Nick Richards with a dunk against Vandy! Photo by Mark Cornelison

Transcription

1 Volume 14 Number 1 Nick Richards with a dunk against Vandy! Photo by Mark Cornelison

2 High school hoops love affair with the three-pointer celebrates its 30th Anniversary this year BY MIKE FIELDS / KHSAA The big news broke the fourth week of March, 1987, during the 70th Boys Sweet Sixteen in Rupp Arena: The National Federation of State High School Associations announced that the three-point shot part would be part of high school basketball for the season. College basketball had already adopted the three-pointer for the season, and underdog Providence, coached by Rick Pitino and led by sharpshooter Billy Donovan, weaponized it so well it reached the NCAA Final Four. It was no surprise that the high school game wanted to share in the bombs away excitement generated by the 19-foot, 9-inch stripe. Thirty years later, it s hard to imagine high school hoops without the threepointer. Scott County Coach Billy Hicks thinks the three-point has been good for the game. Just about everybody agrees it s been a positive change for the game by giving outside shooters as much influence as inside dominators. Before we had the three, the game was usually a slugfest, and the team that was the biggest and strongest usually won, said Scott County s Billy Hicks, the state s alltime winningest coach. Scott Davenport, who guided Ballard to a state runner-up finish in 1987 and a state championship in 1988, agreed. The three-pointer is a great thing because it kind of eliminates the strongest, fastest, quickest (team) always winning. It s a skill. It s an art. It s a great equalizer. Davenport, now in his 13th season as coach at Bellarmine University, said he clearly remembers the 1987 state tournament when the KHSAA announced the threepointer would be part of high school basketball the next season. Scott Davenport coached Ballard when the three-pointer was first adopted. He recalled that after his Bruins lost to Clay County in overtime in the 87 finals, among all the tears and consoling in the locker room, one of his players, junior standout Mark Bell, asked Jim Reuther, our athletic director, about the three-point line. True story. There was a three-point line down in the Ballard gym that Monday morning. Richie Farmer was a senior at Clay County when the three-point shot was first used in high school hoops. (Herald-Leader photo) While some players had to stretch their games to take advantage of the new rule, others, like Clay County s Richie Farmer and Paintsville s Keith Adkins, already had the long shot in their arsenal. Farmer said he didn t change his style for his senior season ( ). He made 70 of 138 threes (50.7) and averaged 27.1 points, but his first thought wasn t to launch bombs. Our whole offense under Coach (Bobby) Keith was predicated on me getting to the head of the circle and inside the freethrow line, drawing the defense then kicking it out to open people or shooting a jumper, Farmer said. If we had had the three-pointer my freshman year, when I played the 2-guard, most of the shots I took that year would ve been threes. Richie did sign off his high school career with a three-point flourish, though. He hit 9 threes on his way to a state-finals record 51 points in Clay County s loss to Ballard in the 1988 championship game. Keith Adkins led the state in threepointers his senior season ( ) at Paintsville. CONTINUED ON FOLLOWING PAGE

