Kentucky’s ‘silent assassin’ gets one more chance. And this time, he’s a different player.

The day before he was set to play his final game in Rupp Arena, an unassuming Antonio Reeves took a seat at a table a couple of rooms away from Kentucky’s practice court and prepared to talk about the end of his UK basketball career.

First arriving in Lexington a little more than a year and a half ago — time that had seemingly flown by, now that it was almost over — Reeves sat down at that table a changed young man who, in many ways, hadn’t changed at all.

The 23-year-old from Chicago was still the soft-spoken guy who showed up in Lexington two summers ago, but the quiet uncertainty that he portrayed upon getting to town — a mid-major transfer from Illinois State taking a big step up in class — had transformed into a quiet confidence.

Oftentimes last season, Reeves seemed overwhelmed, on and off the court. He’s acknowledged as much in recent months. He’s also grown more comfortable with his game at this elite level of college basketball. He’s more self-assured around his teammates this time around, too. No longer the new guy on a roster filled with experienced Wildcats, he’s the old guy amid a group of teenagers. If Reeves talks, they listen. But he still doesn’t talk a ton. Especially about himself.

And that made the following exchange completely unsurprising.

Reeves, the subject of an All-American campaign, was asked if he thought he had played well enough this season to be worthy of such a national honor.

“Um, I’m just playing,” he replied, adding an embarrassed smile before thinking briefly about what to say next. “I’m not gonna answer that question.”

The tone of the response wasn’t rude. It was simply Reeves, who was put at that table to talk about himself. But he wasn’t going to do too much of it.

In the next room over, one of his teammates was more than happy to do the talking on his behalf. Although Tre Mitchell didn’t really think anything needed to be said either.

“I think it shows for itself, honestly,” Mitchell replied to the All-American question, letting that line hang in the air a little while before launching into the pitch that Reeves didn’t want to make himself.

“I mean, this is a dude that works his tail end off,” Mitchell continued. “None of this is by mistake. It’s not a fluke. He puts the work in every single day, and he shows the level of consistency every single night when he’s out there. He never wavers. He’s always the same.”

Mitchell spoke of how the younger players on the team — a roster with eight scholarship freshmen and two sophomores — would sometimes come up to him and ask why UK coach John Calipari would say this or that to them while never speaking in the same way to Reeves.

What was a mystery to the youngsters was obvious to Mitchell.

“That’s because Tone is the same. Every. Single. Day,” he would tell them.

Calipari, master motivator that he is, had obviously seen it, too.

“You’re not going to get in his head,” Mitchell said. “You’re not going to change who he is on the court. He’s gonna be the same. He’s consistent. And that’s a level of mental fortitude that is unlike many people in the game. People have their highs and lows, and when you’re able to keep a level head the way that Tone does — and have the humble attitude that he does — the results come. …

“He’s not gonna say anything that is too much to bring attention to himself. But he knows that his work is gonna show, and his game speaks for itself.”

Antonio Reeves’ first act

The best player on some relatively bad Illinois State teams, Reeves came to Lexington — like many transfers moving up the college basketball ladder — in search of a new challenge on a bigger stage. He found both last season, for better and worse.

The 6-foot-5 guard was spectacular at the start, scoring 40 points and shooting 10 of 18 from 3-point range over his first two games as a Wildcat. He made it look easy. It got a whole lot tougher.

Reeves went 1-for-7 from the field in his first big game — Kentucky’s double-overtime loss to Michigan State in the Champions Classic — and the next several weeks were dotted with inconsistency. He was lights-out on some nights, way off on others. His confidence dipped. His defense, at times, kept him off the court altogether.

On a team with experienced holdovers like Oscar Tshiebwe, Sahvir Wheeler and Jacob Toppin, he was neither the go-to guy nor looked upon as a leader.

Toward the end of that season, something clicked. On the last day of the regular season, Reeves walked into the madhouse of Bud Walton Arena and scored 37 points to lead Kentucky’s upset win over Arkansas.

Toppin was ecstatic. He said after the win that he had gone up to Reeves and told him what he already knew. All of Kentucky’s point guards were sidelined. The backcourt was depleted. The Cats needed him to have a big game. Reeves’ only response, according to Toppin, was a smirk.

“And I knew — I knew — what type of game he was gonna have,” Toppin said that day, his bubbly demeanor contrasting with Reeves’ low-key response.

Perhaps that was the day Reeves fully found his confidence as a Kentucky basketball player. He was as unassuming in the aftermath of that victory as he has been on game days this season. But the difference on and off the court has been noticeable these past few months.

