Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
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18 CAVALIER CORNER BY BRAD FRANKLIN K YLE GUY GRADUATED FROM Lawrence Central as Indiana's Mr. Basketball. Fast-forward three years, and Guy has three more ac- colades on his résumé: • Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Final Four • Consensus third-team All-America honors • Virginia's Male Athlete of the Year Guy came out early and was picked in the NBA Draft by the New York Knicks in the second round and acquired by the Sacra- mento Kings for cash considerations. A shooting guard, Guy credited UVA head coach Tony Bennett for preparing him for a professional career. "I think the biggest thing everyone already knows about is just the defense," Guy told HoopsHype. "Learning the lingo, learning not only how to guard a guard but also the first, second, third and fourth rotations can really get you ahead in an NBA team envi- ronment — that and just the fundamentals. "Actually, it was kind of an NBA-style offense this year. We had a lot of freedom, a small structure, sharp shooters and trusted our best players to make plays. I'm as pre- pared as I'll ever be." What Guy did versus Auburn in the na- tional semifinals definitely showed he could handle whatever pressure he confronts in the NBA. With 0.6 seconds left on the clock, he bur- ied three free throws to give UVA a 63-62 victory and a berth in the finals where the Cavaliers beat Texas Tech for the program's first national championship. "He wanted those shots," associate head coach Jason Williford said. "He wanted shots at the end of games. He's made timely shots over his career. "Anybody who's a competitor and shoots the way he does wants to be in those situa- tions. He has ice water in his veins." Guy's shots aren't layups either. He finished his career ranked first in three-point percentage (42.5) and third in three-pointers made (245) at UVA, and ranked second in the ACC in three-point percentage (42.6) last season. "I think that was his M.O. from day one," Williford said. "He worked at it. Obviously going from high school to college, you want to improve your game. "The more reps you get and the experi- ence he got on the floor enabled him to become more prolific. But I anticipated his being able to shoot the ball." Guy still hasn't viewed his tournament performances when he led the Cavaliers by averaging 15.4 points per game. "I haven't watched the games yet at all," Guy told The Las Vegas Review-Journal. "It's been non-stop all year [among other things Guy got married in July], a wild ride for sure. This whole summer has been a mini-season and we played so deep into the season that there really wasn't a break. "You start training for these workouts and the draft and the NBA summer league, and you have a week off and then you start training camp. I'm just trying to be grateful and take in every moment." Because the NBA has evolved into a three-point league, Williford feels Guy has the skills to make it in the pros. "He has the ability to shoot the basket- ball," Williford said. "It's such a premium, not only at our level but the pro level. He's a guy who can shoot threes and make them." In seven summer league games, Guy av- eraged 16.8 points per game and shot 54.5 percent, and in the three-game California Classic he hit 40.9 percent of his treys. "I think if you can shoot the ball you'll probably fit in with most teams or at least 20 to 25 out of the 30 teams," Guy told The Review-Journal. "I didn't care if it was pick No. 7, No. 60 or not picked at all. I was go- ing to be so grateful." MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR KYLE GUY MR. CLUTCH Kyle Guy Caps a Stellar Career by Leading UVA to the National Title "He wanted shots at the end of games. He's made timely shots over his career." ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH JASON WILLIFORD