12 Reasons To Love #12, Antonio Reeves

Soon, the Big Blue Nation will wave goodbye to Antonio Reeves at his Senior Night celebration in Rupp Arena before Kentucky hosts Vanderbilt in the 2023-24 home finale. After Reeves’ final game in Lexington, he will play one more road SEC game (those are his favorites) in Knoxville on Saturday before his last shot at the SEC and NCAA Tournaments, where he will be eager to improve his 1-2 postseason record as a Kentucky Wildcat.

Before Reeves writes those final chapters of his Wildcat career, let’s take a moment to appreciate what he has already done in a Kentucky uniform this season ahead of his curtain call on Wednesday night. No matter what happens the rest of the way, Reeves already played one of the best senior seasons in school history, statistically. When it ends, he may be the third Wildcat to earn All-American recognition since one of his coaches, Tyler Ulis, was named All-American in 2016. Malik Monk and Oscar Tshiebwe are UK’s only All-Americans since Ulis, but John Calipari believes Reeves should be the next on the list. “If there are two or three guards in the country playing better than Antonio Reeves, can you name them? “he recently asked. “Name them. Who?”

More than Calipari’s opinion, Reeves is having a memorable last year in Lexington.

Five straight 20-point games, 17 in total

Going into his Senior Night, Reeves scored 20 or more points in five consecutive games, beginning with 22 points in Kentucky’s upset win at Auburn, then 25 in a losing effort at LSU, 24 in the rout of Alabama, 21 in the comeback in Starkville, and 22 without playing the last seven minutes in last weekend’s win over Arkansas. You’ll have to go back to Jamal Murray to find another Wildcat with five straight games of 20+ points. For the season, Reeves has 17 games with at least 20 points.

Most points per game in the Calipari era

Reeves is Kentucky’s leading scorer at 20.0 points per game, currently the highest scoring average of the John Calipari era in Lexington. Jamal Murray is Calipari’s highest scorer for a single season, also at 20.0 points per game in 2015-16. Malik Monk averaged 19.8 in 2016-17. How’s that for company? 

UK’s 1,000 Point Club

On February 21, Reeves scored his 1,000th point at Kentucky, becoming the 62nd member of the school’s 1,000-point club. With his 1,000 points at Illinois State, Reeves is in a much smaller club as one of only ten players in history to score 1,000 points at two different schools.

Over his two-year UK career, Reeves has 1,068 points, only 145 shy of tying Bill Spivey for the most at Kentucky in two seasons. Spivey scored 1,213 from 1949-51, a mark Reeves can easily pass with a postseason run.

In contention for the SEC scoring crown

At 20.0 points per game, Reeves is still in the mix for the SEC’s scoring title, although the league leader, Mark Sears, likely locked up his scoring crown last night with a 33-point game at Florida. A week ago, Reeves was a half-point back from Sears, but now he trails by more than a point, sitting third behind Dalton Knecht. Reeves would need 52 on Senior Night to tie Sears going into the final Saturday.

• Mark Sears, Alabama – 21.1 ppg
• Dalton Knecht, Tennessee – 20.6 ppg
• Antonio Reeves. Kentucky – 20.0 ppg

Top 10 in 3-pointers in a single season at UK (almost)

Many of Reeves’ points come from behind the arc, where he’s made 73 of 165 shots for a 44.2 shooting percentage from 3. He will move into the top 10 for most 3s in a single season at UK when he hits two more, tying Patrick Sparks and James Young in tenth. If Reeves can make another 20 this season, he will join the exclusive 100 3-Pointer Club, good enough for fifth all-time at 100. Jodie Meeks is the school’s record-holder with 117 in 2008-09. Reeves has 80 right now.

SEC leader in 3-point accuracy

With that 44.2 make rate, Reeves leads the SEC in 3-point percentage for players with more than 150 attempts, a parameter that excludes his teammates, Reed Sheppard (51.7%) and Rob Dillingham (43.4%), from the list (they make the rules, not me). Reeves ranks fourth nationally in 3-point percentage; currently, the ninth-best for a single season at Kentucky.

