With four more former Kentucky players drafted this offseason, 2011-12 was all set to be another exciting year for Kentucky and John Calipari fans who follow the NBA. Unfortunately for fans and even more so for the players, the start of the season was delayed by a lockout while players and owners tried to reach a new collective bargaining agreement.

For a period, it appeared the entire season was in jeopardy, but a new CBA was finally agreed upon over Thanksgiving weekend. The season will start nearly two months late on Christmas Day, with each team playing a shortened 66-game schedule.

Last season, UK was third among all colleges with 12 former players in the NBA, but with the debuts of Enes Kanter, Brandon Knight, DeAndre Liggins and Josh Harrellson this season, Kentucky could move to the top of the list with 16 players if Keith Bogans, who was recently released by the Chicago Bulls, finds a home. Including this year’s draft picks and players who were on rosters last season, UCLA also has 16.

Coach Cal has an additional five players from his stops at Massachusetts and Memphis that are still on NBA rosters, including last year’s MVP, Derrick Rose. Including Kentucky, there are 14 players who played under Calipari that are currently on an NBA roster.

On the eve of the NBA season, let’s take a look at each of the former players:

Former UK players

(* indicates player played for Coach Cal) 

*Eric Bledsoe – Los Angeles Clippers
2010-11 stats – 6.7 points, 3.6 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals
Bledsoe recently underwent surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. He will miss at least the first month of the Clippers’ season, but could return in late January. When he does hit the floor, he is projected to be the primary backup to newly acquired Chris Paul at point guard. Also, with his experience playing alongside John Wall and Kentucky, he is expected to spend some time playing off the ball as well.

*DeMarcus Cousins – Sacramento Kings
2010-11 stats – 14.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Cousins reported to Kings’ camp in the best shape of his life. “He is leaner. He is lighter. He is quicker,” the Sacramento Bee wrote. “Really, his new body has to be seen to be believed.” The Kings front office and coaching staff is very pleased with the approach Cousins took during the lockout and it is expected to pay dividends. Cousins will start at center on opening day, looking to build on a promising, if at times uneven rookie season.

*Josh Harrellson – New York Knicks
It’s by no means a given for a second-round pick to sign a contract with the team that drafts him, but that’s exactly what Harrellson has already done. The Knicks acquired him in a draft night trade with the New Orleans Hornets, hoping the big man would provide bulk, toughness and rebounding inside. He’ll be more than happy to do just that as he works to make the team’s opening roster behind Amar’e Stoudemire and the recently signed Tyson Chandler. Harrellson has already impressed the coaching staff in New York for his gritty play. His dive into the stands earlier this week certainly won him over a few fans.

Chuck Hayes – Sacramento Kings
2010-11 stats – 7.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals
It’s been a roller-coaster ride of emotions for Hayes over the last few weeks. After spending his first six seasons of his career as a Rocket, Hayes signed a four-year, $21 million deal with the Sacramento Kings. But any jubilation Hayes originally experienced disappeared when Hayes did not pass a physical, voiding his contract. Hayes’ failed physical was based on a heart condition. Fortunately for Hayes and the Kings, he sought out a second opinion and received a clean bill of health. The Kings did the right thing and ultimately resigned him to a similar deal, and they’re relieved to have him back. He is expected to start at power forward alongside Cousins, filling the Kings’ frontcourt with former UK fan favorites. If Hayes’ defense and rebounding can rub off on Cousins, it could make him a terror.

Former UK stars Eric Bledsoe, John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins are three of 14 players that played for Coach Cal that are currently in the NBA. (photo by Ed Reinke, Associate Press)

*Enes Kanter – Utah Jazz
How good it must feel for Kanter to practice knowing he is so close to playing an actual game. The Jazz already signed the No. 3 pick to a deal, but won’t rush Kanter along in his development. Utah has a talented, crowded frontcourt that includes Al Jefferson, Derrick Favors, Mehmet Okur and Paul Millsap that Kanter will compete with and learn from. Okur, who also hails from Kanter’s native Turkey, has already taken the rookie under his wing and expects big things out of his new pupil.

*Brandon Knight – Detroit Pistons
Knight’s new teammates and coaches already know all about the work ethic he became known for during his season at Kentucky. “This is what we need right here,” Pistons guard Will Bynum said. “If he never becomes great, it won’t be because he didn’t put the work in.” Knight will join a backcourt that includes Bynum, Ben Gordon and potentially Rodney Stuckey, who is a restricted free agent.

*DeAndre Liggins – Orlando Magic
Like Harrellson, Liggins has already signed a deal with the team that selected him in the second round. He is a part of a movement in Orlando to field a younger team this season and will compete for minutes at shooting guard and small forward with players like Jason Richardson, J.J. Redick, Quentin Richardson and Von Wafer.

Jamaal Magloire – Toronto Raptors
2010-11 stats – 1.9 points, 3.4 rebounds
Magloire spent last season with the Miami Heat, but played in just 19 games. He has since moved on to sign with the Toronto Raptors, becoming the first native Canadian to play for the team. Magloire will be asked to provide the toughness that has carried him to a long NBA career.