“He’s a lot more confident. That’s obvious,” UK assistant coach Bruiser Flint said. “I think the players around him have helped him. Last year, we asked Antonio to do a lot for us. I don’t think he really has that burden on this team, so he can play to his strengths. And he’s played to his strengths. He’s had an unbelievable season. And I think he’s a lot more comfortable playing at this level of play every night. And what to expect — not from the fans or anything like that — but when he steps on the court against certain guys, against certain teams.

“And he was good for us last year. But he’s been better. Because I just think he has so much more confidence of knowing, ‘This is what I’m stepping into right now.’ And he’s had an amazing season.”

Thirteen days after that Arkansas game, Reeves hit five 3s and scored 22 points to help Kentucky win its first NCAA Tournament game in four years. Two days later, UK’s season ended with a 75-69 loss to Kansas State. In that game, Reeves went 1-for-15 from the field — missing his first 14 shots, nine of them 3-pointers — before one finally, cruelly found the bottom of the net with six seconds left in a contest that was already decided.

Afterward, amid a locker room filled with tears, his eyes were dry. It wasn’t for lack of caring.

One of the lasting scenes of that room was Reeves sitting alone in his locker, a stunned look on his face, the expression of someone who hadn’t yet comprehended how such a thing could happen. He had to wait nearly eight months before he got another chance.

A new Antonio Reeves

It might be easy to forget now, but Reeves’ offseason was quite the circus. He entered the NBA draft. He wasn’t projected as a pick in 2023, but going through the process is commonplace. Then he withdrew his name, as expected. But he didn’t immediately announce a return to Kentucky, however, going silent as fans — and even coaches and prospective teammates — wondered what was coming next.

Reeves didn’t know either.

It was revealed that he had enrolled in summer classes at his old school, Illinois State, perhaps in an attempt to earn enough credits to graduate and transfer yet again for his final season of college ball. There was talk of Reeves going another, non-NBA pro route and leaving school altogether. Speculation was all over the place until Reeves quietly returned to Lexington, and — with no real formal announcement — moved back into his dorm and enrolled in classes at UK.

He deflected questions on what he was thinking during that time. And he got to work.

No longer the new guy, Reeves all of a sudden found himself as the most experienced Wildcat, by far, on the 2023-24 roster. The freshmen looked up to him. The coaches relied on him.

Reeves went out and earned MVP honors on the team’s summer trip to Canada. When the real season began, it was apparent to everyone that this was a different player.

“We all knew Antonio could put the ball in the hoop,” sophomore guard Adou Thiero said. “Last year, he was making shots. When he shot the ball, I still thought, ‘It’s going in.’ But there’d be times he’d miss a couple, and then you’d be like, ‘Ahhh. Oh no.’

“Now, if he misses a couple, you still think it’s going in. Because it’s still gonna go in. But he’s also getting to the rim. He’s got his mid-range. You see him dunking on people now. Like, we didn’t even know Tone could still jump like that.”

Thiero smiled at that. Ugonna Onyenso, the only other scholarship returnee from last season, sat next to him. Onyenso smiled, too.

“But now he’s dunking on people, and it’s just like, ‘Wow.’ He’s really taken another step with his game,” Thiero continued. “Also, on defense, you can put him on the best player, and he’ll do what he has to do. His game has really improved.”

Chuck Martin was hired as a UK assistant coach just before that Canada trip. He wasn’t around last season, but he’s seen the transformation in Reeves’ game. Last season, 49.8% of Reeves’ shots came from 3-point range. This season, 3s have made up only 40.6% of his attempts.

Instead of hunting shots on the perimeter, Reeves is assertive with the ball in his hands.

“He’s really improved driving the ball,” Martin said. “… His float game is as good as anyone in the country. He can make it at 10 feet. He can make it at 12 feet. He can make it from the wings, different angles.”

The running joke on this UK team is that Reeves is about as quiet a 20-point scorer as there is. He enters the NCAA Tournament averaging exactly 20.0 points per game — tied with Jamal Murray for the most in Calipari’s 15 years at Kentucky — and shooting 44.1% from 3-point range. He’s scored in double figures all but once over this 32-game season. The exception was a nine-point showing in a win over North Carolina. He’s scored 20 or more in 19 of those games.

“You’re in the game, you see it,” Martin said. “But it doesn’t really hit you until the end of the game. ‘Man, he’s got 22.’ Or, ‘He’s got 30.’ He’s special. He really is.”