3 High school hoops love affair with the three-pointer celebrates its 30th Anniversary this year CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE That s the one thing I did best, said Adkins, now the coach at Life University in Marietta, Ga. I could really shoot the basketball. It was kind of natural for me. I really never had to concentrate on Hey, where s the (three-point) line? because a lot of my shots were further back than that to begin with. The only regret Adkins has is that the threepointer wasn t part of the high school game the season before. We had that loaded team in 87, with (John) Pelphrey, (Joey) Couch, Mike Minix and myself. If you threw the threepointer into play with that group, it might ve changed things. We lost in the final four to Ballard (61-54) in 87, and somebody said I hit six or seven shots that would ve been threes. I guess the three came just a year too late. Adkins said his long-range shooting ability increased his stock as a college recruit. He wound up signing with Notre Dame. He played two year for the Irish before transferring to North Carolina-Wilmington. Bardstown coach James Boo Brewer had to stretch his game to include the three-point shot when he was a player. James Boo Brewer, whose senior season at Bardstown also coincided with the introduction of the three-pointer, said he became more attractive to college recruiters when he showed he had a perimeter game, too. All through high school I was very athletic, so my thing was running, jumping, dunking stuff like that. Then the three-point line went into effect before my senior year, and I didn t have that shot. So I had to spend the whole summer working on shooting threes. It took me a while to get used to it, but I did. It became another weapon for me. That s when my recruiting picked up, when Louisville, Kentucky, Syracuse and Arizona State started getting more interested in me. Brewer made 44 of 128 threes (34.4%) that season and averaged 20.5 points. He wound up playing at Louisville, and is now in his eighth season as Bardstown s coach. It s probably safe to say Kentucky s high school girls had a tougher time adjusting to the three-point line in those early days. The KHSAA didn t adopt a smaller basketball statewide until the season. The smaller ball made the threepointer so much more accessible for girls. It helped their confidence, said Nell Fookes, whose teams won almost 700 games in her 30 years at Boone County. Nell Fookes coached Boone County s girls for 30 years. Even today, you see some girls who are set-shooters, and I understand that. Some don t have the strength to shoot threes off the dribble or off a screen; some do. As a coach I wanted to encourage players to use the weapons they had. High school girls have come a long way in 30 years, though. Let s compare some numbers: In the 15 games in the 1988 Girls Sweet Sixteen, the teams were a combined 30 of 111 from three-point range. In seven of those games, one or both teams didn t even attempt a three. In the 15 games in the 2017 Girls Sweet Sixteen, the teams were a combined 149 of 459 from three-point range. On the boys side, the same comparison: In the 15 games in the 1988 Boys Sweet Sixteen, the teams were a combined 96 of 277 from three-point range. In the 15 games in the 2017 Boys Sweet Sixteen, the teams were a combined 125 of 400 from three point range. So the girls attempted and made a lot more threes than the boys did in last year s state tournaments. The proliferation of three-point bombs has had one negative side effect on the game: hardly anybody shoots mid-range jumpers anymore. That part of the game has almost disappeared, Adkins said. You go watch a high school game now, and the kids either jack up threes or drive til they run into something. The mid-range game is a lost art. Brewer sees it the same way: The pull-up jumper doesn t exist anymore. Everybody wants 3 instead of 2. Farmer used to love making 12- foot bank shots. But I haven t seen anybody do that since Tim Duncan, he said with a laugh. But if fans were asked if they d rather see players firing up 20-footers or banking in 12-footers, they re going to go with the three-point thrill. It s fun, it s entertaining and it s exciting, Fookes said. People love it. And that love affair is celebrating its 30th anniversary this season. THREE-POINT RECORDS BOYS Individual (Regular season) GAME 17 by David DeMarcus, Sayre (vs. MMI) 1989 SEASON 168 by Mason Blair, Johnson Central 2017 CAREER 462 BY Dylan James, Sheldon Clark Individual (state tournament) GAME 9 by Richie Farmer, Clay County (vs. Ballard) 1988 state finals; 9 by Chris Lofton, Mason County (vs. Ballard) 2003 state finals Team (regular season) GAME 41 by Jackson City (vs. MMI) 1992 SEASON 370 by South Oldham 2017 GIRLS Individual (Regular season) GAME 17 by Rebecca Greenwell, Owensboro Catholic (vs. Whitesville Trinity) 2013 SEASON 143 by Demetria Brents, Caverna 1999 CAREER 539 by Jaime Walz, Highlands Individual (state tournament) GAME 8 by Maci Brown, Henderson County (vs. Male) 2015 Team (regular season) GAME 21 by Moore (vs. Seneca) 2007 SEASON 313 by Clinton County 2005

