Olivier Sarr (UK Athletics Photo)
Every Kentucky basketball fan I know was giddy as soon as the NCAA/SEC finally agreed that Wake Forest transfer Olivier Sarr would be eligible to play basketball at Kentucky. All the frustrations over months of waiting for Sarr’s waiver to be granted went away for most fans.
National media members reacted by immediately elevating Kentucky in their preseason polls — or if they didn’t they should have. But what about Sarr? How did the talented 7-footer take the news? Did it change his demeanor?
“Yeah, it did for everybody, especially for him because he was waiting on it for it for a while,” Kentucky assistant coach Jai Lucas said. “And then when it finally became official, you could see him kind of just take a deep breath.
“Us as coaches as well too because he’s a really good player and he’s been playing really good and he’s gotten better. His body has changed in the time since I’ve been here and he’s gotten better since I’ve been here as well.”
Lucas knows there was good reason for everyone, including UK coaches, to look at this season even more eagerly with Sarr on board.
“You could kind of see everybody start to relax more because if he wasn’t available or something happened, it changes the whole landscape of the team, so you have to kind of change how you play and where you’re going to put people in positions there. We’re all excited for him to be here,” Lucas said.
