Exodus in Lexington?

The list of players declaring for entry for the NBA Draft is starting to build. Kansas center Cole Aldrich and Michigan guard Manny Harris are only two of the recent declarations. There's a couple yet to declare that wouldn't surprise anyone and they both come from the same school, Kentucky's frosh duo of John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins.

Did we all witness the final collegiate game of Wall's and Cousin's career? Most likely. Wall has already been tapped as the #1 overall and Cousins is a top 5 selection according to various projections.

So exactly what are the prospects that Wall and Cousins will return another season in Lexington?

Um, none. Wall did make a reference during the presser following UK's Saturday's loss about finishing the school year, but that is merely a smoke screen to fend off speculation of the inevitable. Kentucky was primed to win it all this year and this year alone. Wall, Cousins and Patrick Patterson developed the nucleus for the Wildcats and all will be gone to the NBA. Patterson returned for that reason. Imagine if Jodie Meeks had stayed.

For yet another season, UK head coach John Calipari finds himself in a position to reload because of the "one and done" rule. Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, and now, Wall and Cousins.

Creates a bit of an issue for the Wildcat faithful. Calipari has put his worth into these freshman and they have performed well at the NCAA level. Rose and Evans have proven themselves at the NBA level and there's nothing to suggest that Wall and Cousins won't do the same. But I have a difficult time viewing these moves as building a program. It's more or less supplementing it and it has the feel of plugging gaps instead of fixing them.

Don't worry or feel sorry about the Wildcats future. It's fine. Others freshman will come forward as sophomores next season (Eric Bledsoe, Daniel Orton, Darius Miller) and keep UK in the mix. There's also that potential of wearing that jersey with "Kentucky" on it which appeals to recruits.

That and there's always a feeling that Calipari has yet another phenom squarely in his sights with Lexington as the destination.

Coach Cal sure has this bit down by now.