Juzang came on strong at the end of the 2020 season before Covid hit. He went home during the shutdown and realized how much he missed it. But he would not have had the season he did this year at UCLA no doubt. Askew is another story, he isn't that good and with all the transfers UK has coming in he was going to go from starting to not playing much. But to imply Kentucky wastes a lot of talent is not true. Most guys that transfer out don't blow up like Juzang did. At best they become good four year college players like Kyle Wiltjer or Charles Matthews. Where Kentucky "wastes" more talent is guys that go pro before they should.
OK, while I don't think that recruiting rankings are always definitive, this was the KY roster this past year:
FR. G Devin Askew:
5 star by 247, ESPN among others; rated #26 player in his class
FR. G Brandon Boston:
consensus 5 star prospect; California HS athlete of the year; CA Mr. Basketball; first team McDonald's A-A
FR. G Terrence Clarke:
consensus 5 star prospect #8 player in the nation for the rivals (has declared for the 2021 NBA draft)
GR Transfer Davion Mintz: T
hree year starter at Creighton considered one of the top 10 transfers in the 2020 transfer class
RS FR. G Dontae Allen: KY Mr. Basketball;
4 star; top 75 prospect from the 2019 HS class
SO F Keion Brooks:
consensus 5 star recruit in 2019 class; rated #14 by 247, #29 by Rivals and #35 by ESPN in that class
FR. F Cam Fletcher:
4 star prospect; top 50 recruit; Missouri HS basketball POY
FR. F Isaiah Jackson:
consensus 5 star prospect #28 player in the 2020 HS class; declared for the 2021 NBA draft
FR. F Lance Ware: NJ HS POY;
4 star prospect #36 rated player in the 2020 HS class
SO. F Jacob Toppin: Obi Toppin's brother; transfer from Rhode Island; rated as top 25 transfer
SR. C Olivier Sarr:
#1 rated transfer C in 2020; 3rd team All-ACC in 2020;
This team, coached by the highest paid coach in college basketball, went 9-16 (8-9), including 0-4 against ACC teams. Could run through the same exercise with the 5 previous KY teams, most of whom had even more talent than the 2021 team, and none of them, made a Final 4; despite having the most highly rated talent in the country.
So, yes, that is a waste of talent.
Also, "Juzang came on strong at the end of the 2020 season before COVID hit"... Not really.
These are Johnny Juzang's last 8 games in KY uniform in 2020:
Feb. 11 Vandy: 10 minutes 2 points
Feb. 15 Ole Miss: 16 minutes 5 points
Feb. 18 LSU: 9 minutes 3 points
Feb. 22 FL : 10 minutes 0 points
Feb. 25 A&M: 6 minutes 0 points
Feb. 29 Auburn: 8 minutes 0 points
Mar. 3 TN: 16 minutes 6 points
March 7 FL: 33 minutes 10 points
8 games 26 points for a player that had as an impressive 2021 NCAA Tournament as any player. Waste of talent at KY. Yes.