4 13th Region Girls varsity basketball schedule February 1 Jackson County girls at Owsley County North Laurel girls at South Laurel February 2 Whitley County girls at Corbin Harlan County girls at Harlan Clay County girls at Jackson County Red Bird girls at June Buchanan Leslie County girls at Knox Central Bell County girls at Middlesboro Lynn Camp girls at Pineville Barbourville girls at Williamsburg February 3 Scott Blank Classic at Buckhorn: Jackson County girls vs. Buckhorn and South Laurel girls vs. Knott County Central Corbin girls at Perry Central Lynn Camp girls at Clinton County Knox Central girls at Jenkins Southwestern girls at North Laurel Oneida Baptist girls at Red Bird Jellico, TN girls at Williamsburg February 5 Model girls at Barbourville Letcher Central girls at Harlan County Harlan girls at Leslie County Knox Central girls at Lynn Camp Claiborne, TN girls at Middlesboro Jackson County girls at Oneida Baptist North Laurel girls at Pineville Jackson City girls at Red Bird Williamsburg girls at Whitley County February 6 Harlan girls at Bell County Berea girls at Barbourville Knox Central girls at Clay County Lynn Camp girls at Jackson County Pineville girls at Middlesboro February 8 Bell County girls at Barbourville Harlan County girls at Corbin Clay County girls at Oneida Baptist Pineville girls at Whitley County February 9 Williamsburg girls at Beechwood South Laurel girls at Franklin County Harlan girls at Lynn Camp Owsley County girls at Knox Central Barbourville girls at Middlesboro Cordia girls at Red Bird Jackson County girls at Rockcastle County February 10 Jackson County girls at Bell County Corbin girls at Bell County North Laurel girls at Knox Central Buckhorn girls at Oneida Baptist Middlesboro girls at Red Bird Taylor County girls at Whitley County February 12 South Laurel girls at Clay County Barbourville girls at Harlan Lee County girls at Jackson County Whitley County girls at Knox Central Oneida Baptist girls at Lynn Camp Williamsburg girls at Middlesboro February 13 Barbourville girls at Corbin Pineville girls at Jackson County Bell County girls at Knox Central KY School for Deaf girls at Red Bird North Laurel girls at Whitley County February 15 Lynn Camp girls at Model Clay County girls at Owsley County Leslie County girls at North Laurel J. Frank White girls at Pineville Red Bird girls at Riverside Christian Rockcastle County girls at South Laurel February 16 Whitley County girls at Bell County Harlan girls at Corbin Knox Central girls at Harlan County Lynn Camp girls at Middlesboro Oneida Baptist girls at Owsley County 13th Region Girls Won-Lost Records Through January 31 Harlan County 19-2 South Laurel 18-4 North Laurel 18-5 Clay County 17-6 Whitley County 16-5 Williamsburg 16-8 Pineville 15-6 Bell County 14-8 Harlan 11-9 Lynn Camp 10-9 Knox Central 9-9 Middlesboro 8-11 Jackson County 7-11 Corbin 7-17 Barbourville 6-14 Red Bird 1-8 Oneida Baptist 1-18

5 13th Region Boys varsity basketball schedule February 1 Oneida Baptist boys at Pineville Rockcastle County boys at Williamsburg February 2 Whitley County boys at Corbin Knox Central boys at Frederick Douglass Harlan County boys at Harlan Clay County boys at Jackson County Bell County boys at Middlesboro North Laurel boys at South Laurel Lee County boys at Red Bird Jock Sutherland Classic at Lafayette: Corbin boys vs. Mercer County Robbie Davis Memorial at Clinton County: Clay County vs. Pickett County, TN Scott Blank Classic at Buckhorn: Breathitt County boys vs. Barbourville Bell County boys at Jenkins Belfry boys at North Laurel Oneida Baptist boys at Red Bird Harlan County boys at Pikeville Jellico, TN boys at Williamsburg February 5 Middlesboro boys at Claiborne, TN Knox Central boys at Lynn Camp Red Bird boys at North Laurel Jackson County boys at Oneida Baptist Williamsburg boys at Whitley County February 6 Harlan boys at Bell County Corbin boys at Harlan County Williamsburg boys at McCreary Central Rockcastle County boys at Jackson County Pineville boys at Middlesboro Lynn Camp boys at Oneida Baptist February 8 North Laurel boys at Bell County Pineville boys at Harlan Jackson County boys at Knox Central Barbourville boys at McCreary Central Clay County boys at Oneida Baptist Leslie County boys at Williamsburg February 9 North Laurel boys at Corbin Somerset boys at Knox Central Bell County boys at Lynn Camp Barbourville boys at Middlesboro February 10 Petrey & Newcomb Orthodontics Classic at Corbin: Corbin boys vs. Doss Lynn Camp boys at Betsy Lane Pike County Central boys at Harlan County Jackson County boys at Phelps Middlesboro boys at Red Bird Letcher Central boys at South Laurel February 12 Harlan County boys at Cumberland Gap Bell County boys at Pineville Williamsburg boys at Barbourville Harlan boys at North Laurel Madison Central boys at South Laurel February 13 Bell County boys at Barbourville Knox Central boys at Clay County Lynn Camp boys at Harlan Middlesboro boys at Jenkins Oneida Baptist boys at Owsley County Red Bird boys at Pineville Corbin boys at Pulaski County Rockcastle County boys at Whitley County February 15 Bell County boys at Clay County Harlan County boys at Cordia Jackson County boys at Model Williamsburg boys at Pineville Red Bird boys at Riverside Christian Rockcastle County boys at South Laurel Madison Southern boys at Whitley County February 16 Jenkins boys at Barbourville Harlan boys at Corbin Oneida Baptist boys at Leslie County Lynn Camp boys at Middlesboro Knox Central boys at North Laurel 13th Region Boys Won-Lost Records Through January 31 North Laurel 19-3 Knox Central 18-4 Lynn Camp 17-3 Corbin 16-4 Harlan County 16-5 South Laurel 15-5 Bell County 14-5 Jackson County 13-8 Clay County Barbourville Middlesboro Williamsburg 9-12 Oneida Baptist 8-9 Red Bird 7-14 Whitley County 7-16 Pineville 4-16 Harlan 3-13