Reliable at the foul line

A missed technical foul free throw against Arkansas may keep Reeves from finishing among the top-10 shooters at the free throw line in a single season at UK. Still, his 87.6 percentage from the charity stripe would rank 13th all-time if the season ended today. Maybe he can shoot his way past Kent Hollenbeck (1970-71) for tenth by season’s end. Hollenback shot 88.17 percent.

1. Tyler Herro, 2018-19 – 93.55% – 93 attempts
2. Immanuel Quickley, 2019-20 – 92.31 % – 156
3. Kyle Macy, 1979-80 – 91.23% – 114
4. Travis Ford, 1993-94 – 91.15% – 113
5. Jodie Meeks, 2008-09 – 90.17% – 234
6. Jodie Meeks, 2006-07 – 89.71% – 68
7. Jim Master, 1981-82 – 89.62% – 106
8. Kyle Macy, 1977-78 – 89.15% – 129
9. Gimel Martinez, 1991-92 – 88.31% – 77
10. Kent Hollenbeck, 1970-71 – 88.17% – 93
11. Bennie Coffman, 1959-60 – 88.16% – 76
12. Travis Ford, 1992-93 – 88.14% – 118
13. Antonio Reeves, 2023-24 – 87.61% – 99

According to UKAthletics.com, he is the only Power 5 player averaging at least 1.5 made 3-pointers and tallying at least .490% from the field, .435 from 3-point range and .865 from the charity stripe.

More than a 3-point shooter: “three levels of game”

When Reeves tested the NBA waters last spring, his feedback encouraged him to expand his game beyond 3-point shooting to become a better ballhandler and shot-creator. Reeves listened and went to work over the summer, and now, in his second year in Lexington, he can score from anywhere on the floor. His shiny new floater may be the nicest addition to Reeves’ bag.

John Calipari recently said, “He’s got three different levels of game: the floater, the layup, the free throws, and the 3.” That’s four, but you get Calipari’s point: Reeves is a versatile scorer.

Top 3 among SEC guards in field-goal percentage

Reeves’ new three-level offense came with accuracy because he shoots an incredible percentage on his 2-point shots, in addition to his SEC-leading percentage on 3s. In the SEC, he ranks sixth among all players in field goal percentage, shooting 50.9 percent. It’s the third-best percentage among guards in the conference.

According to UK Athletics, he is the only Power 5 player averaging at least 1.5 made 3s, shooting at least 49.0% from the field, 43.5% from 3, and 86.5% from the free-throw line this season.

Road dog

Reeves’ breakout game came last season when he scored 37 points against Arkansas, leading the injured and underdog Kentucky Wildcats to a surprise upset win in Bud Walton Arena. He’s done some of his best work again on the road this season with games of 30, 25, 24 and 24 points in enemy territory. Reeves averages four more points per game on the road, scoring 22.6 in away games and 18.6 at home in 2023-24, per his ESPN splits. His best road game is our next talking point.

30 and the MVP against Louisville

Reeves saved his highest-scoring game for Kentucky’s biggest rival, Louisville. Against the Cards, Reeves scored 30 in the KFC Yum! Center, joining Derrick Miller (34), Kenny Walker (32), and Tony Delk (30) in the small group of players with 30-point performances against UofL. Reeves was named MVP of his final Kentucky-Louisville game in December, going 10 of 16 from the field and 4 for 5 from 3 in the win.

Jerry West Award finalist

On Tuesday, Reeves was named a finalist for the Jerry West Award, given to the best shooting guard in college basketball. The decade-old award has one Kentucky winner in its past: Malik Monk won the Jerry West trophy following his spectacular 2016-17 season. In 2023-24, Reeves is up against Caleb Love (Arizona), Kevin McCullar Jr. (Kansas), Tyson Walker (Michigan State), and RJ Davis (North Carolina) to become Kentucky’s second-ever winner.

But first, one more night in Rupp Arena, that trip to Tennessee, and the most-anticipated March in a long time. Hopefully, Reeves adds lots more to his UK legacy and All-American candidacy over the next five weeks.