Vicky Graff Photo
Whether John Calipari was staying at Kentucky or not, Rob Dillingham would be heading to the NBA after one season with the Wildcats.
Dillingham did the expected Tuesday when he announced he was putting his name into the 2024 NBA Draft. Dillingham has consistently been projected as a top 10 pick in the draft after earning Southeastern Conference Sixth Man of the Year honors.
Dillingham averaged 15.2 points, 3.9 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game. He shot 47.5 percent from the field, including 44 percent from 3. He was also an 80 percent shooter at the foul line.
He was instant offense for the Wildcats most of the season and has the creativity and ability to get off his shot that NBA personnel like.
Dillingham had eight games of 20 or more points, including 35 in a January loss to Tennessee when he was 14 of 20 from the field and 6-for-8 from 3. He had 27 points and seven assists in the SEC Tournament loss to Texas A&M.
Dillingham was a top 20 national recruit after playing his senior season with Overtime Elite and was the No. 3 point guard in the recruiting class. He was perceived to be a player who valued his own offense over team play but disproved that at UK and now is positioned to be a high draft pick.
