Meeks not returning to Kentucky

Kentucky junior Jodie Meeks will remain in the NBA Draft.

"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 released 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."

Sources told CBSSports.com that Meeks does not have a first-round guarantee, but he has decided to stay in the draft anyway, for better or worse. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 23.7 points last season while shooting 40.6 percent from the 3-point line. He will almost certainly be picked somewhere late in the first round or early in the second.

This development is an obvious blow to John Calipari's first UK team.

With Meeks back, the Wildcats would've been most people's preseason No. 1 team. Now that honor will likely go to Kansas, although Kentucky should still be a favorite to make the Final Four thanks to a roster that is expected to include Patrick Patterson, John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins.

I cannot believe Meeks is leaving. I understand the want to go pro but I honeslty think that if he stayed he would potientlly be a number 1 draft pick if Kentucky went on to win the final four next season. Meeks has such great potiential and he knows it. He's in too much of a hurry to go pro and I believe it may hurt him in the long run. He could go pro with a Final Four win under his belt. He will be missed.

Meeks not returning to Kentucky

I am definitely surprised by his decision. Not a UK fan, but I certainly feel for their fanbase right now (not too much though, they are still loaded!).

Best of luck to Meeks. From what I have seen of him, he is a dynamic scorer......developing into a defensive stopper (a la Dahntay Jones) wouldn't hurt his chances of making a team if he is drafted in Round 2

Meeks not returning to Kentucky

I do not blame Jodie Meeks for going. He is a superb offensive player who just needs to work on his handles but he can finish and he can shoot from anywhere. And his defense is 2nd to very few ppl in this draft if any at all. UK's starting line-up will still look good but not as good as a prolific scorer like Meeks at the 2. I would think the starting line-up will be Bledsoe, Wall, Miller, Patterson, Cousins. With the possibility of Dodson starting instead of Bledsoe... I am not surprised at all but am saddened as this is a blow to our leadership, experience, and overall talent... Best of Luck Jodie, you will be missed by Wildcat Nation!

We Bleed Blue

Meeks not returning to Kentucky

There has to be more to this story than what's currently being communicated because his logic on the surface doesn't make sense.

Either his grades aren't going to be good enough, he hired an agent, Calipari recruited his replacement, his SAT was taken by someone else (doesn't just happen @ Memphis) or something else that's closing the door upon his return.

He's certainly not a top ranked player in what I view to be a pretty weak draft especially for guards. Given the amount of publicity & exposure that Kentucky is going to receive next year his stock would have definitely gone higher. If he's a 2nd round pick he's not even guaranteed a roster spot or money so there's something unusual here.

FenderTrio Reputation: 95 Level: Superstar Since: Dec 18, 2008	Posted on: June 15, 2009 12:07 pm Score: 74 Meeks not returning to Kentucky Good luck Jodie! This doesn't surprise me one bit ... UK will still be good enough to compete for the SEC title and the elite 8 next season: anything further would be great but I am not expectinig much from a young roster ... [ Reply to Comment ]
sassichic331 Reputation: 40 Level: Rookie Since: Jun 15, 2009	Posted on: June 15, 2009 12:21 pm Score: -59 Meeks not returning to Kentucky I cannot believe Meeks is leaving. I understand the want to go pro but I honeslty think that if he stayed he would potientlly be a number 1 draft pick if Kentucky went on to win the final four next season. Meeks has such great potiential and he knows it. He's in too much of a hurry to go pro and I believe it may hurt him in the long run. He could go pro with a Final Four win under his belt. He will be missed. [ Reply to Comment ]
Lou Villian Reputation: 96 Level: Superstar Since: Mar 15, 2008	Posted on: June 15, 2009 12:23 pm Score: 59 Meeks not returning to Kentucky Any takers on a mysterious fax that just so happens to show up a weeks before the draft that says his intentions of returning to UK????? [ Reply to Comment ]
The_Julk Reputation: 92 Level: All-Star Since: Nov 19, 2006	Posted on: June 15, 2009 12:25 pm Score: 41 Meeks not returning to Kentucky As a gamecock fan, who has to watch the Wildcats get stacked this offseason, Thank God [ Reply to Comment ]
berbatov9 Reputation: 87 Level: All-Star Since: Feb 26, 2008	Posted on: June 15, 2009 12:26 pm Score: -30 Meeks not returning to Kentucky I am definitely surprised by his decision. Not a UK fan, but I certainly feel for their fanbase right now (not too much though, they are still loaded!). Best of luck to Meeks. From what I have seen of him, he is a dynamic scorer......developing into a defensive stopper (a la Dahntay Jones) wouldn't hurt his chances of making a team if he is drafted in Round 2 [ Reply to Comment ]
NkyBengals Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 30, 2008	Posted on: June 15, 2009 12:27 pm Score: 76 Meeks not returning to Kentucky Any takers on sour Louisville fans who know their team is going to get waxed by Kentucky this year? [ Reply to Comment ]
Sidd_Finch Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Jan 27, 2009	Posted on: June 15, 2009 12:27 pm Score: 73 Meeks not returning to Kentucky Now that Jody Meeks is leaving that means the Wildcats will be able to beat only 28 NBA teams, right? [ Reply to Comment ]
Conjk123 Reputation: 62 Level: Pro Since: Jun 12, 2009	Posted on: June 15, 2009 12:29 pm Score: -46 Meeks not returning to Kentucky You know what The_Julk fuck you and i did you mother pluse Kentucky is sitil going to kick the fucking shit out of the losing cocks fuck you you fuckin bitch [ Reply to Comment ]
sportz_reasoner Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Sep 14, 2007	Posted on: June 15, 2009 12:32 pm Score: 40 Meeks not returning to Kentucky I do not blame Jodie Meeks for going. He is a superb offensive player who just needs to work on his handles but he can finish and he can shoot from anywhere. And his defense is 2nd to very few ppl in this draft if any at all. UK's starting line-up will still look good but not as good as a prolific scorer like Meeks at the 2. I would think the starting line-up will be Bledsoe, Wall, Miller, Patterson, Cousins. With the possibility of Dodson starting instead of Bledsoe... I am not surprised at all but am saddened as this is a blow to our leadership, experience, and overall talent... Best of Luck Jodie, you will be missed by Wildcat Nation! We Bleed Blue [ Reply to Comment ]
Hoosier Daddy 4 Reputation: 94 Level: All-Star Since: Jun 17, 2008	Posted on: June 15, 2009 12:33 pm Score: -7 Meeks not returning to Kentucky There has to be more to this story than what's currently being communicated because his logic on the surface doesn't make sense. Either his grades aren't going to be good enough, he hired an agent, Calipari recruited his replacement, his SAT was taken by someone else (doesn't just happen @ Memphis) or something else that's closing the door upon his return. He's certainly not a top ranked player in what I view to be a pretty weak draft especially for guards. Given the amount of publicity & exposure that Kentucky is going to receive next year his stock would have definitely gone higher. If he's a 2nd round pick he's not even guaranteed a roster spot or money so there's something unusual here. [ Reply to Comment ]

Gary Parrish

Parrish: The Thoughts