I assume they saw KY as significantly better option than other options, so they likely paid just enough to lure him away from those NBA opportunities, even if his resume wouldn't have merited quite as much at the college level. Potential is sky high, but he definitely has some big gaps and questions to answer. He is unproven, so he has a mountain to climb, but a ton of potential.

Hope folks are patient with him because he will be on quite the D1 learning curve.