Honor student. Loving son. Living example of perseverance and good will.
Those who snicker at the NCAA-preferred term of “student-athlete” should look away when Kentucky basketball honors Alex Poythress on Saturday. He’s a throwback to yesteryear when players were really thought of as students as well as athletes.
At UK, where the so-called one-and-done rule has put Senior Day on life support, there’s a hint of irony as Poythress takes center stage. It’s a feel-good story about a player who has experienced plenty of pain as a Wildcat.
“It’s been a long ride,” he said Friday. “I’m just thankful to be playing the game, and just humbled to be in this situation.”
This week, Poythress was named to an Academic All-America second team. He became UK’s first honoree since Mark Pope made the third team in 1995.
Poythress became one of three UK players to graduate in three years during John Calipari’s seven seasons as coach. He’s made the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll each year.
For this, he thanked his parents.
“How hard they pushed me growing up,” Poythress said. “Stayed on top of school. Stayed on top of my studies. It speaks volumes about them and what great parents they are.”
The dumb jock stereotype does not fit.
“I take pride in it,” Poythress said. He cited the work ethic and morals his parents taught him.
“I’m just glad the hard work is paying off,” he said.
We’ve had players leave after two (years). We’ve had players stay all four. Each guy is on his own path. If you had said to Alex, would you have left after a year if you could, he would have said, yeah, I would have. I’m proud of Alex. He’s such a good kid.
John Calipari
It’s something of a surprise that Poythress will be honored on UK Senior Day Saturday. As a high school player in Clarksville, Tenn., he was a McDonald’s All-American and a top-10 national prospect. Five recruiting stars were part of his recruiting label.
Those prospects typically play one season for Kentucky and enter the next year’s NBA Draft.
Poythress stayed four years, in part because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in mid-December 2014.
When asked about how he handled not being part of UK’s McDonald’s-to-NBA pipeline, Poythress said, “It wasn’t too hard. After every year, you’ve got to make a decision whether you stay or go. Decisions are made.
“I’m content with them. I feel I made them for the best reasons, and I’m just moving on from there.”
Not for the first time, Calipari pointed out that players follow different “paths.” Most UK stars are gone after one season, but not all.
“We’ve had players leave after two (years),” Calipari said. “We’ve had players stay all four. Each guy is on his own path. If you had said to Alex, would you have left after a year if you could, he would have said, yeah, I would have.
“I’m proud of Alex. He’s such a good kid.”
Calipari suggested Poythress could be a “late bloomer.” Of course, injuries played a part. Besides the torn ACL, Poythress missed five games this season when he injured his right knee.
Calipari cited another reason: “Pretty poor” guard play in Poythress’s freshman season of 2012-13. Ryan Harrow was UK’s point guard. Archie Goodwin the shooting guard.
Poythress had his highest scoring average that season: 11.2 points per game.
Poythress will finish his career as the 15th player in UK history with 800 points, 500 rebounds and 70 blocks.
Poythress will finish his career as the 15th player in UK history with 800 points, 500 rebounds and 70 blocks.
But he’ll also be known for maddening inconsistency, which has been on display in Kentucky’s three most recent games.
After Poythress scored 14 points against Alabama, Tide Coach Avery Johnson said the UK player would have already been in the NBA had he not torn the ACL.
Then, Poythress was among the UK “bigs” who made no impact in a loss at Vanderbilt (no points, three rebounds, five fouls in 16 minutes).
Then, on Tuesday, he posted a double-double at Florida: 12 points, 10 rebounds.
As Calipari said earlier this season, Poythress can make observers say “wow,” or make them forget he’s on the court.
Calipari has been at a loss to explain the dramatic ebbs and flows. The UK coach has repeatedly declined to share his thoughts, telling reporters to ask Poythress.
On Friday, the question was asked of Poythress. Why the ups and downs?
“I don’t know, man,” he said. “I don’t have the answer for that.”
Calipari warmed to the suggestion that Poythress has time to re-define his UK legacy.
“That’s the greatest thing about this (NCAA) Tournament . . . ,” the UK coach said. “It’s like a guy can go and define who they are in that thing.”
NBA scouts don’t evaluate prospects “closely” until the NCAA Tournament, Calipari said.
But first things first, Poythress will be honored at Senior Day, a sentimental tradition that pre-dates the all-encompassing goal of making it in the NBA. Calipari likened Poythress to Darius Miller, another four-year player.
“They’ve seen him more than other guys,” Calipari said of Poythress’s four years of seniority.
When asked if UK fans loved him, Poythress said, “I think they do. I’m grateful for that. And I’m just blessed to be in the situation I’m in.”
Jerry Tipton: 859-231-3227, @JerryTipton
Saturday
LSU at No. 22 Kentucky
When: 2 p.m.
TV: CBS-27
Radio: WLAP-AM 630, WBUL-FM 98.1
Records: LSU 18-12 (11-6 SEC), Kentucky 22-8 (12-5)
Series: Kentucky leads 86-26
Last meeting: LSU won 85-67 on Jan. 5 in Baton Rouge, La.
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