Matthew Mitchell won't be coaching Treasure Hunt this season but UK's other coaches know what type of special talent she has.
Treasure Hunt is 6-1 versatile guard who can score in multiple ways and could give Kentucky a needed consistent second scorer to go with Rhyne Howard this season. She was a top 10 player in the 2020 recruiting class after scoring over 2,000 points at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga and helping her team win over 100 games in her career. She averaged 24.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per game as a senior.
The five-star guard picked UK over Baylor, South Carolina, Mississippi State and Auburn in part because she was a former AAU teammate of Howard, an all-American at UK last year.
Kentucky coach Matthew Mitchell always preaches patience with freshmen and not to expect too much. So I asked him recently before he resigned if it was okay to be optimistic and expect a big season from Hunt this year.
“It is alright to be optimistic, Larry, because she is a talented player. She is just working – all the freshmen are … it just never fails it seems like to have to make an adjustment to the pace with how we practice and how important each play is in practice and the detail you have to pay attention to,” Mitchell said.
“She is tremendously talented and so gifted. Another physical presence and upgrade for us at the wing position. She has great length, great size and is very strong as a freshman. All of that will just continue to improve. She is a tremendous shooter and very poised ballhandler.”
No surprise Mitchell said she is working to improve her defense but says her talent is allowing her to make daily progress.
“I will just tell you that we have to do a great job coaching her and paying attention to the details and make sure we are doing the right things on the basketball court on how to be a Kentucky Wildcat. She has just shown tremendously improvement and potentially could be a big weapon for us,” Mitchell said.
Actually now it will be interim coach Kyra Elzy and the UK staff “coaching” Hunt now that Mitchell has stepped down. However, Hunt’s talent won’t change no matter who is coaching and I can’t wait to watch her play.
