John Calipari wants to know who is playing better than Antonio Reeves

Antonio Reeves is having an incredible season in Kentucky‘s backcourt. Earlier this week, UK’s senior guard added another 20-point game to his All-American candidacy, scoring 21 to help the Wildcats beat Mississippi State in Starkville. It was Reeves’ fourth straight 20-point game in February and his 17th of the season in 28 appearances. Until Reeves, PJ Washington was the last ‘Cat with four consecutive games of 20 or more in February 2019.

When Reeves isn’t getting 20, he is still scoring in bunches. Only once has he not reached double-figures in 2023-24, playing in every game on the schedule. The one time Reeves didn’t score 10+? The win against North Carolina when he didn’t need to fill it up. Reeves’ freshman teammates combined for 62 in their statement win in Atlanta back in December. Outside of that CBS Sports Classic, Reeves has scored double figures in every game for a season average of 19.9 points per game, the third-best mark in the Southeastern Conference. He is also third among guards in field-goal percentage (50.1%), fourth in free-throw percentage (87.9%), second in 3-pointers made (72), and seventh in 3-point shooting percentage (44.2%), trailing a couple of his teammates, Reed Sheppard (50.7%) and Rob Dillingham (44.5%), on the list.

Needless to say, Reeves is having a remarkable season for the Cats, one that deserves a place in the All-American conversations. John Calipari made that point last night.

John Calipari made the case for Antonio Reeves

On Wednesday night’s call-in radio show, John Calipari told his listeners, “Antonio Reeves is having a ridiculous year. If there are two or three guards in the country playing better than Antonio Reeves, can you name them?“

He threw out “the Davis kid at North Carolina,” RJ Davis, who scored 27 points against Kentucky in that December game, but not another candidate. “Name them. Who?” Calipari asked again.

“And he’s doing it efficiently,” Calipari continued. “He went 1 for 7 from the 3. But because he’s got three different levels of game–the floater, the layup, the free throws, and the 3–he scored 20 again. Every time we need a basket, he goes and gets it. He’s rebounding. I mean, like, I’m talking like, All-American. Why is his name not mentioned? Is it because we have a team full of guys or is it because he’s at Kentucky? I don’t know.”

Calipari then told a story of a call he received from CBS after Kentucky beat Alabama in Rupp Arena last weekend. Calipari said he told the network, “We kind of smoked ’em, it probably hurt your ratings,” only for CBS to tell him it was the highest-rated game of the day.

“What? And so, what I’m saying to you, it’s not as though people aren’t watching them play, they’re watching us. They’re seeing what he’s doing. And he’s quiet about it. He doesn’t say anything. He’ll smile if I say anything about it, but I just felt that I needed to say that tonight, and you know, let that be out there.”

Kenny Walker put it out there too

Kentucky legend Kenny Walker, a Consensus First Team All-American in 1986, believes Antonio Reeves is one of the most underrated and underappreciated players in school history. Hear him for yourself in Kentucky’s new promo video promoting Reeves as an All-American.

Let's talk about @ToniooReeves. #AllAmericanAntonio
🗣️ Kenny "Sky" Walker
🎥 @UKSportsVideo pic.twitter.com/5e8gnZKVpH

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 25, 2024

Antonio Reeves for All-American ’24.