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Reclass to First Class: Ashton Hagans is Kentucky’s Star

Photo | UK Athletics

Successful Homecoming: Ashton Hagans is the Catalyst that Makes Kentucky Go 

ATHENS, Ga – Stegeman Coliseum was a new venue and challenge for John Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats, but for freshman guard Ashton Hagans, Athens is a familiar place.

 

The 6-foot-3 guard is a native of Cartersville, Georgia, a town 101 miles northwest of Athens off interstate-75. At this time last season, Hagans was committed to Georgia, before opening his recruitment just weeks before Mark Fox was fired as the Bulldogs head coach. He later committed to Kentucky and reclassified to the 2018 class last summer. Kentucky and John Calipari are glad he did.

 

Stegeman Coliseum was packed for Hagans homecoming, as students were in their seats 90-minutes before tip-off. When Hagans took the court during warm-ups, he was greeted with boos and “traitor” chants. He responded by blowing a kiss to the Georgia student section, before giving Bulldog fans a brutal reminder of what could have been.

 



 

Georgia didn’t have an answer for the freshman guard, as he blew by every defender in front of him to finish with a career-high 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting in 35 minutes of play. Additionally, he added 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and four steals, while only committing one turnover.

 

“I felt like I wasn’t a traitor,” said Hagans. “I just tried to play my game. I was home and wanted to put on a show for my family.”

 

Hagans was the catalyst that made things go. While he may wear number two, he’s definitely number one for the Wildcats right now, similar to the emergence of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander last season.

 

“It starts with Ashton,” John Calipari said following his teams 69-49 victory. “Last year it started with Shai Alexander.”

 



 

After starting the game 1-of-7 from the floor, Hagans settled in midway through the first half. The Wildcats led by four at the half (35-31) but a 7-0 mini run from Hagans to start the second half pushed the Kentucky lead to double digits.

 

“It (the crowd) rattled him early and it inspired him later,” said Calipari. “Early on I had to get him out. He missed a couple layups and he was rushing a little bit. Then he settled in and played the way he needs to play for him and us.”

 

Known for his defense and ability to disrupt opposing guards rhythm, Hagans has evolved into a two-way superstar for the Wildcats.

 

Through the first six games of his Kentucky career, Hagans scored a total of 13 points. Since then, he’s reached double figures in his last five games (11, 12, 18, 15, and 23).

 

“Coach put me in a role that let me have the ball more and let me find open guys. I’m just going back to playing my game the way I was in high school by finding my shooters, attacking the basket, and looking for my bigs. I’m just loving the way I’m playing the last couple of games and I just got to keep it going.”

 

 

Most players struggle when they return home, as they try to force things rather than playing their game. That was not the case for Hagans, as pre-game boos turned into Go Big Blues at the end.

 

“When I heard the crowed booing me, I was like let me try to go out here and put on a show. Then I wasn’t trying to focus on them, I was just trying to finish the game.”

 

Kentucky found a lot of positives on the road in Athens Tuesday night but one thing remained the same. No stage is too big for Ashton Hagans.

 



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