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The Kentucky Wildcats just picked up another commitment for the 2021-22 season, as Georgia transfer Sahvir Wheeler announced he will be rocking Kentucky blue.
During the 2020-21 season, Wheeler averaged 14 points, 7.4 assists, and 3.8 rebounds. He not only led the SEC in assists, but he led the league in assists-to-turnover ratio (1.68) showing that he is one of the elite playmakers in the country.
Wheeler was named Second-Team All-SEC and was ranked fifth nationally in assists last season. He’s also just 20 years old, so he’s still pretty young and could further develop into the kind of guy who could run an offense for a Final Four contender with the right pieces surrounding him.
While Wheeler isn’t the best three-point shooter (26%), he shoots a solid 47.9% on two-point shots and can finish at the rim, despite being 5-10.
However, with sharpshooter like Kellan Grady, Dontaie Allen, and CJ Fredrick already on the roster, Kentucky needs someone that can get them the ball in the right spots to score, and that’s exactly what Wheeler brings to the table.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the news.
Welcome to the family, @sahvir_ !
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) May 17, 2021
#LaFamilia x #BuiltDifferent pic.twitter.com/1Yr5AlAxUK
LIVE: Georgia transfer Sahvir Wheeler (@sahvir_) to announce his commitment with @GoodmanHoops. Will it be Kansas, Kentucky, LSU or Oklahoma State? https://t.co/NbhuZErQoC
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) May 17, 2021
Sahvir Wheeler having one of the best commitment interviews I've ever seen. His enthusiasm is infectious. https://t.co/vgXVHXzcKW
— Jason Marcum (@marcum89) May 17, 2021
BIG BLUE NATION WHATS GOOOOOODDDDDD https://t.co/U32zZdzaY3
— Sahvir (@sahvir_) May 17, 2021
Sahvir Wheeler
— Kentucky Wildcats France (@WildcatsFrance) May 17, 2021
TyTy Washington
Kellan Grady
Keion Brooks
Oscar Tshiebwe pic.twitter.com/svPSfnVptE
Georgia transfer Sahvir Wheeler has committed to KENTUCKY! #BBN pic.twitter.com/T9NNE1uYi1
— Moore Edits (@moore_bbn) May 17, 2021
Sahvir Wheeler averaged 14 points and 7.4 assists per game for Georgia last season @sahvir_ pic.twitter.com/buO9Mjrd1w
— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) May 17, 2021
#BBN !!!!! https://t.co/EQbUS6tqUR
— Tyty Washington (@tytywashington3) May 17, 2021
Sahvir Wheeler says he is a servant leader. You can tell he's been talking to John Calipari.
— Shawn Smith (@gbbcountry) May 17, 2021
Sahvir Wheeler answers several needs for the Kentucky Wildcats. I'll have some video breakdowns here on Twitter coming soon & you can check out my Film Room piece on KSR, but know this for now:
— Brandon Ramsey (@BRamseyKSR) May 17, 2021
-He can score better than you think.
-His passing is next-level.
-Holds his own on D.
Sahvir Wheeler commits to Kentucky. The addition of him & TyTy Washington addresses the ball handling needs for the Cats next year. @KentuckyRivals
— David Sisk (@CoachDavidSisk) May 17, 2021
Sahvir is a little bit of a showman. I'm digging it.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) May 17, 2021
Sahvir Wheeler picks Kentucky. One of the best passers in college basketball will stay in the SEC, opts out of playing for Tom Crean.
— T.J. Walker (@TJWalkerRadio) May 17, 2021
WHEELER!!!! #BBN
— Dalton Jones ® (@DaltonJJones19) May 17, 2021
In a matter of days, Coach Cal goes from zero point guards to two stout ones. UGA’s Sahvir Wheeler is headed to Kentucky. He said Cal’s history with multiple guards in the same lineup (Fox/Monk, Ulis/Murray, Hagans/Maxey/Quick, etc.) is why he’s coming with TyTy. https://t.co/A9CzhjTh1O
— Bryan Kennedy (@BKennedyTV) May 17, 2021
Sahvir Wheeler said all the right things during that interview with Jeff Goodman. You can tell he's excited to get to Kentucky to play with the pieces John Calipari has added.
