Killeya-Jones Not Letting Opportunity Go to Waste
ST. LOUIS – Sacha Killeya-Jones, naturally, had a big crowd around him at his locker.
The sophomore had just played his most minutes in more than a month and contributed meaningfully to Kentucky’s Southeastern Conference Tournament semifinal win over Alabama. How happy, he was asked, were his teammates to see the unfailingly positive Killeya-Jones take advantage of his opportunity?
Next door, Quade Green’s postgame interviews were done, but he couldn’t help but interrupt.
“Real happy,” Green said.
The sentiment – after Killeya-Jones had six points, five rebounds and two blocks in an 86-63 win – was unanimous after the Wildcats advanced to their fifth straight SEC Tournament championship game, where they will face second-seeded Tennessee.
“That was great,” said Gabriel, who had a rather solid effort of his own. “I’m really happy for Sacha. He’s been working all year. Even last year he’s been working hard. The opportunity presented itself today and he stepped up to the play and played great. I hope he continues to do that. We’re going to need that from him, definitely.”
Killeya-Jones was solid in eight first-half minutes, though he didn’t score a point. His play earned him the right to start the second half, and he promptly blocked a shot on each of Alabama’s first two possessions after the break. He would soon add a pair of short jumpers and a dunk.
“It’s great having Sacha off the bench,” PJ Washington said. “He’s a great rebounder, he’s a great hustle guy, he tries to block shots and I try to get him involved on the offensive end too, get him some little dump-offs. I was just happy for him as well. He’s played great this tournament and we need him to play great tomorrow too.”
UK relied on Killeya-Jones early on this season, but John Calipari had more frequently used a smaller lineup in recent weeks in the wake of Jarred Vanderbilt’s debut and subsequent emergence. From Feb. 6 until the first game of the SEC Tournament, Killeya-Jones never played more than seven minutes in a game or scored more than two points.
Now, Coach Cal has been forced to adjust with Vanderbilt out so far this weekend due to injury. Killeya-Jones – who never complained and was never anything but a model teammate in the face of a diminished role – has been a primary beneficiary, playing 11 minutes on Friday and 16 on Saturday.
“It definitely feels good to be out there and contribute and help my team win games,” Killeya-Jones said. “That’s what I want to do every game. Like I said, I’m always going to be there for my teammates and lift everybody else up.”
Before this weekend, Killeya-Jones uplifting was limited almost exclusively to cheerleading. He hasn’t stopped doing that, but now he’s getting to a lot more too.
“I got to tell you, Sacha, who hadn’t had the opportunity, has been playing behind some pretty good players, now his chance is there,” Calipari said. “And I’ll tell you, I’m watching him play, both on defense, offense, rebounding the ball. He’s fighting. He makes us different.”
