Sacha Killeya-Jones finds peace at NC State

Sacha Killeya-Jones transferred from the Kentucky Wildcats in May.

Killeya-Jones played for Coach Cal and the Cats for two seasons and showed signs of progress in his second season. However, he had to battle for playing time and was never able to carve out a consistent position in the frontcourt.

Killeya-Jones has found peace with his decision to leave Kentucky and, while he’ll have to sit out this season per NCAA rules, he is happy with his new team the NC State Wolfpack.

He told CL Brown of The Athletic that, while he doesn’t regret his time at UK because it made him a better player, the constant spotlight that shines in Lexington wore on Killeya-Jones.

“When you go out (in Raleigh), not everyone is going to recognize you and know your first, middle and last name as soon as they see you. You go somewhere, they might recognize you’re a basketball player, but you might have more friendly conversations and less interactions with, like, crazed fans and stuff like that.”

Killeya-Jones had some negative fan interactions while at Kentucky and, while that was not the norm, I can’t blame him for wanting to step away from that.

The “I don’t mean to disturb you,” fans who would nevertheless impose on his time. And that one time a drunk man in his 30s came up to Killeya-Jones, his dad and little brother while they were eating wings, promising in a profanity-laced, word-slurring diatribe that he could help “take his game to another level.”

Kentucky is not for everyone, and I’m sure everyone in Big Blue Nation wishes Killeya-Jones the best in his career at NC State.

Be sure to read the full piece.