Jodie Meeks – Philadelphia 76ers
2010-11 stats – 10.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 39.7 3-point percentage
Meeks had a breakout season in his third professional year, starting 64 games for a 76er team that reached the playoffs. Even though Meeks has a No. 2 pick competing with him at shooting guard in Evan Turner, he’s not giving up his starting position easily. According to reports, Meeks is ahead of Turner and head coach Doug Collins thinks he is a perfect complement to Philly’s other four starters. “Jodie is an interesting guy. Jodie fits beautifully with our starting group,” Collins said. “He spaces when (Andre Iguodala) and Jrue (Holiday) penetrate. He keeps spacing out there for E.B. (Elton Brand) to get it in the post.”

Nazr Mohammed – Oklahoma City Thunder
2010-11 stats – 7.1 points, 4.9 rebounds
Even though he was a midseason acquisition for the Thunder last year, the veteran has already established himself as a team leader, organizing team workouts over the offseason. He was a free agent after the team’s trip to the Western Conference Finals, but resigned before the lockout began. He is expected to provide a steady presence off the bench for Oklahoma City.

*Daniel Orton – Orlando Magic
Orton didn’t play in a game last season due to a knee injury, but is back on the floor and practicing. Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy said the center had been “surprisingly good” in his first few practices as he looks to earn a spot in the rotation.

*Patrick Patterson – Houston Rockets
2010-11 stats – 6.3 points, 3.8 rebounds
Patterson didn’t have eye-popping numbers in his rookie season, but the power forward impressed in limited minutes. He won’t be playing alongside fellow Wildcat Hayes any longer, but Hayes’ departure opens up more minutes for the second-year man. He underwent surgery to remove bone spurs from his ankle this offseason and the Rockets have played it cautiously by keeping him out of practice so far. Houston, as always, is involved in trade discussions, so Patterson could start if certain of his teammates are shipped away.

Tayshaun Prince – Detroit Pistons
2010-11 stats – 14.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists
Prince was a free agent this offseason, but the Pistons weren’t about to let the veteran small forward walk away, resigning him this week. Detroit is in rebuilding mode and Prince will join Ben Wallace as the only players remaining from the team’s title run in 2004.

Rajon Rondo – Boston Celtics
2010-11 stats – 10.6 points, 11.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 2.3 steals
With the Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce aging, Rondo stepped into more of a featured role with the Celtics. He thrived, earning an All-Star berth and placing among league leaders in assists and steals. Rondo is brushed aside preseason trade rumors and is expected to anchor Boston as they make yet another run at a second championship with their current nucleus in place.

*John Wall – Washington Wizards
2010-11 stats – 16.4 points, 8.3 assists, 4.6 rebounds
Wall battled knee injuries all season in playing with a lottery-bound team, but he put together a season that would have earned him Rookie of the Year honors if not for Blake Griffin. The point guard says he has a new level of confidence entering his second season and will look to take steps forward as a leader and decision maker. He is healthier now than a season ago and is joined by No. 6 pick Jan Vesely, a Czech forward expected to give Wall a potent threat in the open floor.

Other former Coach Cal players

Marcus Camby – Portland Trail Blazers
2010-11 stats – 4.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.6 blocks
When it’s all said and done, Camby will go down as one of the game’s greatest shot blockers. He’s also averaged 10 or more rebounds in every season but one since 2000. But what may define Camby’s career more than his sustained blocking and rebounding success is his longevity. Once the most athletic man on the floor, Camby has learned to do what most NBA greats do to stay in the league. A 15-year NBA veteran, Camby has learned to become a solid, veteran leader on a young and exciting Portland Trail Blazers team. Camby’s status for opening night is in question, but he’s expected to play a key role for Portland throughout the year.

Chris Douglas-Roberts – Milwaukee Bucks
2010-11 stats: 7.3 points, 2.0 rebounds
CDR is in his second season with the Milwaukee Bucks and fourth overall in the NBA. He’s made a living in the league by using his superior athleticism to get to the basket. His Bucks are loaded with young talent.

Tyreke Evans – Sacramento Kings
2011-11 stats: 17.8 points, 5.6 assists, 4.8 rebounds
Evans’ numbers took a step back in year two following his NBA Rookie of the Year season in 2009-10, but he remains the most important piece on the Kings’ roster. Teams keyed in on Evans last year, but the former Memphis point guard will have more options around him this year. Evans told the Sacramento Bee he’s trying to change his game.

Derrick Rose – Chicago Bulls
2010-11 stats: 25.0 points, 7.7 assists, 4.1 rebounds
Already an NBA superstar, Rose took his game to the next level last season by winning the league’s MVP honors. Rose led the Bulls to the Eastern Conference’s top seed and on the brink of the franchise’s first NBA finals since the game’s greatest player, Michael Jordan, was roaming the United Center. But Rose possesses a trait that only the great ones have: he’s never satisfied. Rose said he’s still disappointed that they came up short of the finals last year. That drive should make for an even bigger year in his third campaign.

Shawne Williams – New Jersey Nets
2010-11 stats: 7.1 points, 40.1 3-point percentage
After a season with the New York Nets, Williams headed across the Hudson to join the New Jersey Nets. Williams signed a two-year,  $6.1 million contract. The 25-year-old shot 40.1 percent from 3-point range last year.

Eric Lindsey contributed to this story. Guy Ramsey is the editor of Cat Scratches, the official blog of UK Athletics. Check out his blog at ukathletics.com/blog.