recruiting Rank: 10th in the 2020 class via ESPN100
2019-20 Stats (Nike EYBL)
• 16.2 PPG
• 5.1 RPG
• 3.7 APG
About: Clarke also brings a laundry list of awards with him to UK: New England Preparatory School Athletic Council AAA Player of the Year, Sports Illustrated All-American Third Team and Naismith All-American Honorable Mention just scratch the surface. Clarke played for the 2019 National Prep champions Brewster Academy in high school.
Fun Fact: Terrence chose No. 5 because he once forgot his No. 6 jersey before a game and had to wear No. 5; after playing well in No. 5, he’s stuck with the number ever since.
DAVION MINTZ – NO. 10
Year: Graduate Student
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Position: Guard
2018-19 Stats (Creighton)
• 9.7 PPG
• 3.0 APG
• 3.0 RPG
About: After battling injury for the 2019-20 season, Davion Mintz redshirted his final season as a Bluejay before transferring to UK. He started in 89 games over his three years in that program, im-proving his field goal percentage each season.
Fun Fact: Davion’s godfather is NFL Hall of Famer Randy Moss.
DONTAIE ALLEN – NO. 11
Year: Redshirt Freshman
Hometown: Falmouth, Ky.
Position: Guard
2018-19 Stats (Pendelton Co. High School, Falmouth KY)
• 42.9 PPG
• 14.2 RPG
About: After suffering a knee injury his senior year of high school and dealing with injuries from a car crash, Allen redshirted his first season with UK. He was named Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball as a senior, and scored 3,255 points in his high school career, which ranks 11th all-time in state history. His 1,228 rebounds are good for 22nd all-time.
Fun Fact: Allen is a cousin of NFL quarterback Russell Wilson.
KEION BROOKS JR. – NO. 12
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Ind.
Position: Forward
2019-2020 Stats:
• 4.5 PPG
• 3.2 RPG
About: Brooks is the lone returning Wildcat who saw minutes in the 2019-2020 season. While his box score numbers are modest, he made valuable contributions on both ends of the floor that aren’t reflected in his raw stats.
Fun Fact: Brooks wears No. 12 because it is the number his father wore in high school.
CAM’RON FLETCHER – NO. 21
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Saint Louis, Mo.
Position: Forward
Recruiting Rank: 61st in the 2020 class via ESPN100
2019-20 Stats (Vashon HS)
• 20.6 PPG
• 9.8 RPG
• 2.7 BPG
About: Fletcher was named the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Class Four Player of the Year, an MBCAC Class Five All-State Team selection, and two-time state champion at Vashon High School.
Fun Fact: Fletcher dunked for the first time when he was just 13.
ISAIAH JACKSON – NO. 23
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Pontiac, Mich.
Position: Forward
Recruiting Rank: 34th in the 2020 class via ESPN100
2019-20 Stats (Nike EYBL)
• 11.0 PPG
• 6.2 RPG
• 2.7 BPG
About: Jackson was a three-time All-State selection and four-time defensive player of the year in his conference in Michigan. He led his high school, Waterford Mott, to two district and two league championships. He was also a finalist for the Mr. Michigan Basketball award.
Fun Fact: Isaiah’s nickname is Zeek, and he is one of five children.
OLIVIER SARR – NO. 30
Year: Senior
Hometown: Bordeaux, France
Position: Forward
2019-20 Stats (Wake Forest)
• 13.7 PPG
• 9.0 RPG
• 0.9 APG
• 52.7% FGP
About: Rated as the number one transfer in college basketball for this upcoming season, Sarr joins Kentucky after spending three years in the ACC with the Demon Deacons. Sarr was named Third-Team All-ACC and was runner-up for ACC Most Improved Player last year, recording 11 double-doubles along the way.
Fun Fact: Fishing is one of Sarr’s hobbies away from basketball. He considers his fishing rod to be his most prized possession.
LANCE WARE – NO. 55
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Camden, N.J.
Position: Forward
Recruiting Rank: 46th in the 2020 class via ESPN100
2019-20 Stats (Nike EYBL)
• 11.4 PPG
• 6.0 RPG
• 1.3 BPG
About: Lance Ware knows how to win; his high school team lost only one game his senior sea-son. That team finished No. 1 in the final NJ.com Top 50 rankings. Ware anchored the team, being named NJ.com Player of the Year and selected to First Team All-State for his efforts.
Fun Fact: Lance’s major is undeclared/exploratory studies in agriculture.