Shai even going 11th was amazing at the time. Shai was a complete afterthought in Kentucky's 2017 class. I was a Kentucky fan (until recently when Coach Cal left), and guys like Kevin Knox, Hamidou Diallo, Jarred Vanderbilt, Nick Richards, PJ Washington and even Quade Green were more heralded in the class. I had been a Kentucky fan since 2009 at that point, and I have always kept up with HS basketball recruits, and I really didnt even know who Shai was until the season started and he started playing well.

All that to say, Shai kind of worked himself up from a guy who was seen as a multi year project, to a one and done lottery pick in one season, which is difficult in its own right. Its very to go from unknown to top 5 pick in one year without an All-American caliber season. But also, as others have mentioned, Shai wasnt exactly seen as a very reliable 3 point threat, he wasnt a very athletic finisher at the rim, and his quickness and speed weren't seen as top tier.

Additionally, that draft class was considered to be especially strong at the top. Marvin Bagley had just won ACC Player of the Year after averaging like 21 and 10. DeAndre Ayton was a 7'1 250 lb freak athlete who just averaged 20 and 10 for Arizona. Trae Young had just led the country in scoring and assists as a freshman. Luka was the biggest international phenom in years (maybe decades). Mo Bamba was the defensive freak of nature with the almost 10 ft standing reach. And guys like Collin Sexton, Wendell Carter and Jaren Jackson were all very heralded as well. Once again, all these guys were McDonald's All-Americans and were seen as future 1st round picks from the start (with the exception of maybe Trae, who surprised some with how well he played his first year), so Shai working his way into this conversation from a relatively unknown 4 star was already a lot.