On a team with loud offensive players (Rob Dillingham), highly celebrated shooters (Reed Sheppard) and other spotlight-stealers (Zvonimir Ivisic and all the rest), Reeves has been steady all season long. When the Cats need a bucket, he’s often there to get it. His defense has greatly improved. His rebounding has become a strength. And he’s done it all in the flow of the game, almost never forcing the issue, always willing to get out of the way and let whoever has the hot hand cook.

Until his teammates need him again.

“He’s a silent assassin,” Mitchell said. “He’s never gonna talk about it. He’s never bragging about it. He’s never showboating. He knows that he’s going to go out there and he’s going to do what he does. I really haven’t seen anything like it.”

One more chance

Reeves eclipsed 2,000 points for his college career several weeks ago. He became a 1,000-point scorer at UK — a rarity in the Calipari era — last month. He’s earned first-team All-SEC honors and received All-American recognition.

For all the accolades this season, that NCAA Tournament performance of a year ago looms.

That 1-for-15 showing against Kansas State is still on the record, the low point of an otherwise stellar Kentucky career. Whatever happens next, no one is expecting a repeat of that.

Reeves has talked all season — more so in recent weeks — of the dynamics of this team and its backcourt, specifically. At this time last year, he was asked to do too much. Every other guard in Kentucky’s rotation was either out or playing hurt. By the time March Madness hit, there was so much on his shoulders. Too much, it turned out.

Now, the Cats have Dillingham and Sheppard and D.J. Wagner and Justin Edwards, plus others who have shown they can get a bucket. Reeves knows those players can score. He’s more than happy to let them do it. And though he’s still fairly quiet — on and off the court — that type of mentality has been contagious.

“I think it’s great,” Martin said. “Because I think Antonio has no ego, which I think our young guys recognize that. Here’s a kid — a young man — who’s a potential All-American here at the end of the year. He’s had a great year — as good as any guard in the country. And he never talks about himself. He’s never celebrated. Or he’s not celebrated as much as I think we should celebrate him. And I think our guys recognize that and say, ‘You know what? We can take a page from Antonio’s book and maybe carry ourselves that way.’

“But the great thing about Antonio is: This is who he is. He’s not trying to change you. He’s accepting you, whether it’s Rob or D.J. or Justin, Z — because we’ve got tons of personality on this team. Antonio is OK accepting you for who you are. He’s tremendous.”

The motto, “Built for March” has been Calipari’s go-to for weeks. The foundation of that slogan is the sheer number of offensive threats he has at his disposal. Calipari knows that if Reeves’ shot isn’t dropping this time, someone else will be there to pick up the scoring slack.

Kentucky’s coach also knows that Reeves has changed in the past 12 months.

“He’s rebounding. He’s defending better,” Calipari said on UK’s Senior Night. “… He also has lived in the gym. So when he misses he is stunned. Stunned. Because he’s shooting 5,000 shots every two weeks or more. Eight thousand, whatever it is. I mean, the guy is putting up shots. And sometimes you just gotta show up every day. Show up every day. Even if you’re not at your best. You show up, and he does.”

When Kentucky takes the court against Oakland in the round of 64 of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night, Reeves will be there. Back on the biggest stage in college basketball, he’ll be ready. And while those who tune in nationally might be more fixated on Sheppard or Dillingham or someone else on this star-studded team, those closest to the situation know where to look.

“He doesn’t get the attention he deserves,” Mitchell said. “It could be just because of the guys we have on the team, and coming out of where they came from and the expectations that fall upon their shoulders. But one thing every single night that stays the same has been Antonio Reeves. Regardless of the situation, he’s there, and he shows up. And on top of that, he’s a leader. A lot of the things he does sparks confidence for the rest of the team. We’re not in the position we are without him.”

So that’s what everyone else has had to say about Antonio Reeves and the season he’s had.

On Selection Sunday, given one last chance to talk about himself before leaving Lexington and starting one final NCAA Tournament journey, Reeves did what anyone paying attention knew he would do.

He was asked how much thought he’d given to what kind of legacy he’ll leave behind, and how a run through March might shape the way he’s remembered as a Kentucky Wildcat.

“I’ve just been playing basketball,” Reeves replied. “Taking it one game at a time. And just trying to figure out what we need to do for the tournament, to be honest. I haven’t really thought about a legacy or anything like that.

“But a run would really shake things up for us. And I’m hoping we have a good run.”

Kentucky’s tournament opener

No. 3 seed Kentucky vs. No. 14 seed Oakland

What: NCAA Tournament South Regional

When: 7:10 p.m. EDT Thursday

Where: PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh

TV: CBS-27

Records: Kentucky 23-9, Oakland 23-11

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