Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes contribution for Kentucky by getting defensive

Lindsay Schnell, USA TODAY Sports Published 12:37 p.m. ET Jan. 18, 2018 | Updated 12:13 a.m. ET Jan. 19, 2018

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — Like most long-limbed guards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a bad habit of letting his man go by him in the open floor.

That’s the blessing and curst of a 7-foot wingspan: sometimes, you allow yourself to get a little lazy.

Gilgeous-Alexander did this a lot at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tenn., letting guards go by him before he’d simply reach around, tip the ball loose and sprint to the other end for an easy dunk. His high school coach warned him that his little trick wouldn’t work in the SEC, and certainly not when playing under Hall of Fame coach John Calipari of Kentucky.

The freshman guard learned that his first week of practice, when he experienced the full vocal ability of Calipari, now in his ninth year at UK.

Gilgeous-Alexander recalls this with a sheepish smile and shake of his head.

“Oh man, he screamed for the first time once he realized how badly disciplined we were defensively,” he told USA TODAY Sports. Then Gilgeous-Alexander offered an explanation: “You know in the summer, we’re just playing pick up trying to get to know each other, so defense wasn’t really on our (to-do) list.”

But for Gilgeous-Alexander, who has been thrust into a starting role for the Wildcats as Quade Green recovers from a back injury, defense has always been at the top of the list. And for the often-overlooked point guard who last week earned SEC Player of the Week honors, it will likely be what carries him into the pros one day.

A long wingspan defender, coupled with quickness, can spell disaster for opposing offenses. Gilgeous-Alexander’s length allows him to gamble for an off-ball steal without completing taking himself out of the play. He can blanket opposing guards without fouling, letting his hands and arms obscure their sight line while allowing them room to dribble. No one likes shooting over an outstretched hand and the longer, bigger outstretched hand of Gilgeous-Alexander means opposing guards have to create extra space when they rise up. If matched up against someone quicker, Gilgeous-Alexander’s length allows him to recover faster than someone with a normal reach. Add in what Kentucky assistant Tony Barbee calls “unbelievable instincts, whether we’re in a man or zone,” and you’ve got all the makings of a defensive star.

And an unheralded one at that.

Unlike many of the one-and-one prospects who stop in Lexington, Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t a household name when he committed to the Wildcats. Green, a McDonald’s All-American and Jordan Brand game participant out of Philadelphia, got the hype of being UK’s next great point guard, while Gilgeous-Alexander, who opted to play with the Canadian National Team instead of on the AAU circuit, mostly flew under the radar.

Originally a Florida commit, Gilgeous-Alexander decided in October 2016 — late for a member of the 2017 class — that “I could go somewhere else and maybe get more out of myself, push myself more,” and re-opened his recruitment.

Though he was initially taken aback by Calipari’s blunt assessment of his game this fall, Gilgeous-Alexander liked the challenge Calipari presented. Instead of praising Gilgeous-Alexander, Calipari told him he’d need get his shot off quicker and get considerably stronger if he wanted to play at Kentucky. And while Gilgeous-Alexander is happy to defer to other, bigger stars like Kevin Knox (14.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and Hamidou Daillo (13.3 ppg), playing with an All-America lineup has been an adjustment, too.

“Learning how to play on a team full of future pros, it’s not as easy as everyone thinks,” said Gilgeous-Alexander, who averages 12 points. “Coming from high school, you play with two, maybe three total, who are going to the next level (college). You don’t have to worry about all five guys because coaches don’t even let half the team touch the ball. Here, you have to learn how to play with one through 12.”

Offensively, he needs work. Gilgeous-Alexander shoots 45.5 percent from three, but picks his spots, having attempted only 22 looks from behind the arc. He misses the summer, when he would often sneak into Kentucky’s practice facility at 2 or 3 a.m. — “I can’t always sleep,” he shrugs — and work on his shot. That’s virtually impossible now that he has class.

“What I like about this place is that you still feel valued if you’re not scoring 20 a game,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I think everybody at every school across the country wants to get to the NBA as fast as possible but more specifically, I just want to maximize my potential as fast as possible.”

In mid-December, Calipari told USA TODAY Sports, “Shai’s a better offensive player than people give him credit for, but also, no one has figured him out yet — because we have really figured him out yet.”

That’s changed in the last week though. Gilgeous-Alexander was huge for Kentucky in two wins last week, averaging 19 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and shooting 61.9 percent from the field while playing 39 minutes a night in victories over Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.

But, as evidenced by his performance Tuesday night in a loss at South Carolina, there will be plenty of growing pains. Gilgeous-Alexander finished Tuesday with six points (3-of-9 from the field), six turnovers and four fouls in 28 minutes, sitting for long stretches when Kentucky desperately needed solid point guard play. With 89 seconds left in the first half, Gilgeous-Alexander drove, pushed off and was whistled for his third foul. This happened less than 20 seconds after he had subbed in and drew the ire of Calipari, who was visibly exasperated on the sideline.

It’s an example of what Calipari described to USA TODAY Sports as a bad habit of a lot of freshmen: They try to make the hard, highlight play instead of the simple, obvious one.

“These guys, their whole career they’ve been an And-1 tape,” Calipari said. “In practice (one day) Shai threw a behind-the-back pass. Like, what are you doing?!”

Green could return when the No. 16 Wildcats host Florida Saturday, which will likely move Gilgeous-Alexander back to the role he knows best, as a defensive stopper. And while others want offensive glory, he’s fine with defense being his calling card. One of Gilgeous-Alexander’s favorite players is Allen Iverson. While others love Iverson for flashy passes, Gilgeous-Alexander is a fan because “his motor is underrated,” especially defensively.

One of the best defensive players in Kentucky history is Rajon Rondo, the current New Orleans Pelicans guard who set the Wildcats single-season steals record with 87 in 2004-05. Gilgeous-Alexander, who has already grabbed 35 steals, could top that number depending on how deep Kentucky plays into the postseason. Rondo, who stands 6-foot-1 and also has a 7-foot wingspan, is an easy comparison to Gilgeous-Alexander.

But Barbee thinks there’s a better example: Julyan Stone, who played for Barbee at Texas-El Paso.

Stone has been career backup as a pro, bouncing around professionally for seven seasons. The 6-foot-6 guard—who also boasts a 7-foot wingspan — is back in the NBA now, playing with Charlotte after a three-year stint overseas. His career NBA stats (1.3 points, 1.1 assists) seem underwhelming. But almost a decade of professional basketball has taught Stone his value.

“If you’re a defender, you can always find a job,” Stone told USA TODAY Sports. “On most pro teams, you’ve got 10-12 guys who want to score the ball. Well, not everyone has the work ethic or the toughness to play defense every night. Not a lot of guys like to do the dirty work.”

He’s also got some free advice for Gilgeous-Alexander: That tip-the-ball-from-behind move? It works even less well in the NBA. So learn to stay in front of your man.

IMAGES FROM THIS WEEK IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Arizona's Allonzo Trier (shoots the ball against California's Kingsley Okoroh during the second half at Haas Pavilion. Kelley L Cox, USA TODAY Sports

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