Photo - UK Athletics
Kentucky freshman Jemarl Baker is best known for his 3-point shooting. However, he also came more than hold his own on the ping pong table.
He’ll admit that walk-on Dillion Pulliam is the best ping pong player on the basketball team. But when it comes to next best, he says it is him no matter what fellow freshman Jarred Vanderbilt might say.
“When I first got here (from California), Jarred was better. But I got much better and now I am better than him,” Baker said. “He will tell you different because he is the biggest cheater you have ever seen. He’s a character and great basketball player, but he can’t beat me in ping pong.”
Being from California, he had some homesick moments over the summer. Playing ping pong was one thing that helped him bond with teammates.
“I miss home and miss my parents but I love this team and this staff. That’s why I have tried to work so hard to get better since I got here.”
Rivals.com recruiting writer Krysten Peek thought Kentucky was an “interesting” pick for Baker because normally top 100 players are looking for spots they can be assured of playing time, something that won’t happen at Kentucky for him. He was a one-time California commit but after deciding not to go there UK entered the picture late and signed him after his senior season.
“He’ll be a great asset off the bench and I think once the season starts he’ll settle in as a two guard,” Peek said. “Much like Malik (Monk) and De’Aaron (Fox) last year, both him and Quade (Green) are capable of bringing the ball up and handling the pressure. Who knows maybe he’ll be chasing Malik’s 3-point record (104) this year.”
The 6-4 Baker averaged 17.1 points per game at Roosevelt High School in Eastvale, Calif., and was a relative unknown until word leaked that he was being recruited by UK. He made 94 3-pointers his senior season and led his team to a state title.
“The big thing about Jemarl is his ability to shoot the ball. He is a deadly shooter from 3 and midrange,” Kentucky assistant coach Kenny Payne said. “I think he will be able to play the 1 and the 2. He is going to bring versatility, stretch the floor and make big shots. He will be a dangerous player for us.
“The more he develops and gets faster and quicker, the more dangerous he will be. He is really a good one. Some people feel like we stole one getting him late, but once we did our homework we knew he could play.”
Baker also takes pride in his defense and notes that he almost always guarded the opponent’s best perimeter player.
“I have my own style. I pick up different things from different players,” Baker said. “I always have guarded the other team’s best player. It’s something I want to do and take pride in. I hate when people score on me. People say I’m a shooter, but I focus on probably everything else more than shooting. I can shoot but I am a lot more than just a shooter.
“I see myself as a defender, competitor, playmaker, knockdown shooter. I’m all of that. Honestly when I am on the court but I don’t (3-point) lines. If I see the basket and have an open look, I will shoot it.”
His father played basketball at Cal State Northridge. One of the UK signee’s sisters, Aniya Baker, played at UC Davis, San Jose and then Grand Canyon. He also has two other older sisters who never made it easy on him.
“My sisters were tough on me,” Baker said. “Aniya never let me score when we played, but that made me tough. It definitely frustrated me going against her but I never looked at it like she was a girl. She was just a good player. I would come in the house crying but it all worked out.
“Back then she would beat me up. I couldn’t score against here in elementary school or middle school. I would go hours without scoring against here. Then my dad would come out, set a screen and I would score and that would really upset my sister. She was tough.”
