Kentucky basketball: Sahvir Wheeler commits to Wildcats

Kentucky basketball got a much-need addition to their backcourt with the transfer of Georgia guard Sahvir Wheeler, the SEC’s 2019-20 assist leader.

What was the biggest need for Kentucky basketball this offseason? Point guard.

And what did the Wildcats just land in the transfer portal? Another point guard.

Sahvir Wheeler from Georgia is staying in the SEC to join Kentucky as a junior for the 2021-22 season.

John Calipari and company have got to be high-fiving all over Lexington.

Sahvir Wheeler eliminates Kentucky basketball’s concern at the point

Wheeler was a four-star recruit in the class of 2019, ranking 100th in the 247Sports composite.

He averaged 14.0 points, 7.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game with Georgia in 2020-21 while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 39.9 percent from 3-point range. That assist average was the best in the SEC and fourth in the nation.

At one point this offseason, Kentucky had no point guards on the roster. They added shooting guards like Kellan Grady from Davidson and CJ Fredrick from Iowa, but the point was still a concern.

Adding a commitment from five-star point guard TyTy Washington last week was a huge boost to the squad. The rich just got richer, with Wheeler providing a more veteran presence. At worst, the Wildcats now have two capable point guards to rely on.

The new additions should turn up the hype for the upcoming campaign for Kentucky. They need to rebound from a disappointing 9-16 record last season.

The only possible hiccup would be if Wheeler attracts attention as an NBA prospect. When he put his name in the transfer portal, he also declared for the draft with the intention of going through workouts for scouts. He’s likely to return to college despite that.

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