Sahvir Wheeler confirms his return to Kentucky

Sahvir Wheeler will stick around Lexington for at least one more season. The Wildcat point guard confirmed through Instagram on Sunday evening that he will return to Kentucky for his senior season. Wheeler was the Wildcats’ lead guard during the 2021-22 season, starting 29 of the 30 games he appeared in for UK.

“Since everyone thinking the last post was a returning announcement, here’s your official one: IM BACK WATCH YOURS.” Wheeler wrote on Instagram.

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It was just a couple of days ago that Kentucky head coach John Calipari made his first radio appearance since the season came to an end, where he teased that he expected Wheeler to come back for another year. Calipari also mentioned Lance Ware, CJ Fredrick, and Jacob Toppin as players he anticipates will return to UK.

“You know, let me say this. I know people — and most of this stuff is a small group — but they were on Sahvir because of that last game,” Calipari said on Friday during the “Sports Talk with Dan Issel & Mike Pratt”. “Do you remember Sahvir against North Carolina and against Kansas, how he played? He had a hell of a year until he got injured. And then he gained some weight, he didn’t play as well. But he’s still that guy and I told him, ‘If I can get you right, and get you steady and who you are and keep improving — because he’s improved — I said, ‘You’re the difference in this stuff.’”

During his first run with the Wildcats, Wheeler was one of the players that “stirred the drink” for Kentucky. The 5-foot-9 floor general ran the offense for the ‘Cats the majority of the time, averaging 10.1 points and an SEC-leading 6.9 assists per outing while shooting 44.1 percent from the floor. Wheeler took some criticism at times for untimely turnovers but was a focal point of a team that went 26-8 on the year, 14-4 in the SEC, and earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Wheeler now joins reigning National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe and rising sophomore big man Daimion Collins as recently announced returning players for Kentucky.

Welcome back, Sahvir!