Wenyen Gabriel shoots over the outstretched arm of a defender during Kentucky’s 92-67 win vs. Morehead State in the Kentucky Cares Classic at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky, on Monday, October 30, 2017. (Photo By Barry Westerman, courtesy of UK Athletics)
Kentucky sophomore forward Wenyen Gabriel was the only returning player this Wildcat team had that played significant minutes on last seasons Elite Eight team but even his minutes were limited late in the season.
Gabriel, a 6-9 forward from Manchester, NH., is still trying to figure things out but John Calipari has provided the blueprint for how he wants him to play. Cal said following UK’s 66-61 win vs. Georgia, that when Gabriel catches it, he wants him to shoot the ball or pass it, not put it on the floor.
“He’s playing for a coach that says if you are open, shoot it every single time,” said Calipari. “Play like Derek Willis.”
Willis was similar to Gabriel but actually played fewer minutes in his first two seasons at Kentucky. Once the Mount Washington native figured out that Calipari wanted him to be a shooter and rebound his position, his career took off and he provided that stretch four that Kentucky needed.
Gabriel now has the green light to shoot the ball when open and it’s given him less to focus on. A year ago, Gabriel shot 31.7 percent from three-point range, knocking down 20-of-63 attempts from long range. Through 13 games this season, that number has climbed to 43.3 percent on 13-of-30 attempts.
Over the last five games, Gabriel has knocked down at least one three-pointer in each of them and is shooting 46.6 percent in that stretch. Additionally, he has been a factor on the glass with 7.2 rebounds per game and has also been a factor defensively. In recent games, Gabriel is averaging 1.4 blocks and 1 steal per game.
The one area that needs to improve and it will if he takes Calipari’s advice, is turnovers. Gabriel has turned the ball over 8 times in the last four games, including three vs. Georgia (one was an awful charge call).
“Mark it down if you’re a guy keeping stats,” said Calipari. “When he passes up a shot, ball fakes and starts to run, go turnover.”
Gabriel shot 22 percent vs. Georgia on Sunday evening but the mark was 40 percent from behind the arc. When Kentucky needed him most, he stepped up to hit a big shot. With UK leading 60-57, Gabriel knocked down a three from the top of the key to give the Wildcats a six-point lead with 1:08 to play.
With Kevin Knox, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Hamidou Diallo attacking the rim, all Gabriel has to do is spot up and be ready to shoot.
