By Keith Taylor
Special to NKyTribune
Sacha Killeya-Jones knows all about the North Carolina Tar Heels.
The Kentucky freshman forward was born in Chapel Hill and spent most of his childhood and keeping close tabs the program. Killeya-Jones is looking forward to Saturday’s contest against the seventh-ranked Tar Heels in the CBS Sports Classic on Las Vegas. Killeya-Jones grew up close to the Dean Dome and the North Carolina campus.
“Obviously, I grew up around the program and everything (and I) know about the history,” Killeya-Jones said. “It’s a great school (and) it will be an awesome game, I think.”
In addition to his knowledge of the school’s tradition-rich background, Killeya-Jones also is familiar with most players on the team’s current roster.
“I played pick-up (games) with a lot of those guys and everything before I committed (to Kentucky),” he said. “I definitely know a lot of them.”
During the recruiting process, Killeya-Jones also became acquainted with North Carolina coach Roy Williams and the team’s coaching staff.
“I talked with all of the coaches there and they’re all great guys and everything,” he said. “It was definitely cool to be recruited (by the Tar Heels), but I felt like I had to come here and make the best decision for me and my family.”
Although he spent most of his childhood in Chapel Hill, Killeya-Jones played high school basketball in Virginia and graduated from Virginia Episcopal. Despite his ties to Chapel Hill, Killeya-Jones didn’t feel pressure to commit to North Carolina because of his ties to the program during the recruiting process.
“I didn’t go to high school in North Carolina, so I guess that kind of alleviated some of (the pressure),” he said. “There was also pressure in the state of Virginia, too, but in Chapel Hill, there’s definitely a little pressure to go (to North Carolina).”
Killeya-Jones moved to Chapel Hill from New Jersey when he was “around 6 or 7” and considers himself a fan of the Tar Heels, but also likes other schools as well as North Carolina.
“When I first moved down to North Carolina, I was (a big fan),” he recalled. “And then it was kind of back and forth between them, Duke and Rutgers.”
As for the two programs, Killeya-Jones said Big Blue Nation fans “are definitely more dedicated (and) loyal to their team.”
“I think Carolina fans are great and everything, but Kentucky is just like nothing else in the world,” Killeya-Jones said.
The showdown with North Carolina will be Kentucky’s second against a Top 10 opponent this season. The sixth-ranked Wildcats dropped a 97-92 setback to No. 2 UCLA earlier this month at Rupp Arena. Killeya-Jones said the game against the Tar Heels is a big deal to him personally.
“It’s definitely a big game for me,” he said. “It’s kind of going full circle, watching them play when I was younger and everything,” Killeya-Jones said. “I wouldn’t say it’s a huge rivalry game. North Carolina and Kentucky is definitely a (big) matchup (and we will) play our hardest (to win), but it’s not a huge rivalry I wouldn’t say.”
Killeya-Jones isn’t sure whether his role will be expanded Saturday because of his connection to North Carolina, but he plans to be ready when Kentucky coach John Calipari calls his name. Through the first 10 games, Killeya-Jones is averaging four points and three rebounds per game.”
“Whatever my (role is) and whenever I’m needed (on the court), I’ll be out there and I’ll be ready to go,” he said.
Regardless of how much playing time he receives, Killeya-Jones is excited to see a different shade of blue.
“It should be an awesome experience,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
Gametracker: Kentucky vs. North Carolina, 5:45 p.m, Saturday, Las Vegas. TV/Radio: CBS (Channel 27), 98.1 FM WBUL.
Keith Taylor is a senior sports writer for KyForward, where he primarily covers University of Kentucky sports. Reach him at keith.taylor@kyforward.com or @keithtaylor21 on Twitter