The Improbable Rise of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

[Joneslab]

We've talked on this board for years about wanting Cal to recruit lesser-known players. That Kentucky should be more about basketball players than basketball mercenaries.

Then we get this guy from Canada. He's not highly ranked at all. In fact I didn't even realize he was a point guard until he started playing the position. He has this super-weird game. It's not flashy, but he has a lot of tricks. He isn't athletic like a John Wall; he isn't a deadeye shooter like Brandon Knight; he doesn't have Tyler Ulis's bulldog mentality.

And yet somehow he has put together one of the best seasons a Cal freshman has had. For most of this year the guy has just been a rock. He's one of those players who just doesn't make many errors, and when he does you're left to stare blinking at the screen--and in that way he's kind of like a Davis and Ulis sort, both of whom were just so steady. He is one of the craftier players you will ever see in the lane; the kid just has so many crazy tricks in his book, from scoop shots to runners to spin moves to lean-back 15-footers. And like a veteran he is just always in control, always poised, and you could start seeing about a month ago how the other guys had begun to defer to him.

It's clear now that this is going to be our only year of watching this guy, but I love him. He came in with no hype at all and has been a blast to watch.

[George]

It's clear now that this is going to be our only year of watching this guy, but I love him. He came in with no hype at all and has been a blast to watch.

Here's hoping he surprises us.

[Blue Heaven]

Smooth. That's a good one word description for Shai. He started looking like he could be our best player in mid-December. He is now and has been for a while. I got tired of hearing Chris Webber yesterday going on and on aboiut how Knox is our best player. Apparently he had never watched us up until the tournament. Shai is a stud and I will be sad when he goes. I am particularly fond of guys who work their tail off and hone their craft.

[J.Jennings]

Crafty is a understatement, moves like T. Prince and has a throwback game in the 70's with his moves,almost like he's in slow motion. I didn't respect his game because of the hype coming in but he's made a believer out of. I complain about his mistakes sometime but what Cal freshman hasn't made mistakes?

[GOCAT15]

Kinda reminds me of Booker, everyone thought he’d be a 2-3 year player and ends up a lottery pick ands now a top scorer in the nba.

[KevinHall]

I think SGA may be Cal's smartest point guard to date. He makes mistakes but he seems to learn quickly form them. He also combines smoothness with toughness. You don't see many like that. Yea this will be his only year here. I hate that but it's the price you pay at UK for going a long way in the NCAA's.

[Joneslab]

I hate that but it's the price you pay at UK for going a long way in the NCAA's.

The NCAA run wouldn't play a part in Shai's decision, I don't think.

He's been predicted around the lottery for the better part of three months.

[KCKUKFan]

What if... just what if... Shai decided that he liked college and just wanted to come back for one more go?

Could you imagine him as a sophomore? Player of the Year?

[Joneslab]

What if... just what if... Shai decided that he liked college and just wanted to come back for one more go?

Could you imagine him as a sophomore? Player of the Year?

That would be awesome.

If he were hovering in a pack of players at the edge of the first round and if I were involved in his decision, I'd suggest he give it a shot. But if you're close to the top 10, that's a tough decision to make. Coming back to school has shown to hurt more players than it helps.

The things he could work on--shooting ability, strength--are mostly things you can improve in the pros. I think he and Knox are guys who have at this point proven themselves as players who can be pros right away. Both may have G-League stints, but I think both will get time on NBA teams next season.

Hard to see anybody else on our team getting on the court until pretty significant improvements are made.

[Joneslab]

Shai leads the entire NCAA field in the Total Points Added stat.

[George]

K-State is conspicuously absent from the upper-right quadrant.

[Catatonic]

Shai leads the entire NCAA field in the Total Points Added stat.

Awesome for Shai, but a dubious honor for a team?

Having one phenomenal player will only take you so far. Looking at those other guys toward the top, I don't see any of those teams making it to the Championship. I do think UK is a bit different in that we have streaky guys like Diallo and Green that are capable of having huge games that could bail us out in a bad spot.

[KevinHall]

Shai leads the entire NCAA field in the Total Points Added stat.

I assume this is good whatever it means??????

[Joneslab]

Awesome for Shai, but a dubious honor for a team?

Having one phenomenal player will only take you so far. Looking at those other guys toward the top, I don't see any of those teams making it to the Championship. I do think UK is a bit different in that we have streaky guys like Diallo and Green that are capable of having huge games that could bail us out in a bad spot.

I've always thought you need three consistent players to make a real run in college basketball.

Generally when Kentucky is going well, Shai and/or Knox is playing, and then we've got a couple of others out there who are chipping in. When it's just Shai those have been our toughest nights. He's had 20+ point games and we've looked awful as a team.

Saturday was pleasing because we got great play from Wenyen and Hami. Washington also chipped in for a few spurts, as did Knox.

If we have any chance at continuing that's how it will have to be. Shai could come out and dominate the ball Thursday, have a great game...and we could lose.

When the ball sticks for this Kentucky team things go really haywire. Our defense is generally good enough to beat most any team. Our rebounding is usually solid. But it's when we are not sharing the ball that things go bad, because we're getting shots out of rhythm. This team doesn't have the pure offensive playmakers to overcome selfishness.

[Ratt]

I like SGA a lot and I think when you guys say "smooth" that best describes him. Doesn't look super quick but he's long and smooth. His jumper is more of a set shot though and his game looks more old school. My only issue with him is that he often is an offense/ball stopper. Sometimes it's a good thing - sometimes it's a terrible thing but man, he has had a very good season. One thing I question is how will his game translate at the next level? I'm just not sure if the change of pace and his speed will translate. I look at guys like Westbrook and many of the other super athletic and fast PGs in the NBA and I just don't know how SGA will be against that.