Sahvir Wheeler discusses offseason routine, shooting drills

Sahvir Wheeler is returning to Kentucky for his senior season after starting every game for the Wildcats in 2021-22. His main goal for improvement over the summer? Shooting the basketball.

Reporters caught up with Wheeler at a ProCamps event run by Kentucky players to ask the point guard what his offseason practice regimen has looked like. Wheeler noted that he’s locked in on improving the jumper. He said he goes in to get shops up twice a day. And when he’s shooting, he likes to aim for 500 makes on a shot before he calls it a day. In the morning he said he’ll work on his shot, get to 500 makes and go home. Then, he’ll return later and put in another session where he tries to hit 250 makes.

Wheeler also reported that he’s focusing on improving a variety of shots in his arsenal. Not just set, catch-and-shoot jumpers. He said he’s trying to get better at shooting off motion, trying to knock down shots when he doesn’t have time to get set.

Through three years at the college level, Wheeler hasn’t shot the ball very well. He shoots just 43.2% from the field and 27.5% from three. However, by the end of this most recent season with Kentucky, Wheeler converted 40% of his threes in league play. Admittedly, that was a small sample size, but nonetheless is showed some progress in his jumper.

The senior is focused on making that end-of-year improvement on his jumper a strength in 2022-23.

Wheeler discusses putting NCAA Tournament loss behind him

Kentucky point guard Sahvir Wheeler is already gearing up for the 2022-23 season. Part of focusing on the new year means forgetting the end of this past season.

Wheeler was asked by interviewers how he had put the Saint Peter’s loss behind him. He admitted that it “stung a little bit.” He also said it took him a while to get over the first round loss after it happened. Eventually, Wheeler realized that “it is what it is,” and that he needed to get over that game to focus on the next season.

Wheeler said there were important lessons learns from the end of the season, but “that’s all behind us now,” according to the UK point guard. “It was unfortunate. But like I said it’s a new year — new season, new teammates. I’m just super excited to get on the floor.”

The rising senior point guard for John Calipari is ready to avenge the Wildcats’ early exit in the 2022 NCAA Tournament heading into this coming season.