Guy looks back on incredible run

On Monday afternoon, instead of getting ready to play in the championship game of Adidas Global Nations live on ESPNU, four-star UVa commit Kyle Guy was stuck dealing with an injured right ankle.

But a bad sprain, a couple of crutches, and a few weeks down time won't change just what an important few months it's been for the future Wahoo.

Guy has earned rave reviews through the spring and summer, whether it be on the AAU circuit with Indiana Elite or at various camps. In Garden Grove, Calif. last Saturday the 6-foot-2 Indianapolis (IN) native put up 30 points and five boards, leading Rivals.com's Eric Bossi to say, "He has firmly established himself as one of 2016's elite shooters but Guy is also a very good athlete."

Already ranked as the No. 59 overall player in the Rivals150, Guy continues to prove himself.

"I think I just have a chip on my shoulder," he told CavsCorner this week. "A lot of people doubt me because I'm not bigger than anybody, I'm not stronger than anybody, I'm not faster than anybody or anything like that. I've always played with a chip on my shoulder and it's always made me play so much better. It's pushed me to stay in the gym and push myself, to push my game. And it's really paid off."

While his shooting touch has always been a major part of who he is on the floor, Guy admits that he was able to do a lot more in recent months because he's got more bounce to his game these days.

"Being able to create my own shot really helps," he said. "Me getting a little more bounce helped me finish better at the rim. When you can do those two things, you put those together and it's going to make you a better player overall. That was the case for me this summer I think."

It was his last summer playing AAU ball, a grind that has been a central part of his life for years. There are memories he'll take away from this year, like playing in famed Rucker Park or being able to team up with future teammate and fellow four-star UVa commit Ty Jerome during NBPA Top 100 Camp in Charlottesville.

But the thing Guy says he'll take away most from his experience is the camaraderie he developed with other players.

"My favorite part about AAU and going to these different camps and tournaments has been the people," he said. "Getting to meet them and network and talk to the players, it's been a great time. Rucker Park was amazing and playing at JPJ for Top 100 Camp was a lot of fun too but the people stand out for real."

That makes his experience out in California for Adidas Global Nations even more brutal. He was coming off a game where he went 8-for-12 from 3-point land but the ankle injury in the next ended his run to the championship prematurely.

"I just got a rebound and I went coast to coast and I tried to shoot a floater," he recalled. "And I got pushed off balance a little bit and my foot just landed sideways on the ground and completely turned. I saw my ankle touch the ground. I immediately just grabbed it and was basically screaming like a little baby. But it's better now and I can put pressure on it. I can't really bend it or anything. Just been icing it and elevating it trying to numb the pain. It'll be okay.

"There's no break or fracture, so that's good but I'm probably going to get an MRI just to make sure," Guy added. "As of now, it'll be two or three weeks before I start a little bit of rehab and get back out there, just to strengthen it back up."

Guy was already planning to spend a few weeks away to give his body a chance to rest after the grind that is travel hoops for a player heading into his senior year.

"School ball starts at the end of August, when we start doing open gym and all of that," he said. "Then we'll take a few weeks off and start back up in November."

Nothing is going to take away the fun of the summer, which included not only showing out for his future program but also recruiting for Tony Bennett and the Wahoos.

"It's been a lot of fun and ya know, I've been doing it for a while," Guy said with a laugh. "For pretty much the last year, I've recruited a lot of different guys. Sometimes I feel like I want to be a coach once the ball stops bouncing so it's been cool to get an early start on that. It's going well. I've been non-stop on Mamadi Diakite for well over a year now and I've been working Braxton Blackwell for the past few months non-stop too."

Guy, who roomed with Blackwell during his time at Global Nations, said he's been doing his best to get the Tennessee native and four-star forward into the fold.

"With Braxton, last year we met in Chicago at Nations and I didn't really start talking to him about UVa until maybe two months ago when things got real serious," Guy said. "And I know Coach Bennett loves him. I think we have a really good chance and I'm doing everything I can do."

And with Diakite, who in Guy's words "finally" committed to UVa on Tuesday, it went past recruiting a lot time ago. The two became really good friends and that's something that Guy says he tries to do with all of the different players he helps to recruit.

"You get to a point where you know they know everything about the program so you're just friends and hanging out with them and all," he said. "I'd say like 70 percent of the way I recruit isn't even really about the school. It's just about the person and getting to know them. It's just sort of being friendly and learning about you.

"Mamadi and I, we don't really have but so much reason to talk about when it comes to the recruiting thing; we know where we stand. But we're just really good friends, especially when you start going to the same camps and seeing each other on the circuit. You talk all the time and you build that bond."

Once Diakite, a four-star power forward and the No. 30 overall player in the nation, made his decision public on Tuesday, Guy was one of the first to congratulate his future teammate on Twitter.

"I've been waiting for this moment for a long time," he told CavsCorner thereafter. "Feels good to have another piece of the puzzle."

And how long exactly had he known about Diakite's plans?

"I've known he would be a Cavalier since a little after I committed," Guy said.

As is pretty evident, he doesn't mind getting out there on the trail to help his future coaching staff. He's also not shy about staying in touch.

"I probably call them more than they call me," Guy said with a laugh. "They're probably getting tired of me, man. Who knows. But seriously, though. I text with Coach (Ron) Sanchez every other day or so and I try to make sure I talk to Coach Bennett at least once a week if not more. It's great how he still recruits me kind of. It's like he still recruits me and still treats me like I'm not even committed or anything, which is I think is good. He's just really excited for this 2016 class and so are we."

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