It's time to start talking even more about Antonio Reeves

Antonio Reeves is currently putting together an All-American caliber season. And it feels like we’re not talking about it enough.

The fifth-year sharpshooter dropped in 27 points during Kentucky’s 90-77 win over Mississippi State on Wednesday night. He shot 8-12 from the field, 2-5 from distance, and a perfect 9-9 from the line. Reeves is scoring better from both inside and beyond the arc than he ever has in his college career. But Wednesday night almost felt like just another game for the reigning SEC Sixth Man of the Year.

That’s because Reeves has been doing this all season long. Through 16 games now, the 6-foot-6 guard is averaging 19.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per outing on wild shooting splits of 51.7/42.6/86.9. A couple more made free throws and he’s in the illustrious 50/40/90 club. Reeves has hit at least double-digits in scoring all but one time this season (when he scored nine in a win over North Carolina). He’s reached 20 points in half of his appearances.

“I just go out there and play,” Reeves said. “Just use my experience I have at the college level and things like that. Play as hard as I can and let it come to me.”

This isn’t the same version of Reeves we saw last year — not even close. While his play style is certainly similar, the way he pours in points now compared to a season ago is noticeable. He’s not just an outside shooter anymore. Reeves is mixing in more and more dribble moves, blowing by his defenders for tough floaters around the rim. That’s the other thing — he’s hitting a career-high 58.6 percent of his two-pointers. His Euro step has become unguardable.

Antonio Reeves with the euro step. pic.twitter.com/TLNahhHLyA

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Head coach John Calipari couldn’t be happier about Reeves’ progression, which continues to show even halfway through the season.

“My favorite play for him, he started his dance and usually what does he shoot? A step-back, bank misser, it doesn’t go in, he is two for — I think he is 1 for 11 with that shot,” Calipari said after Wednesday night’s win. “I’m like, do your dance, you will get happy, and then go by a guy. And he went by him and got fouled.”

At this stage, Reeves is simply a very good basketball player. No need to overthink it. While he doesn’t do everything on the floor, he doesn’t do anything that will hurt your team. Reeves rarely turns the ball over (his 9.2 turnover rate is among the 150 lowest in the nation, according to KenPom), hardly ever fouls, and is even rebounding the ball better than any of his previous college seasons. He’s reliable and consistent, which wasn’t always the case.

“I don’t even realize it until I look up, you know? I just be in the flow of the game really. I look up, ‘Oh yeah, I got 20 (points)’,” Reeves added.

In order to crack an All-American team, the veteran still might need to take his game up one more notch. But a spot on the All-SEC team is his if he wants it. He’s on pace to make that happen, and Kentucky is better off because of it.