the Naismith Trophy on March 20. He was named one of 10 finalists for the Wooden Award on March 29. When naming Ulis to its All-American team, Associated Press described Ulis as the shortest All-American since Johnny O'Brien in 1953. Ulis won the Bob Cousy Award. In the 2016 SEC men's basketball tournament, Ulis scored 25 points and had 4 assists in the semifinal victory over Georgia on March 12. In the finals against regular season co-champion Texas A&M on March 13, Ulis posted a career-high 30 points. He played all 45 minutes of the overtime contest. Ulis was tournament MVP. In the 2016 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, Kentucky renewed its rivalry with Indiana in the round of 32 on March 19. Ulis posted 27 points in the 73–67 loss to the 2015–16 Hoosiers. Professional career Phoenix Suns (2016–2018) At the conclusion of his sophomore season, Ulis announced his intention to forgo his final two seasons of eligibility and enter the 2016 NBA draft. During the 2016 NBA Draft Combine, Ulis was not only the second-shortest player to participate in the event (behind only Kay Felder, who measured at 5'9.5" with shoes on (5'8.5" without shoes) as opposed to an even 5'10" with shoes on (5.8.75" without them)), but he was also the lightest recorded player in draft combine history at 149 pounds, which affected his draft stock. Furthermore, about two weeks before the draft began, it was revealed that Ulis had a problem with his hip that may one day require surgery. As a result, his draft stock declined from being an expected mid-first round selection to being either a projected late-first round or early-second round selection. Ulis downplayed the issue, claiming that his hip was just fine. However, Ulis was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the second round with the 34th selection, being reunited with his best friend and former college teammate Devin Booker in the process. On July 7, he signed with the Suns and joined the team for the 2016 NBA Summer League. Ulis received the equivalent of a late first-round pick's contract, starting at around $1 million and having the same two guaranteed years with two team option years. In the Summer League, his play compared favorably to the four point guards who were taken in the first round. Over six games at the Las Vegas Summer League, he averaged 14.5 points