Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Kentucky’s Vanderbilt avoids surgery, but Baker has knee scoped

Cleveland State v Kentucky

LEXINGTON, KY - NOVEMBER 23: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives instructions to his team during the game against the Cleveland State Vikings at Rupp Arena on November 23, 2016 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Jarred Vanderbilt will be returning for Kentucky sooner than expected.

The 6-foot-9 McDonald’s All-American will not undergo surgery on his foot as previously expected and instead will begin conditioning with an eye on returning to the court, John Calipari said after the Wildcats’ exhibition win Monday over Morehead State, according to SEC Country.

Vanderbilt suffered the injury late last month, and surgery was expected to keep him sidelined until January.

“Jarred’s on his way back, so America gotta be scared right now,” point guard Quade Green said of Vanderbilt. “I call him the next Lamar Odom. I know that’s big expectations for him, but he really plays just like Lamar Odom. He rebounds, can score any way he wants, he can shoot a little bit.

“His shot’s gotten a lot better, too. He can dribble, he can defend. He’s a guy who can do everything.”

Calipari, though, wasn’t full of only positive developments for Big Blue Nation. Freshman guard Jemarl Baker had his knee scoped and will miss three months. The four-star guard committed to Kentucky this past spring and was expected to bolster the Wildcats’ shooting.

“We’re not as bad as everybody says shooting the ball,” Calipari said. “I’m with them every day.”

Vanderbilt does not have a targeted return date, but Kentucky plans to have him workout with assistant coach Kenny Payne before joining the team at practice again.

The Wildcats open the season Nov. 10, against Utah Valley.