The Associated Press | April 14, 2014 Cauley-Stein to return to Kentucky for junior season Share LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky has announced that 7-foot center Willie Cauley-Stein will return for his junior season. Cauley-Stein missed the final three games of the Wildcats' run to the NCAA championship game after sustaining a left ankle injury in the Midwest Region semifinal against Louisville. He had been projected as a possible top-15 NBA draft pick but said in a statement Monday he wanted to return and move closer to earning his degree. He also wants to help Kentucky make another run at a title after watching from the bench. Said Cauley-Stein: "being at the Final Four was special, but not being able to help my teammates on the floor was tough." His 106 blocks tied for second-most in a season for Kentucky and he earned all-Southeastern Conference defensive team honors. WATCH: Kentucky baseball stuns No. 1 Tennessee with a walk-off base hit in extra innings Kentucky baseball knocked off No. 1 Tennessee with a walk-off base hit. READ MORE Colleges with the most players in the 2022 NBA Playoffs Kentucky leads all schools with 15 former Wildcats in the 2022 NBA Playoffs. READ MORE Women's track and field rankings: Kentucky and LSU lead the SEC charge to the top Week 3 of the women's outdoor track and field rankings has a new look as one conference flexes its muscle and three new teams join the top 25. Here are takeaways from the national rating index from the USTFCCCA. READ MORE