Freshmen Impress in First UK Contest
Kentucky’s freshman class came to Lexington with a ton of hype and lots of expectations.
After one game, the group is living up to its billing. UK’s true freshmen combined to score 28 of the team’s first 31 points, 36 of the team’s 45 first-half points and ended with a combined 57 points in an 81-45 win over Morehead State on Wednesday night at Rupp Arena.
It wasn’t just a one-man show, either. Five different true freshman Cats scored at least nine points in the game in a balanced scoring effort. Brandon Boston Jr. led the Cats in scoring with 15 points, while Devin Askew and Terrence Clarke each had 12 in their UK debuts.
Cam’Ron Fletcher and Isaiah Jackson each added nine points for UK. The only true freshman who did not score was Lance Ware.
And it wasn’t just the scoring. These freshmen rebounded, assisted and even played some defense. Boston led UK in rebounds with seven, Fletcher and Ware each had five, while Clarke and Jackson had four apiece. Askew and Clarke led Kentucky with four assists each, Clarke had three steals while Jackson and Ware tied for the team lead with two blocks apiece.
Kentucky head coach John Calipari was pleased with his team’s first game of the season.
“What I was encouraged about is we looked like an organized basketball team,” Calipari said. “Ten guys, never played together, never played for me, we went 40 days of torture.”
Calipari singled out a few of his freshmen, including Fletcher, who was a major surprise.
“I love what I saw from Cam today because he just plays hard,” Calipari said. “Like Cam has not done what he did today in the game.”
Fletcher did not seem the bright lights in his first game as a Wildcat.
“It was game time, so I generally just run, and I knew I had to play hard,” Fletcher said. “And everything just fell into place.”
As for getting attention for his solid play, Fletcher would rather not have it.
“I really don’t care about attention,” Fletcher said. “I just go out and play hard.”
Calipari also liked Clarke’s effort on Wednesday.
“Terrence, I thought Terrence played well,” Calipari said. “Terrence, I mean, the people back in Boston watching what he did, he cramped up today because he’s never played that hard for that long. He cramped up.”
As for Clarke, he seemed most happy about getting a team win.
“We went out today and played as hard as we can,” Clarke said. “Proud of my team for getting a ‘W’ today.”
Clarke is already an accomplished player, but he knows he can still improve.
“I think from the beginning of coming here to know, I’ve improved a lot,” Clarke said. “I still am learning, as you can see.”
Boston led the team in scoring, but Calipari was more impressed that the freshman didn’t press in his first game.
“B.J. didn’t really force anything,” Calipari said. “He missed some shots. Not one was a forced bad shot. Not one.”
And Calipari also liked the play of Askew, his freshman point guard.
“Devin, Devin’s going to be fine,” Calipari said. “He’s got to create shots for his teammates. They will create shots for him.”
There was something to like about each of the freshmen on Wednesday night. And the good news for Calipari and the Big Blue Nation is that these players will only get better as the season moves forward.
