LEXINGTON, Ky. (KT) — EJ Montgomery has decided to return for a second season at Kentucky.

The 6-foot-10 forward opted to to return next season after declaring for the NBA Draft and gives the Wildcats another big man in the post. Nick Richards announced Tuesday that he would be back next season, giving the Wildcats four returnees, including guards Ashton Hagans and Immanuel Quickley, on next year’s roster.

Montgomery is eager to build on his freshman campaign. He started nine of the last 11 games of the season and the Wildcats finished 9-1 with Montgomery in the starting lineup. He averaged 3.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game last season and tallied 11 rebounds in the opening game of the NCAA Tournament against Abilene Christian.

“I enjoyed putting on a Kentucky uniform with my brothers and playing in front of the best fans in the nation,” Montgomery said. “I appreciate your support for me and my teammates this season. I want to say thanks for coach (John Calipari), coach (Kenny Payne), coach Joel (Justus), coach (John) Robic and coach (Tony) Barbee for pushing me every single day to be the best I can be on and off the court. I got to compete against the best of the best every day in practice. We had a good season on the court because of our love for the grind. I’m proud of what we accomplished together. BBN, I’m back. Year 2.”

Calipari supported Montgomery’s decision to come back next season.

“I know this was a tough decision for EJ and his family because of the positive feedback he received throughout this process,” Calipari said. “EJ improved so much during the season and I know how much he wants to show our fans what he can do with another year.

“I’m thrilled to be able to continue to coach EJ. He has a special skillset and he’s only begun to scratch the surface of his potential. EJ knows how hard this is going to be, and I know he’s ready to embrace the grind and do everything he can for this team while continuing to develop into the best version of himself.”

———

Nick Richards tested the waters and swam back to the shore.

The University of Kentucky junior forward announced he would return for a third season with the Wildcats on Tuesday. Richards declared for the NBA Draft, but the 6-foot-11 forward decided coming back would increase of chances of a career at the next level.

“First off, I want to thank God, the man up above, for without him I couldn’t do any of this,” Richards said. “Next, I want to thank my family: my mom, my aunt, my sister (and) my brothers. I want to thank my teammates and the coaching staff, for without them I wouldn’t be here. They pushed me in the right direction that I needed to be to where I am today.”

During his first two seasons, Richards played in 74 games and started in 40 of those contests. Richards joins Ashton Hagans, Immanuel Quickley, Brad Calipari and Zan Payne among the returnees from last year’s squad.

“These past two years have been the best of my life,” Richards said. “It’s been an incredible experience. I’ve learned a lot, but the job’s not done yet. BBN, are you ready for year three?”

In his first two seasons with the Wildcats, Richards has averaged 4.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. He led the team with 47 blocks a year ago and snagged 19 rebounds in a win over Southern Illinois.

Kentucky coach John Calipari was supportive of Richards and welcomes his return next season.

“I was fully supportive of Nick going through the NBA Draft process for the first time in his career to see where he stood,” Caliapri said. “I’m happy with where Nick and his family ended up and I’m excited to continue to coach Nick because I know how special he can be.”

The Kentucky coach expects Richards to be “one of the best big men in the country.”

“There is no reason he can’t be,” the Kentucky coach said. “There is nothing that Nick hasn’t seen at this point, and he knows what my expectations are for him in his junior season. I want him to dominate the game and affect it on every single possession.”

———

Kentucky’s home-and-home Southeastern Conference schedule was released Wednesday and the Wildcats will play Auburn, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida and Vanderbilt both home and away. Auburn competed in the Final Four last season, while Vanderbilt features first-year coach Jerry Stackhouse.

The additional home games are against Alabama, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Missouri, with road games at Arkansas, LSU, South Carolina and Texas A&M.

The non-conference schedule includes Michigan State at Madison Square Garden (Nov. 5), Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 8), Evansville (Nov. 12), Utah at Las Vegas (Dec. 18) and Ohio State at Las Vegas (Dec. 21).

Calipari hinted that the Wildcats could play a regular-season game in London on during the 2020-21 season during the SEC meetings in Sandestin Florida.