Jarred Vanderbilt Tabbed SEC Freshman of the Week

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky men’s basketball freshman forward Jarred Vanderbilt enjoyed a breakout week in two of UK’s most dominating victories en route to earning Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week honors.
 
Vanderbilt averaged a double-double with 11.0 points and 12.0 rebounds in UK’s victories at Arkansas and at home vs. Missouri. His emergence has been the difference maker for the Wildcats in three consecutive victories, but it was wins at Arkansas and Missouri, in dominating fashion, that has solidified the Cats as a contender once again. Kentucky moved into a tie for third place in the SEC standings, largely behind Vanderbilt’s energized play.
 
Vanderbilt began the week by scoring a career-high-tying 11 points with nine rebounds on the road at Arkansas and then followed it up with his first career double-double with 11 points and a career-high 15 boards against Missouri.
 
For the week, Vanderbilt shot 80.0 percent from the field. Prior to this week’s two games, Vanderbilt was shooting 34.0 percent from the field. Vanderbilt’s 15 rebounds against the Tigers matches a team high for a single game this season. He also blocked a career-high three shots in the win over Mizzou.
 
For the season, Vanderbilt is averaging a rebound per every 2.1 minutes played. His ratio of rebounds per minute is the best single-season mark in school history (minimum 100 minutes played, with minutes statistics available since the 1962-63 season). His 7.8 rebounds per game is the fourth-best mark in the league.
 
The SEC honor is the first of Vanderbilt’s career. It’s Kentucky’s fourth SEC Freshman of the Week honor of the season, more than any other school in the league. Hamidou Diallo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Kevin Knox previously also won SEC Freshman of the Week.
 
Vanderbilt and the Wildcats wrap up their home schedule on Wednesday. UK will welcome Ole Miss to Rupp Arena at 7 p.m. ET with the game set to air live on ESPN2.
 
For the latest on the Kentucky men’s basketball team, follow @KentuckyMBB on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, and on the web at UKathletics.com.