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8 ifebruary 1 February 4 February 5 February 8 February 11 February 12 February 15 February 18 February 19 February 22 SEC women s basketball schedule for February 2018 Texas A&M at Tennessee Auburn at Kentucky Vanderbilt at Ole Miss UConn at South Carolina Georgia at LSU Mississippi State at Missouri LSU at Kentucky Arkansas at Alabama Ole Miss at Georgia Tennessee at Vanderbilt Auburn at Texas A&M Florida at Missouri South Carolina at Mississippi State South Carolina at Alabama LSU at Auburn Mississippi State at Florida Vanderbilt at Georgia Tennessee at Arkansas Ole Miss at Texas A&M Kentucky at Missouri Florida at South Carolina Kentucky at Mississippi State Alabama at Ole Miss Georgia at Tennessee Texas A&M at LSU Missouri at Arkansas Vanderbilt at Auburn Alabama at Tennessee Arkansas at Kentucky Missouri at Auburn South Carolina at Georgia Florida at Texas A&M Ole Miss at LSU Mississippi State at Vanderbilt Vanderbilt at Florida Tennessee at Missouri LSU at Arkansas Kentucky at South Carolina Auburn at Alabama Texas A&M at Mississippi State Georgia at Ole Miss LSU at South Carolina Tennessee at Florida February 25 Georgia at Alabama Texas A&M at Arkansas Auburn at Mississippi State Vanderbilt at Missouri Kentucky at Ole Miss Florida at Georgia Mississippi State at Kentucky South Carolina at Tennessee Ole Miss at Auburn Alabama at LSU Arkansas at Vanderbilt Missouri at Texas A&M Lincoln Memorial men return to the top of the NCAA Division II polls HARROGATE, Tenn. - For the fourth time in program history and the third time in the past four seasons, the Lincoln Memorial University men's basketball team finds itself back atop the NCAA Division II national rankings. Riding a dominant eight-game winning streak, the Railsplitters (19-1) have moved up to No. 1 in both the NABC/Division II coaches poll and the D2SIDA media rankings that were released on Tuesday. Lincoln Memorial sits on top of the national polls for the first time since the team ended the season there and made a trip to the NCAA Division II National Championship. Prior to that, the Railsplitters started 20-0 and climbed all the way to No. 1 during the campaign. LMU earned its first-ever No. 1 national ranking in January 2012 after reeling off 15 consecutive wins. The Railsplitters are 19-1 this season with their only loss coming at a neutral site against defending national champions Northwest Missouri State, who were the No. 1 team in the country at the time of that defeat and still sit at No. 6 in both of this week's polls. Lincoln Memorial has won eight consecutive games since that setback to the Bearcats. That stretch, which includes a win at then No. 1 ranked Queens, has been particularly dominant of late, as the Railsplitters have won their last four games by 44, 33, 29 and 39 points, respectively. LMU has won 27 consecutive South Atlantic Conference contests - the second-longest streak of its kind in league history behind the 29 straight the Railsplitters won from In addition to that, the Railsplitters have won 18 consecutive home games and 17 straight on the road. The Railsplitters have been impressive on both ends of the floor this season to say the least. In fact, Lincoln Memorial leads the country in both field-goal percentage defense and offense, which has helped the Railsplitters win by a nation-leading 29.2 points per game. In the NABC poll, Lincoln Memorial received 14 of the 16 first-place votes to finish well ahead of No. 2 Queens, No. 3 Ferris State, No. 4 Western Oregon and No. 5 West Liberty. Northwest Missouri State, Morehouse, UT-Permian Basin, Bellarmine and West Texas A&M round out the top 10. The D2SIDA rankings look much the same with the Railsplitters receiving 14 of the 16 first-place votes. Ferris State is ahead of Queens, though, at No. 2, while West Liberty and Western Oregon round out the top five. The remainder of the top 10 consists of Northwest Missouri State, UT- Permian Basin, Morehouse, Findlay and West Texas A&M.

