Sahvir Wheeler prepares for Texas A&M Homecoming

On3 imageby:Nick Roush01/18/22

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Sahvir Wheeler missed the chance to play against his old school. Wednesday night he’ll get to play against a school he almost attended, just a short 90-minute drive from where he grew up in Houston, Tx.

Kentucky is playing Texas A&M in just the Wildcats’ fourth true road game of the season. Reed Arena will be rocking tomorrow night as the Aggies pile in for free t-shirts, something Wheeler has come to expect in his first season at Kentucky.

“I think we can expect the same thing we expect every time we go out in the world. We’re Kentucky,” the point guard said Tuesday morning. “I’m expecting it’s going to be a sell-out crowd. It’s gonna be super, super loud. But you know, we’ve had some tests before, we’ve finally got our first road win, so I think we know what to expect and what is it gonna take for us to win down there.”

Not Wheeler’s First Homecoming

A few years ago, Wheeler planned on playing in this game, just while suited up for the other team. As a four-star prospect just inside the Top 100 in the class of 2019 for Houston Christian, Wheeler committed to play for Billy Kennedy as a sophomore. He eventually signed a letter of intent with the Aggies, but those plans changed when Kennedy was terminated following the 2018-19 season. He was released of his LOI after Buzz Williams was hired and eventually landed at Georgia.

As a true freshman for the Bulldogs, Wheeler traveled back to College Station to take on the Aggies. The point guard had nine points, an impressive seven assists, five rebounds and five turnovers in the five-point loss.

For some, the homecoming game is symbolic, providing a player with an opportunity to validate their decision to attend UK. For Wheeler, it’s just a chance to see his family.

“Every team is the same. I think I just get more excited knowing the fact that I am in Texas and I’m going to see my family,” he said. “You know, the mission is still the same going there in the game. But definitely I’m a little happier knowing that I’m going to Texas and I’m going to see my parents before the game, after the game get to see my friends, all my siblings. It’s definitely something extra there. As far as the game you know, I’m going in there and doing whatever I can to help the team win.”

Previous Kentucky Basketball Homecoming Performances

Some Kentucky basketball players have been at their best in homecoming games. It felt as though Ashton Hagans had a personal vendetta against Georgia. The Cartersville, Ga. native had four steals in each of the three games against the Dogs and scored 23 points twice, just three points shy of his career-high at Kentucky.

Wheeler is not the first Texas kid to return home for a big game. Dallas native Tyrese Maxey had 13 points, five rebounds and three assists in a 69-60 win over A&M. Jarred Vanderbilt’s game at Reed Arena did not produce the same results, recording seven points and seven rebounds in a loss to the Aggies.

Julius Randle and the Harrison Twins played three games in Jerry World during the 2013-14 season. The Baylor ice storm game was a forgettable performance, the precursor to an unforgettable moment, the point where he always hits it.

Despite that moment, neither play thrived in the Lone Star State. Randle was a double-double machine, yet never recorded one in Texas. Aaron Harrison only had eight points in his heroic Final Four performance and Andrew Harrison never reached double figures in the scoring column in his home state.

Return to Arkansas

The state of Arkansas took it personally when Malik Monk turned down the Razorbacks. Even though he never got to hear a chorus of boos from the fans at Bud Walton Arena, he did hear smack talk from an Arkansas staffer prior to the SEC Championship Game. Monk scored 17 points in the 17-point win.

Archie Goodwin got the chance to win at Bud Walton Arena, but the Little Rock native did not have any help from Nerlens Noel. He still had 14 points in the 73-60 loss to Arkansas.

New York City Natives

Hamidou Diallo recorded a career-high in front of his family. The shooting guard from Queens scored 23 points in a win over Monmouth at the Barclays Center.

Before Junior Nick Richards became the SEC’s best big man, the New Jersey native played Michigan State at Madison Square Garden in the Champions Classic. The Wildcats won 69-60, but Richards only had seven points and four boards before fouling out of the game. He scored 21 points in the following game and completely transformed the outlook of the 2019-20 season.

Doron Lamb‘s game in Madison Square Garden was much more eventful than Richards’ outing. Playing in the inaugural Champions’ Classic, the Queens native scored 17 points in a 75-65 win over Kansas, a preview of what was to come in the National Championship.

Dakari Johnson returned to his hometown of Brooklyn as a true freshman. Kentucky defeated Providence 79-65 at the Barclays Center, but he only scored one point in four minutes of action.

The 2021-22 season opened with a homecoming for Jacob Toppin. With has famous brother in the stands, he could not slow down Duke’s Paolo Banchero. He committed four fouls and recorded just four points and six rebounds in the loss to the Blue Devils.

Other Notable Homecomings

Clarksville, Tv. native Alex Poythress had plenty of friends and family in the stands every time the Cats traveled to Vanderbilt. The Wildcats won the first two meetings with Poythress on the court, but in his senior season he was held scoreless in 16 minutes of action and Kentucky fell 74-62. John Calipari has not lost to Vanderbilt since.

In 2010 DeMarcus Cousins (Mobile) and Eric Bledsoe (Birmingham) faced teams from Alabama three times, winning each game by an average of 7.3 points. In the only game in their home state at Auburn, Cousins had 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Bledsoe knocked down a pair of threes to score 13 points.

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2024-03-28