Baylor Men’s Basketball head coach Scott Drew has rejected an offer from the University of Kentucky to take over the Wildcats’ basketball program, SicEm365’s Ashley Hodge has learned. Hodge made the prediction that Drew would remain in Waco late on Wednesday evening.
Drew, who was widely viewed as the top target for Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart, spent the roughly the last 72 hours hours in discussions with the historic SEC program to replace recently departed coach John Calipari who is now at Arkansas.
On Wednesday, Drew’s family made a brief trip from Waco to Lexington to visit the city and University with hopes of helping guide Drew to his final decision. Drew did not make the trip with his family, and less than 24 hours later made the final decision to remain in Waco.
The job was officially offered to Drew on Tuesday, with other top candidates, Dan Hurley (UConn) and Nate Oats (Alabama), making public statements that they would not leave their current positions.
A native of Indiana, Drew has won a National Championship, an NIT Championship, two Big 12 Regular Season Titles, and three Big 12 Coach of the Year awards. Under his watch, 12 players have been drafted into the NBA with many more undrafted players finding professional opportunities around the world.
Drew has compiled a 446–244 at Baylor including a 189-173 Big 12 record and a 17-9 NCAA tournament record. Dating back to the 2007-2008 season, the season which Baylor made its first trip to the NCAA Tournament under Drewr, he has posted a 410-175 record.
Drew will welcome the No. 6-ranked class in the country to Baylor this summer, highlighted by the addition of the No. 5-overall player in the country VJ Edgecombe, a five-star small forward from New York.