9 February 3 February 6 February 7 February10 February 13 February 14 February 17 February 20 February 21 February 24 SEC men s basketball schedule for February-March 2018 South Carolina at Texas A&M Kentucky at Missouri Arkansas at LSU Alabama at Florida Georgia at Mississippi State Ole Miss at Tennessee Vanderbilt at Auburn Tennessee at Kentucky South Carolina at Arkansas Alabama at Mississippi State Missouri at Ole Miss LSU at Florida Georgia at Vanderbilt Texas A&M at Auburn Kentucky at Texas A&M Florida at South Carolina Mississippi State at Missouri Auburn at Georgia Ole Miss at LSU Tennessee at Alabama Vanderbilt at Arkansas Texas A&M at Missouri Arkansas at Ole Miss South Carolina at Tennessee LSU at Alabama Mississippi State at Vanderbilt Kentucky at Auburn Georgia at Florida Missouri at LSU Alabama at Kentucky Auburn at South Carolina Texas A&M at Arkansas Florida at Vanderbilt Tennessee at Georgia Ole Miss at Mississippi State Mississippi State at Texas A&M Ole Miss at Missouri Kentucky at Arkansas Vanderbilt at LSU Georgia at South Carolina Alabama at Auburn Florida at Tennessee Missouri at Kentucky February 27 February 28 March 3 Tennessee at Ole Miss LSU at Georgia South Carolina at Mississippi State Texas A&M at Vanderbilt Arkansas at Alabama Auburn at Florida Tennessee at Mississippi State Florida at Alabama Missouri at Vanderbilt Auburn at Arkansas LSU at South Carolina Ole Miss at Kentucky Texas A&M at Georgia Kentucky at Florida Mississippi State at LSU Alabama at Texas A&M South Carolina at Auburn Georgia at Tennessee Arkansas at Missouri Vanderbilt at Ole Miss

10 Notes of interest around the 13th Region Tops in the Region (per KHSAA stats) BOYS Scoring: Andrew Taylor, Corbin ppg FG%: Keenan Hernandez, North Laurel % FT%: Corey Johnson, Whitley Co % 3-point FG s: Corey Johnson, Whitley Co Rebounds: Andrew Taylor, Corbin rpg Team Scoring: Knox Central ppg Team Defense: South Laurel ppg Team FG%: North Laurel % Team FT%: Harlan County % GIRLS Scoring: Blair Green, Harlan Co ppg FG%: Carmen Cox, Harlan Co % FT%: Amerah Steele, South Laurel % 3-point FG s: Shelby Phillips, Clay Co Rebounds: Brittney Cupp, Bell Co rpg Team Scoring: Harlan Co ppg Team Defense: Pineville ppg Team FG%: Harlan Co % Team FT%: Harlan Co % by Gary Miller I have to admit that I like watching fishing on TV; Not the everyday programs, but tournament fishing. The Bass Master s Classic is one of my favorites. In those shows you really get to see different techniques and strategies that are used and which ones may work best on that particular day and in a particular environment. And you get to see the evolution of fishing. One of the aspects I have noticed is how fishing rods are continually being constructed in a way that enhances one s ability to feel the most sensitive bites. In the past the difference was in the material the rod was made of. Now, not only are the rods more sensitive in reference to the material, but they are different in design, mainly in the grip area. It is thinner. Again, all for the purpose of enhancing our ability to feel. This smaller grip keeps a fisherman from gripping too tightly and thus increases his sensitivity to the slightest tug on the rod. This thought process has also influenced the design of the newest bows in the archery field. Here the grips are smaller to encourage an archer from gripping so tightly he causes the bow to torque one way or the other so that he misses the target. The word of the day Outdoor Truths in fishing and hunting is For the best results, hold things loosely. Not only is this true in the outdoor world, but it is true in my own little world as well. I have found for the best results, I must hold to things loosely. I m not talking about people or relationships, but things those possessions I have been entrusted with those things that can become my god instead of God. I have discovered the more trust I have in God; the easier it is for me to hold to things loosely. I have enjoyed this aspect of faith. When I have held to things too tightly, I have discovered a torque. It is one that causes me to miss the real target of why I m here. When I have held too tightly I have also discovered that I am less sensitive to the work of God around me. I am unable to clearly feel the tug of God on my heart and life. How s your grip on things? Is it so strong that you are tired from holding on? Is it so tight you can only feel your own pain from the grip and not sense the pain of others? If the answer is yes, then you re missing out on an unexplainable freedom, unlimited blessings, and an indescribable peace. Ask God today to loosen your grip and you will enjoy the things He gives you more fully. gary@outdoortruths.org

