Return of Antonio Reeves Gives UK Needed Shot-Maker and Experience

Vicky Graff Photo

If reports are true that Kentucky guard Antonio Reeves will be playing again for the Wildcats next season, the question now becomes exactly how much will be play.

National 247Sports basketball writer Travis Branham was the first Wednesdayto confirm rumors that Reeves was back on campus and intended to play for coach John Calipari again. He came to UK as a transfer lasts season and averaged 14.4 points per game — second best on the team — and made 80 3-pointers, the 12th best single season mark ever at UK.

However, he did not immediately announce he would return to UK for his COVID year after withdrawing from the NBA draft. Reeves was the SEC’s Sixth Man of the Year last season and did not earn a starting spot  until SEC play.

Now with UK adding freshman star guards DJ Wagner and Robert Dillingham along with Reed Sheppard and Joey Hart, Reeves had to wonder about his playing time as well as NIL opportunities that might have been greater at other schools.

However, Reeves not only has college experience — something UK’s seven freshmen and two sophomores lack — but he’s also a proven shot maker and Calipari desperately needed that piece for his 2023-24 team. He’s averaged over  20 points per 40 minutes in the last two seasons and is the only UK player who has scored even 50 points in college.

Reeves was spectacular most of the second half of the season — remember his 37-point outing in the stunning win at Arkansas. But he had his worst game — 1-for-15 from the field — in the season-ending NCAA Tournament  loss to Kansas State and there’s no doubt that will motivate him.

Maybe he’s not a lockdown defender but UK’s young team will have plenty of others who also have some defensive liabilities and overall UK could still be better defensively which will help Reeves.

Remember it took John Calipari time last season to truly believe in Reeves and both Dillingham and Wagner are going to expect to start. Calipari may tinker with the lineups early again but Reeves is a proven product. The coach knows what he can do. There’s not another player on the roster that Calipari can totally expect to know what will happen in big games.

Reeves’ leadership could be crucial for this talented but young team and he has to embrace that role and all that goes with it. However, a Kentucky team with Reeves back is a big deal because shooting matters and he can flat shoot and make shots.