# Wilkins embraces Shai comparisons, readies for Kentucky debut **Published:** 2026-07-23T19:59:16.000Z **Source:** [UK Athletics](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/07/23/wilkins-flattered-by-comparisons-working-hard-to-reach-goals/) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/wilkins-embraces-shai-comparisons-readies-for-kentucky-debut LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky men's basketball sophomore transfer Alex Wilkins said he is flattered by head coach Mark Pope's comparison of him to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the two-time defending NBA Most Valuable Player, but acknowledged the work ahead to reach that elite level. Wilkins met with media on July 23 to discuss his transition from Furman and his expectations for the 2026-27 season. "That's the best player in the world, in my opinion," Wilkins said of Pope's "SGA vibes" description. "So, that's high praise, a lot of expectation." The 6-foot-5 guard, who ranked as [Kentucky's highest-ranked transfer addition](https://www.on3.com/college/kentucky-wildcats/news/furman-star-guard-alex-wilkins-has-committed-to-kentucky/) of the offseason, said he believes he can reach Gilgeous-Alexander's level eventually, though he tempered expectations about his current standing. "I think I can get to that point," Wilkins said. "That's how confident I am, but we'll see what people say when they see it on the court." Wilkins also cited NBA guards Darius Garland and Kyrie Irving as influences on his playing style, noting his game contains elements of multiple players rather than one singular comparison. As a freshman at Furman last season, Wilkins led the Paladins in scoring with 17.8 points per game and assists with 4.7 per game, shooting 46 percent from the field. [His efforts earned him Southern Conference Tournament MVP honors](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/04/23/kentucky-mens-basketball-adds-alex-wilkins/) after he led Furman to the SoCon title and NCAA Tournament appearance. In the tournament opener against UConn, Wilkins scored 21 points in a narrow loss. Wilkins cited Pope's offensive system as a key factor in his transfer decision. "Pope's offense is one of the greats," Wilkins said. "Everybody talks about it." He also emphasized his confidence in Pope's belief in his abilities. "He has a ton of trust in me and a ton of love for me," Wilkins said. "You always want to play for a coach who has a lot of trust in you and a lot of belief in you." Wilkins joins guard Zoom Diallo and returning players Milan Momcilovic and Malachi Moreno as part of Pope's [retooled roster for the upcoming season](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/kentucky-basketball-roster-2026-27-091115763.html). ## Sources - [UK Athletics](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/07/23/wilkins-flattered-by-comparisons-working-hard-to-reach-goals/) - [On3 — Alex Wilkins' transfer portal ranking and commitment to Kentucky](https://www.on3.com/college/kentucky-wildcats/news/furman-star-guard-alex-wilkins-has-committed-to-kentucky/) - [UK Athletics — Official announcement of Wilkins' addition to roster](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/04/23/kentucky-mens-basketball-adds-alex-wilkins/) - [Yahoo Sports — Kentucky basketball 2026-27 roster updates](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/kentucky-basketball-roster-2026-27-091115763.html) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from UK Athletics, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/07/23/wilkins-flattered-by-comparisons-working-hard-to-reach-goals/.