When Kentucky Needed him the Most, Antonio Reeves Delivered

UK Athletics Photo

Kentucky’s star freshmen players certainly have done nothing to tarnish their reputations during the team’s three wins at the GLOBL Jam in Toronto. Sure, they have had some learning moments but the skills that enabled them to be the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class have been obvious.

Still, the star of the team in wins over Germany, Italy and Africa has been fifth-year senior Antonio Reeves.

He had 27 points on 9-for-14 shooting — 8-for-11 on 3’s — in the 104-92 win over Africa Saturday. He also had four rebounds, one assist and one steal in his 30 minutes of play off the bench as coach John Calipari juggled his starting lineup for the third straight game.

Reeves had 18 points in the first half and then came alive late in the game after Africa cut a 20-point lead to 10.

“He got off to a great start and then Kentucky lost him and he only had one basket in the second half until late in the game when they looked for him to deliver when it got tough,” UK Radio Network analyst Jack Givens said. “He found shots. When he gets it going he is a very difficult player to stop.”

In three games, Reeves has 74 points — 24.6 per game — on 27 of 45 shooting (60 percent) from the field overall and 14 of 24 (58.3 percent) from 3. He also has nine rebounds, three assists and three steals in the three games in 88 minutes of play.

Not bad for a player who not only put his name into the NBA draft but then didn’t rush to confirm he would be back at UK after pulling his name out of the draft.

“I had a couple (weeks) where I wasn’t there with the guys, but it all worked out. I’m here now, and everything is falling into place. I’m happy to be here,” he said after Saturday’s win.

He’s got to be happy to have freshman guards DJ Wagner, Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham on the team. Wagner and Dillingham have great speed/explosiveness and Sheppard just has great basketball skills.

However, that trio cannot score like Reeves has shown he can do against big-time college competition (remember that 37-point game at Arkansas last year). He’s showing signs of creating even more shots for himself and being an even more dangerous scorer this season.

Coach John Calipari has given him the “green light” to shoot and Calipari has been pleased with the way he’s not been selfish by taking bad shots.

“It’s been fun so far. I can tell you that right now. Those guys are playful. I enjoy being around them,” Reeves said. “They play a lot sometimes, but that’s what I’m here for — to be big bro. It’s definitely been fun, just being with them all the time and just being able to vibe with them.”

Reeves confirmed last week that the highly touted freshmen reached out to him regularly before he decided he would be back at  UK this season. He started forming a bond with those players then that got even better when he joined the team.

“It definitely takes pressure off. I don’t have to try and make a play every time. I got guards that can facilitate already, so I’m not worried about that at all. I’m just worried about trying to win a game at the end of the day,” Reeves said.

“And trying to win a national championship. That’s my main focus.”