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John Calipari on EJ Montgomery: “He is so close”

EJ Montgomery
Chet White | UK Athletics

Winners of six straight games, the Kentucky Wildcats are hitting their stride at the perfect time as the calendar turns to March next week.

The Wildcats have SEC Player of the Year candidates in Nick Richards and Immanuel Quickley, an all-around playmaker in Tyrese Maxey and a point guard in Ashton Hagans that is one of the best in college basketball when he makes good decisions.

In addition to those four, the Wildcats have received contributions from reserves Nate Sestina, Johnny Juzang and Keion Brooks Jr. in recent weeks. Still, there’s someone John Calipari is waiting to see breakthrough and when he does, the Wildcats may have the final piece to the puzzle.

 

“EJ, you’re close,” Calipari said following the win vs. Florida. “He is so close to being what he’s capable — he’s close, but he’s close because he’s conditioning, he’s pushing.”

Montgomery totaled 6 points and 2 rebounds in the Wildcats 65-59 win vs. Florida.

Foul trouble has prevented Montgomery from making an impact in most games, but it wasn’t a factor in the win. He played 30 minutes for just the fourth time all season.

The 6-foot-10 forward from Fort Pierce, Fla., made a difference for Kentucky, even if it didn’t show in the box score.

During the Wildcats current six game winning streak, Montgomery is averaging 2.2 blocks per game which is tied for tops on the team with Richards during that stretch.

“Biggest block of the game, EJ. Big rebound, EJ,” Calipari said about his sophomore forward.

 

Calipari did get his wish of a fifth guy scoring 25+ points in a game, something Montgomery accomplished earlier this season. Quickley scored a career-high 26 points vs. the Gators, joining the other four starters in the 25-point club.

”I like to have five and six guys have a game with 25 (points),” Calipari said following Kentucky’s 79-76 win at LSU last week. “And the reason is you get in the NCAA Tournament and you made need somebody to go crazy to win a game. So, Nick has had 25, EJ has had 25, Ashton has had 25, Tyrese has had 25,” Calipari said.

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