Kevin Knox had a monster week with two games of 19 or more points, including a career-high and UK season-high 34 points in a road win at No. 7/7 West Virginia on Saturday, en route to being named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week on Monday.
Knox averaged a team-high 26.5 points per game over the two victories while shooting a blazing 69.6 percent from the field and 75.0 percent from behind the arc. He also chipped in with an 85.7-percent rate from the free-throw line. Knox hit four or more 3-pointers in both games, including a career-high five in the win against the Mountaineers.
He’s the first UK player to score 30 or more points this season and the first since De’Aaron Fox had 39 in a win over UCLA in the Sweet 16 in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. The 34 points are the most for a UK player on the road since Malik Monk had 34 at Ole Miss to open SEC play a season ago. They’re also the most by a UK freshman in a non-conference true road game. Knox also contributed 6.5 rebounds a game, the second-best mark on the team. He had six or more snares in both games.
Knox has emerged as Kentucky’s leading playmaker, leading the team in scoring (15.5 points per game), 3-pointers (34) and minutes per game (32.5 per game). The Tampa, Florida, native has led the Wildcats in scoring a team-high seven times and has scored in double figures in a team-best 16 games, including six performances of 20 or more points. A 6-foot-9 forward with an ability to play like a guard, Knox is shooting 46.4 percent from the floor and 35.4 percent from 3-point range.
The SEC honor is the first of Knox’s career. It’s Kentucky’s third SEC honor of the season. Hamidou Diallo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander previously also won SEC Freshman of the Week.
Knox and the Wildcats return to action on Tuesday. UK will welcome Vanderbilt to Rupp Arena at 9 p.m. ET with the game set to air live on ESPN.
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