Ex-Kentucky player Sacha Killeya-Jones gets G League shot and more from OKC Blue media day

When center Sacha Killeya-Jones joined the G League Oklahoma City Blue in the offseason, he reconnected with a former Kentucky teammate in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

“When I got back into town it was my first time seeing him in four or five years,” Killeya-Jones told The Oklahoman. “Something crazy like that. I feel like everybody, when you see a college friend it’s a cool experience.”

Gilgeous-Alexander’s lone season in Lexington, Kentucky, was 2017-18, when Killeya-Jones was a sophomore who averaged 14 minutes off the bench.

Since then, Killeya-Jones has played professionally in Israel, Poland and Estonia. Gilgeous-Alexander, meanwhile, was the 11th pick in the 2018 draft, and the fifth-year pro has established himself as one of the best guards in the NBA.

“He came to Kentucky and he was an example for everybody on how to stay in the gym all night and all morning,” Killeya-Jones said. “It’s paid off for him and you can just see it in the way he carries himself now.”

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Killeya-Jones, who represents Great Britain in international play, has been to more than 20 countries thanks to his basketball odyssey.

Prague is his favorite city in the world. London is a close second.

“Nazareth in Israel was cool,” Killeya-Jones said, “just seeing the super small streets and going places where tourists don’t really go.”

Estonia wasn’t all that pleasant. “Cold and dark” is how Killeya-Jones described it.

“When you’re living out there, you’re like, the only reason I’m in Estonia right now is to go to the gym tonight and put up 1,000 shots, have a good game tomorrow and then move onto the next day,” Killeya-Jones said.

He lived by himself, and the language barrier made it difficult to meet people.

“That solitude kind of helps you grow up a lot, too, and puts you in a position where you have to love yourself and be happy with your life,” Killeya-Jones said.

Now that he’s back stateside, his NBA dream is within reach.

“It’s been my lifelong goal,” Killeya-Jones said. “I feel like the past three years have prepared me for that in a way that I wasn’t prepared before. I feel like I have the ability, the talent and now I’m just here trying to prove myself.”

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Kameron Woods enters first season as coach

Kameron Woods, a Thunder assistant last season, is entering his first season as the Blue’s head coach.

Woods replaced Grant Gibbs, who spent the last three seasons coaching the Blue. Gibbs is now a Thunder assistant, taking Woods’ path in reverse.

“It’s different, but it’s good,” Woods said of his new role Wednesday at Blue media day. “It’s a continued progression of the development that I’ve been going through with the organization since I got here, really as a player.”

Woods played for Brad Stevens at Butler, and he played for Mark Daigneault with the Blue. Woods cut his playing career short to jumpstart his coaching career. Daigneault hired Woods as a Blue assistant, and when Daigneault was promoted to Thunder coach, he brought Woods with him.

Woods recently coached the Thunder in NBA Summer League.

“Just being able to connect with them and grow with them gave me a lot of confidence like, OK, I don’t know how good I can be, but the guys seem to respond to me,” Woods said.

His players confirmed as much.

“His style is smooth, just like he is,” guard Jahmi’us Ramsey said. “I tell him he’s the smoothest coach I’ve ever had.

“He’s straightforward, but not a rude straightforward,” Ramsey added. “He’s very communicative with you.”

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Scotty Hopson back in OKC

There were plenty of familiar faces at the Blue’s media day, but few more familiar than Scotty Hopson.

Hopson played in one game for the Thunder last season, and he’s spent multiple seasons with the Blue.

At 33, Hopson is older than any Thunder player. He was born in 1989. The Thunder has seven players who were born after 2000.

“I feel rejuvenated,” Hopson said. “One of my physios said, it’s quite a flex to be at this age still being able to play at a high level with these young guys.”

Hopson, who starred at Tennessee from 2008-11, completed his communication studies degree this summer. He went to class and worked out on campus, reliving his college days.

Hopson plans to walk in Tennessee's graduation ceremony in December.

And you better believe he’s keeping an eye on the No. 1 ranked football team.

“It’s a great time to be a Vol,” Hopson said.

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2022 OKC Blue roster

• Position; Name; Age; College/Hometown

• G Abdul Gaddy, 30, Washington

• G Jay Henderson, 27, Louisville

• F Scotty Hopson, 33, Tennessee

• G Kevin Kangu, 23, Oakland

• C Sacha Killeya-Jones, 24, Kentucky

• G Adam Mokoka, 24, Paris, France

• * F Eugene Omoruyi, 25, Oregon/Rutgers

• G Jahmi’us Ramsey, 21, Texas Tech

• G Jaden Shackelford, 21, Alabama

• * G Lindy Waters III, 25, Oklahoma State

• F D.J. Wilson, 26, Michigan

• F Robert Woodard II, 23, Mississippi State

• * Two-way contract players

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Sacha Killeya-Jones gets G League shot & more from OKC Blue media day