Sahvir Wheeler quickly dribbled the ball over midcourt and spotted a cutting Keion Brooks Jr., who took an alley-oop pass from his former — and new — teammate and slammed it down to give Washington an early 10-point lead over Saint Martin’s in last weekend's exhibition game.
It was a glimpse of what the former University of Kentucky basketball duo can do together now reunited in Seattle for coach Mike Hopkins' team after spending last season on opposite sides of the country.
Wheeler is a 5-foot-9, left-handed point guard originally from Houston who appeared in 21 games for the Wildcats, starting 14, before missing the final 11 because of an injury.
As a junior, he led the Southeastern Conference with 206 assists in 30 game, fourth most in Kentucky history. That total would be third all-time at the UW, just behind another lefty point guard in Isaiah Thomas, who distributed 213 assists in the 2010-11 season.
With a degree in communications in hand, Wheeler sought a new home to play his final college basketball season. His relationship with Brooks helped steer him to the UW.
“We had a great year together," Wheeler said. "We had some chemistry on the court and obviously we were really close off the court. Him being transparent with me, as far as what the UW offers as a coaching staff, as a community and stuff outside of basketball along with the basketball stuff, was really intriguing.”
Brooks and Wheeler both averaged in double figures for Kentucky in 2021-22, each scoring just over 10 points per game for Wildcats’ coach John Calipari and helping lead the team to a 26-8 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Last season, Hopkins tried a combination of players at point guard, beginning with seniors P.J. Fuller and Noah Williams for 10 games each before turning to freshman guard Keyon Menifield for the final nine games.
Wheeler, who averaged 10.3 points per game and just over 6 assists per game at Georgia and Kentucky combined, brings a different level of play-making ability to the position that UW hasn’t had in recent years.
“His speed and his ability to deliver — it’s not just the pass," Hopkins said. "He delivers it on target and he can create a lot of easier baskets for most of our players.”
After he came out for an official visit and met with the UW coaching staff, the talented point guard determined the Huskies could maximize his talent while providing an ideal home for him off the court.
“I’d say my game is a dynamic play-maker,” Wheeler said. “I’ve showed capability of doing both. Obviously a gift of mine is being able to get guys involved, to be able to pass the ball.
"But also, I’ve had games where I’ve exploded for however many points that you need from me. I’m a guy who can have 4 points and 20 assists, if that’s what it takes for us to win. I’m a guy who can do a little bit of both and I can also bring some excitement to the game as well.”
With Washington missing out on postseason basketball for four consecutive seasons, a veteran point guard should give the Huskies a legitimate chance at an NCAA Tournament berth.
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