Published: June 16, 2009 08:12 am      

MARK MAYNARD: Meeks ready to join NBA 6/16/09

Coming back never seemed to be the best option for Jodie Meeks.

Oh, I’m sure he was tempted. At least a little.

Who hasn’t been a little taken in by John Calipari who, unlike his predecessor, seems to always say the right things.

Meeks was the best thing Kentucky had going for it last season. He was the only consistent weapon and one of the few bright spots in what turned out to be a very uncomfortable season for players and fans alike.

But even during the midst of a spectacular season individually, there seemed to be a general restlessness with Meeks.

Maybe it was Billy Clyde. Maybe it was the team’s inconsistencies. Maybe it was a combination of both.

But when it came time to declare for the NBA Draft, there was never any hesitation from Meeks. Never a doubt. He wanted to go pro. He wanted distance.

As the days approached to stay in the draft or opt out, he stayed true to that theme of wanting to be a pro. It seemed that Meeks didn’t want to go back and try the Wildcat experience again. Not even with Calipari, whose style promises to be more exciting than what Meeks experienced. Calipari’s dribble-drive offense seems to be suited for Meeks but, remember, he would have been learning a new offense just like the rest of the Cats.

If Meeks had returned – and Calipari would have welcomed him back – it would have been a transition for him as well. He wouldn’t have averaged as much as he did this season when he was among the SEC’s leading scorers at 23 points per game. It wasn’t going to be the Meeks Show like so many games turned out to be last season.

There were games last season when he was the only option, although it wasn’t Meeks’ choice to be put in that situation. We’ll not forget the 54-point game against Tennessee and the many other games when he seemed like Superman in a Wildcat uniform.

It was going to be different and the learning curve with the dribble-drive maybe was more than Meeks wanted. He worked out for several NBA teams. They will evaluate where he fits into the plans, if indeed at all. Meeks may not be a first-round selection (most projections have him going in the second round). But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have what it takes to play in The League.

The physical tools are there for Meeks. He’s strong and can take his man off the dribble. We saw that last season.

But the bottom line for Meeks? He believes he’s ready and doesn’t want to look back.

His departure could allow Calipari to play highly regarded incoming point guards John Wall and Eric Bledsoe together in the backcourt. That could defuse a playing time situation that was sure to develop had Meeks returned.

Even without Meeks in the backcourt, Kentucky doesn’t have a guard deficit, not with Wall, Bledsoe, newcomer Darnell Dodson and returnees DeAndre Liggins and Darius Miller as possibilities.

Patrick Patterson, who pulled his name out of the NBA Draft hopper early in the process, is back for the inside with newcomers DeMarcus Cousins and Daniel Orton along with returnee Perry Stevenson.

The one thing Meeks’ departure may do is put a sock in the talk of UK being a preseason No. 1 or a lock for next year’s Final Four.

MARK MAYNARD can be reached at mmaynard@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2648.