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Report: Former Kentucky PG has “significant hip issue”

Champions Classic: Kansas v. Kentucky

Champions Classic: Kansas v. Kentucky

TNS via Getty Images

With just over a week until the NBA Draft, former Kentucky point guard Tyler Ulis may be dealing with a health issue that could adversely affect his draft stock.

Ullis has “a pretty significant hip issue, which some believe may require surgery down the line,” Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders reported Tuesday.

Details here are obviously scarce as there’s no mention of exactly what the “issue” is while “down the line” is a vague phrasing that could mean later this summer or in five years. Whatever the case, a medical red flag at this juncture poses a serious issue for Ulis and the teams considering taking him next Thursday in the draft. Franchises will want all the medical information they can get on Ulis as well as potentially have their own medical staff do an evaluation. Whether Ulis submits his medical history or undergoes testing - not to mention what either of those ultimately reveal - will have a bearing on where he lands.

Even without the health issue, the 5-foot-9 20-year-old is considered a borderline first-round pick after averaging 17.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists last season as a sophomore for the Wildcats. Whatever the concerns about his size or health, Ulis’ track record of winning will no doubt be attractive for teams in the market for a point guard as Kentucky went 65-10 during his two seasons.