Photo by Keyli Chisesi (Go Big Blue Country)
Prior to the Kentucky basketball season, the names you were hearing discussed to be Kentucky’s best player were Kevin Knox, Hamidou Diallo or possibly PJ Washington. However, after wins vs. Louisville and Georgia, freshman Shai Gilgeous-Alexander might have claimed that title.
In Friday’s win vs. Louisville, SGA led Kentucky with 24 points and 17 of those came in the second half. Sunday night vs. Georgia was much of the same for SGA, who scored 14 second-half points to total 21 for the game.
Gilgeous-Alexander, a four-star recruit out of high school, was one of the least mentioned recruits in Kentucky’s 2017 recruiting class. The guard committed to Florida before flipping his commitment to Kentucky prior to the early signing period in November 2016.
The freshman guard has been better than advertised this season. He does a lot more than just score points for the Wildcats, as he led Kentucky with five assists vs. Georgia. His presence on the offensive end has been a surprise but how he disrupts defensively is his biggest asset. SGA has used his length to average 2.3 steals per game, including six over the last two games, which brings his season total to 30.
In addition to all the other things he does, SGA is an excellent free throw shooter. A 5-of-6 performance vs. Louisville, followed by a 12-of-13 night vs. Georgia raises his season percentage to 85.3 percent.
SGA has also stepped up to hit big shots when John Calipari needed him most. With Kentucky trailing 53-51 with less than five minutes to play, it was SGA who drained a three-pointer to give Kentucky the lead for good. When Georgia climbed back within one at the two-minute mark, SGA’s layup pushed the lead back to three.
He wasn’t talked about much leading up to the season but there is no doubt he is the center of the conversation now. After two of Kentucky’s biggest games, it’s clear that SGA can handle being center stage. John Calipari even said it after the game, “He’s our best player.”