11 As more and more people are learning about how exercise can help improve their quality of life, weightlifting has seen staggering growth among adults in America. According to The Wall Street Journal, the sport's popularity has been rising due to the prevalence of CrossFit-style training gyms and the exposure of weightlifting personalities on social media that have helped push the idea into the mainstream. Whether the direction comes from a personal trainer or just a local gym, the community of weightlifting has been very welcoming to newcomers who need help to succeed. CNBC highlights the fact that there are over 13,000 CrossFit gyms across the world and over 4 million people subscribe to its philosophy which revolves around functional movements that aim to improve a person's work capacity as well as translating well to other sports and physical activities. These gyms can be started relatively inexpensively and the type of community that forms is more interested in overall health and fitness than transforming into the Hulk. Far from wanting the extreme body of today's professional bodybuilders, in fact, most people who turn to lifting weights do Weighlifting is experiencing a renaissance so to help improve their day-to-day quality of life and to help prevent premature aging. As The Telegraph points out, many middleaged men and women who found themselves riddled with anxiety, lacking focus, and overwhelmed with fatigue have found relief with basic weightlifting performed several times each week. In fact, weightlifting is a goldmine for the over-forty crowd, helping to maintain a healthy metabolism, preventing age-related stomach fat, helping control blood sugar in diabetic patients, improving bone density, and even promoting a more positive mood by increasing the amount of serotonin produced in the brain. It's a good sign for America's obesity epidemic that weightlifting and other forms of exercise have been gaining momentum and, according to the State of Obesity Organization, in fact, obesity rates have been leveling off in recent years and currently sit at about 38 percent of all adults. Far from just losing a few pounds, a lifestyle that includes fitness as a major foundational piece will help lead to a more healthy population and weightlifting seems to be pulling its weight in this area.

12 Photo by Quinn Foster I UK Athletics ST. LOUIS The awards just kept rolling in for Kentucky freshman forward Kevin Knox. The U.S. Basketball Writers of America named him both the Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week and the Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Week. That s after he won Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week on Monday and Citizen Naismith National Player of the Week honors earlier. Knox is the second freshman this season to earn both USBWA honors in the same week, joining Oklahoma s Trae Young, who did it in December. Knox is the first UK freshman to earn Tisdale Freshman of the Week honors since Tyler Ulis and Karl-Anthony Towns claimed the honor during the historic season. Malik Monk was tabbed the Oscar Robertson National Player of Week following his 47-point performance against North Carolina last season. The honor is the first for the SEC this season for either the Tisdale or Robertson awards. Knox averaged 26.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in wins over Mississippi State and at No. 7/7 West Virginia last week. He had 19 points, six boards and a pair of steals against the Bulldogs. In the epic come-frombehind win over West Virginia, Knox poured in 34 points and added seven rebounds. The scoring output was the most since De Aaron Fox had 39 in a win over UCLA in the Sweet 16 in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. The 34 points tied Malik Monk s freshman school scoring record on the road (Monk scored 34 at Ole Miss to open SEC play a season ago). They re also the most by a UK freshman in a non-conference true road game. Efficiency was Knox s most impressive quality for the week. He shot the ball behind a 69.5-percent field-goal rate, including a sizzling 75 percent from behind the arc. The Tampa, Florida, native also boasted an percent rate from the charity stripe. Knox displayed versatility offensively getting to the rim at will and sinking shots from 3-point range. He drilled four 3-pointers against Mississippi State before knocking down a career-high five from long range against the Mountaineers. The 6-foot-9 freshman has emerged as Kentucky s leading playmaker, leading the team in scoring (15.5 points per game), 3-pointers (34) and minutes per game (32.5 per game). He s led the Wildcats in scoring a team-high seven times and has scored in double figures in a team-best 16 games, including six performances of 20 or more points. A 6-foot-9 forward with an ability to play like a guard, Knox is shooting 46.4 percent from the floor and 35.4 percent from 3-point range.