— Shawn Smith (@gbbcountry) May 17, 2021
Looks like wheeler will be a cat Monday. He's going to be a huge addition to the team. His 4+ Turnovers a game don't bother me and neither does his shooting %. He's a great floor general. I think at Kentucky he'll cut his turnover numbers in half and improve his shooting %.
— Danny Davis (@DannyDa27021564) May 17, 2021
Yay!!! Welcome Savir Wheeler!!
— Amber Stephenson (@ambercrum209) May 17, 2021
https://t.co/PSAhcDvlLI pic.twitter.com/Y4Okl5WiF3
— Jai Lucas (@CoachJLuc) May 17, 2021
Sahvir Wheeler: "I chose the University of Kentucky because it gives me the best opportunity to make a run at a national championship and pursue my dreams of playing in the NBA. I can’t wait to get to Lexington and get to work."
— TheCatsPause247 (@TheCatsPause247) May 17, 2021
.@sahvir_ is the kind of player that dictates the pace of the game, who gets easy baskets for himself and his teammates, and who can be disruptive defensively. He is what you look for in a PG in that he puts his teammates in positions to score, yet can score the ball in bunches. https://t.co/W48PxdQxce
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) May 17, 2021
Man, Sahvir really knows his Kentucky history. He just went through the last 10 years and was naming point guards that played together on each team. I love it!
— Jake Adkins (@jakefromky) May 17, 2021
It’s Kentucky (again). Calipari’s recruiting heater continues.
— John Huang (@KYHuangs) May 17, 2021
This will be the most interesting roster of the Cal era. Tons of college basketball experience and a bunch of pieces that should fit well together with defined roles. Lot of shooters and rim protectors in the paint.
— Big Blue Express (@bigbluexpress) May 17, 2021
Six days later, Kentucky has signed both Wheeler and Washington to solidify its backourt. https://t.co/WcyEGH8kfo
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) May 17, 2021
LOVE the way John Calipari is addressing last season’s struggles
— Maggie Davis (@MaggieDavisTV) May 17, 2021
Adding a true floor general at point guard, more options for 3-point shooting, a good mix of freshmen/upperclassmen who have quality experience... pic.twitter.com/NX9oRnvvud
Kentucky has picked up 1 of the best & most underrated PG’s in #CollegeBasketball in Sahvir Wheeler.
— Nxt1sColin (@Nxt1sColinBrown) May 17, 2021
Georgia transfer is a playmaker who can score & distribute at a high level. Look for his #s to climb with a better supporting cast in Lexington. @UKCoachCalipari @KentuckyMBB
Sahvir Wheeler will be the seventh SEC assist leader John Calipari has coached at Kentucky:
— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) May 17, 2021
John Wall (2010)
Brandon Knight (2011)
Marquis Teague (2012)
Tyler Ulis (2016)
De'Aaron Fox (2017)
Ashton Hagans (2019)
Sahvir Wheeler (2021)
I’m excited to have another undersized crafty PG who’s an elite playmaker and on ball defender.
— Kentucky Kavalry #BBN (@KentuckyKavalry) May 17, 2021
Not saying Sahvir Wheeler is the next Tyler Ulis, but I really like this addition.#bbn
Sahvir Wheeler averaged 4.4 TOs/game and STILL led the SEC in A/TO ratio. That's a lot of assists.
— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) May 17, 2021
Georgia guard Sahvir Wheeler commits to Kentucky, completing one of the great off-season turnarounds I can ever remember. Every problem UK had last season - lack of a playmaking PG, staff disconnect 3-point shooting, maturity - was all addressed by John Calipari. Credit Cal
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) May 17, 2021
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