​PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – MARCH 20: Alex Wilkins, wearing #10 for the Furman Paladins, dribbles against the UConn Huskies in the second half of the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 20, 2026. Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images | Getty Images. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t destined to be a one-and-done future MVP when he chose Kentucky Basketball, but once he stepped on the Lexington court, his potential could not be denied. Mark Pope sees similar traits in Furman transfer Alex Wilkins. During a shot-clock segment in which he was asked to describe each player in one or two words, Pope offered “SGA vibes” for Wilkins, and the comparison is easy to understand. SGA’s game thrives on control and changing pace. He won’t sprint by you or leap over you; he uses his body well and shifts speeds to reach his target. Watch Wilkins’ early highlight plays and you’ll notice a similar pattern: he escapes his defender with a tempo change, uses his frame to his advantage, and finishes through contact. He possesses a solid jumper and appears to steer his routes with purpose. At this stage, SGA is the more polished player, which is expected, but Wilkins’ tape hints at a comparable ceiling. Wilkins turns the ball over nearly four times per game, while SGA averaged about 2.7 turnovers in college, but the overall smoothness of their plays is evident. The hype is real, even if that turnover issue is a blemish that needs addressing. Another former Kentucky standout that comes to mind when watching Wilkins is Otega Oweh, who provided scoring punch similar to what Wilkins brings. Oweh averaged 18.6 points per game last season, the second-highest total since 2017, helping a Kentucky squad that occasionally struggled to score. Oweh shot 33% from three and 46% from the field. Wilkins finished last year at Furman with 17 points per game, shooting 32% from three and 46% overall. He also contributed better rebounding (Oweh 4 boards, Wilkins 4) and distributed the ball similarly (Oweh 4 assists, Wilkins 2). Oweh is quicker and stronger, but Wilkins showcases superior vision and ball handling. Will these numbers translate to a comparable impact? It would be great if they did. If Wilkins is already giving off SGA-like vibes, the odds look favorable. For the full conversation, see Mark Pope’s Shot Clock segment and learn about Kentucky’s 2026 team in 30 seconds.