Trey Lyles Becoming the Kentucky Wildcats X-Factor

Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Kentucky Wildcats news making headlines for Thursday, February 26, 2015

Trey Lyles had his best game as a Wildcat in Wednesday’s game at Mississippi State. He finished with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. He was the key to the ‘Cats’ win over the Bulldogs. John Clay writes:

"“When the game was done and Kentucky had won (again), John Calipari called Trey Lyles his team’s ‘X-factor.’You can almost see college basketball coaches across this great nation shaking their heads in unison at that statement.That’s just what No. 1-ranked, unbeaten Kentucky — now 28-0 after a 74-56 win over Mississippi State on Wednesday night — needs, another five-star, McDonald’s All-American who is an ‘X-factor.’”"

Lyles, if it’s possible when you’re a 6-foot 10 McDonald’s All American has been somewhat overlooked this year. Kyle Tucker writes:

"“It defies logic, since he’s 6-foot-10, but sometimes Trey Lyles is easy to overlook. His uber-talented and undefeated Kentucky team has something to do with that, but also the freshman’s smooth and steady style.Lyles is efficient, not flashy. On a roster full of higher flyers and sharper shooters, he can fade into the background. Starting at small forward despite the size of most opponents’ centers – and with the skills of their guards – he does a handful of things every game to remind why he’s a projected first-round NBA draft pick.”"

A full-strength in-form Trey Lyles makes a dangerous Kentucky team even more dangerous (if that’s possible). Scott Polacek writes:

"“Lyles complements the big men because of that versatility and his ability to take advantage of the space created in the lane by the presence of Towns and Cauley-Stein.He also fits in well with the guards.Aaron Harrison, Andrew Harrison and Tyler Ulis do a little bit of everything in the backcourt and will also be critical to Kentucky’s title run. Aaron Harrison drills threes in crunch time, Andrew Harrison sets his teammates up with crisp passes when the defense collapses and Ulis is a ball-hawking defender who can also spark the offense with his energy off the bench.Lyles is more than comfortable running the floor with any of these guards and can get out in transition and finish at the rim. He converted on a number of looks that way during Wednesday’s victory and even added some impressive cuts to the basket on a handful of possessions.”"

It’s a refrain repeated repeatedly: “Being a Wildcat isn’t easy.” The pressure, the expectation, the attention. But is it really that tough? Dana O’Neil writes:

"“But the hard-knock life of a Wildcat basketball player also includes the 2-year-old, $7 million Wildcat Coal Lodge, a state-of-the-art dorm that comes with its own chef and the $30 million Craft Center. It includes all the accoutrements afforded any big-time athlete, as well as the promise of lifelong adulation — the inverse, really, of the parable of the faithful servant. Of whom much is expected, much also is given.So is it really as hard as it’s cracked up to be, to be an 18-year-old rock star? To be Justin Bieber in the throes of Biebermania?Well, yes and no.”"

LeBron James, Jr might one day become a really good high school basketball player. It’s possible he could become a really good college basketball player. And who knows, maybe even a really good NBA basketball player. But right now, he is a 10-year old kid who plays basketball better than most other 10 year olds. And, because his father is LeBron James, he is getting plenty of attention from college basketball coaches, including scholarship offers. And James isn’t happy. Troy Machir writes:

"“But as good as LeBron’s son is, he is still just a kid. Prior to the Cavalier’s game on Tuesday against the Pistons, LeBron was asked about his son, and expressed his disappointment in the current state of recruitment and evaluation.‘Yeah, he’s already got some offers from colleges,’ James told Mike Sullivan of CBS Detroit. ‘It’s pretty crazy. It should be a violation. You shouldn’t be recruiting 10-year old kids.’”"