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Men's Basketball

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Scores Season-High 42 Points with Game Winner: Accomplishes Chamberlain-Jordan Like Feats

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Instagram/Oklahoma City Thunder

It has been evident that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has found his groove, being the centerpiece of a young and hopeful Oklahoma City Thunder Franchise.

On the season, Gilgeous-Alexander has been on an absolute tear, averaging 32.2 points on 54.6 percent shooting from the field, and pairing that stat line with 4.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game.

Through a player’s first 14 games of a season, Shai is just the 2nd player in NBA history to have ten 30-point games, while also shooting 50% from the field.

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The only other player to do that? Wilt Chamberlain – the guy who holds the 100-point single-game scoring record – in the 1962 season.

On Wednesday Night, against the home team Washington Wizards, Gilgeous-Alexander tallied a season-high 42 points to go alone with 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. That goes without saying, he also hit an impressive last-second 3-point shot to seal the game.

The record-breaking doesn’t stop there.

With his 42-point performance, Gilgeous-Alexander is now on pace to become only the second guard in NBA history to average at least 30 points per game on less than three attempts from three-point range since Michael Jordan.

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The NBA and the analysts involved are more than aware of the tear Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been on. JJ Reddick on his podcast, Old Man & The Three, went on a tangent (NSFW).

“You’re missing a f***king show if you’re not watching OKC.”

Here is a snippet of what Reddick had to say:

NSFW

At all levels, Gilegous-Alexander has exceeded expectations.

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Coming into Kentucky as the No. 31 overall recruit and presumed multi-year player, he became the Wildcat’s starting point guard and was drafted with the 11th pick after just one year.

As a rookie in the NBA, Gilgeous-Alexander was projected to be more of a role player/low-end starter. Now in his 5th season in the NBA, it’s safe to say that the 24-year-old guard looks to be an All-Star lock and continues to surpass expectations.

JJ Reddick said it best, Gilgeous-Alexander has been specular so far and is rising in talks for All-NBA First and Second Team honors. Who knows, if he continues to produce, and helps push Thunder into the playoffs (1 game behind), he could receive some MVP votes.

Also posted on GrandadsAtticMedia.com

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Men's Basketball

Denzel Aberdeen And Otega Oweh Could Form Dynamic Backcourt Duo For Kentucky

Former Florida guard joins Oweh to give Kentucky one of the nation’s most dynamic pairings.

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Eddie Justice | UK Athletics


It’s rare for a team to poach a key player from within its own conference — and even more unlikely to lure one away from the reigning national champions. So when Mark Pope and Kentucky landed senior guard Denzel Aberdeen after three seasons at Florida, his former SEC foe turned teammate Otega Oweh — along with Big Blue Nation — was buzzing with excitement over the possibilities ahead.

While most projections have Aberdeen slotted into the two-guard spot in Kentucky’s starting lineup, Oweh believes his versatility could make an even greater impact, particularly at point guard.

“He’s fresh off of a ring. He’s a solid PG,” Oweh said. “You know he’s going to bring that calmness to our group.”

The 6-foot-5, 190-pound Aberdeen steadily improved each year of his college career, raising his scoring average from 1.6 points per game in 2022-23 to 3.3 in 2023-24, and finishing last season with 7.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. He shot 41.8% from the field and 35% from beyond the arc while helping Florida win a national championship.

When a player transfers out of a program, the reaction from that school’s fan base can speak volumes. In Aberdeen’s case, many Florida fans were visibly upset about losing him — especially to a conference rival like Kentucky.

They knew just how dangerous he could be when paired with a certain wing returning to the Wildcats. Regardless of where Aberdeen lines up in the backcourt next season, his combination with Oweh has the potential to become one of the most explosive duos in the country.

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Men's Basketball

Otega Oweh On Leading Kentucky’s New Roster: “If we win, everyone wins”

Otega Oweh, following his decision to return to Kentucky for a final season, is prepared to take on a leadership role.

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Otega Oweh is ready to take on a leadership role.
Chet White | UK Athletics

With his triumphant, last-second return to Lexington for a second and final season in the blue and white, last year’s breakout star Otega Oweh essentially tied a bow on the army knife that is Kentucky’s incoming roster. 

And while the talent coming in from all sides is full of athletes weathered in their own ways, Oweh, having already played under the big blue lights, looks to step into a leadership role.

“I’m definitely going to have to be one of the leaders, for sure,” he said. “…I’m going to do it in my own way. Being vocal, but also a little intense. I feel like that’s kind of my thing.”

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Oweh became a fan favorite Wildcat this year for a multitude of reasons, the least of which weren’t his game-winning buckets and highlight slams that seemed to occur on a regular basis.

But beyond the stuff that made it on SportsCenter, Oweh carried much of the team’s energy when he was on the floor. The game seemed to move through him on both ends; a ball of momentum that, at times, made or broke the result of a match.

While last year’s magical run came up short, Oweh, like his head coach, has his sights set on a banner this fall.

“We have a lot of guys who could get big accolades this year… so I feel like, with that, comes a national championship. If we win the natty, everyone is going to get what they want. If we win, everyone wins.”

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As Kentucky’s star returner, and a potential early favorite for SEC Player of the Year, Otega Oweh carries the weight of Rupp Arena on his shoulders.

But not only is he up for the challenge, he seems to embrace it. Coming back as the presumed best guy on the floor means not only meeting expectations, but exceeding them.

The most passionate fanbase in college basketball looks on as #00 leads the charge towards one of the most promising, exciting seasons Lexington has seen in years.

“It really felt like we had unfinished business,” said Oweh. A long awaited ninth banner hangs in the balance as Mark Pope, Otega Oweh, and the Kentucky Wildcats gear up for the 2025-26 season.

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Men's Basketball

Travis Perry Clears The Air On Kentucky Exit

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Matthew Mueller | Kentucky Kernel

Before his decision to transfer to Ole Miss, Travis Perry had long been considered one of Kentucky’s most iconic high school basketball players.

“I was devastated when Travis left,” Mark Pope told reporters. “I think he was on his way to becoming a legend here at Kentucky.”

As a junior at Lyon County High School in Eddyville, Kentucky, Perry broke the state’s all-time scoring record, eventually reaching 5,481 career points, a milestone that was just the beginning of his growing legacy.

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He capped his historic high school résumé in 2024 by leading Lyon County to a state championship, earning Sweet 16 MVP honors, being named Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball and claiming his second Gatorade Kentucky Player of the Year award, solidifying his place among the greats to come out of the Bluegrass State.

As a freshman for the Wildcats, Perry took on a limited role, primarily serving as a shooter off the bench. Eventually, he decided he wanted something for his game that Kentucky wasn’t offering.

“Whenever I got in the portal, I felt that Coach Beard’s vision for me was exactly what I was looking for,” Perry said in his first media appearance as a Rebel.

Perry emphasized that one of the main reasons for choosing Oxford was the opportunity to grow beyond the label of a pure shooter, something he felt had limited him at Kentucky.

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In his lone season as a Wildcat, Perry averaged 2.7 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 9.8 minutes per game, and despite shooting efficiently, he rarely had plays run for him.

“Travis and I share a vision for his game that he’s much more than a shooter. He’s a guy who can play multiple positions,” Rebels head coach Chris Beard said.

For one of Kentucky’s most accomplished high school players, the move to Oxford is less about leaving home and more about finding the right fit to unlock his full potential.

With a fresh opportunity under Coach Beard, he’s focused on expanding his game, helping the team win and proving he’s more than just a shooter off the bench.

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