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Wiedmer: Hamilton Heights' Zach Ferrell all smiles when discussing Kentucky's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Other than the fact they've both coached Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Zach Ferrell of Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga and the University of Kentucky's John Calipari would seem to have little in common.
But when it comes to discussing one of the things that has most impressed both regarding the freshman point guard from Hamilton, Ontario, heading into tonight's NCAA tournament South Region semifinal between fifth-seeded Kentucky (26-10) and ninth-seeded Kansas State (24-11), they're on the exact same page.
"The Canadian kids (who have played at Kentucky), from Trey (Lyles) to Jamal (Murray) to even Mychal (Mulder) and now Shai, they always have a smile on their face," Calipari said Wednesday afternoon. "They always want to learn. It's a different mentality when they come in."
Said Ferrell a few hours later: "It's an infectious smile. It's one of the first things you notice about him. It captivates you."
Ferrell, his wife Rachel and Shai's younger brother Thomasi - a junior at Hamilton Heights - expect to be there tonight when Kentucky and Kansas State tip off around 9:45 at Philips Arena in Atlanta.
"He lived with us for two years," Ferrell said. "He saw our son Peyton take his first steps. One of Peyton's first words was 'Shai,' and that was about the only word he said for a long time. Even now, Shai and Peyton probably talk or Facetime at least twice a week. He's just a really good kid who comes from a really good family.
"I tell people all the time that if you can deal with the cold and the taxes, Canada is a really nice place."
Exactly how Ferrell came to deal with talents such as Gilgeous-Alexander and his cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker (a freshman at Virginia Tech) is a story unto itself.
"From what I understand, they were looking for a place to play in the States, and a couple of college coaches told them we might be a good fit," said Ferrell, the former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga player who grew up in Nashville. "Shai visited over the summer (of 2015) with a friend of his. He and his cousin ended up coming. From the very start, he was all school and basketball. Constantly in the gym. No distractions. One of the hardest workers I've ever seen."
Yet in the beginning, big-time college programs such as Kentucky didn't seem to have much interest.
"Shai was only being recruited by low majors," Ferrell recalled. "Binghamton offered, but that was about it."
Between his junior and senior seasons, however, SGA returned to Canada to practice with its national program. He worked with former NBA great Steve Nash and former Texas point guard Cory Joseph, now with the Indiana Pacers.
"Shai ended up on the senior men's team," Ferrell said. "He gained a lot of confidence. Making that team apparently made him a legitimate NBA prospect."
His development as Kentucky's starting point guard has made him a projected NBA lottery pick, a player expected to be among the first 12 chosen come June's NBA draft. His postseason averages through three Southeastern Conference tournament games and two NCAA tourney games of 22 points, 6.7 assists and two turnovers are too good to pass on.
That inclusion on the Canadian men's senior team also swayed the Gilgeous-Alexander family to re-open his recruitment after earlier committing to Florida.
"He'd committed so early," Ferrell said. "The only role I had was that of gatekeeper, however. Everybody had to go through me because his mother wouldn't let anybody have Shai's cell number."
And, of course, if your goal is to get to the NBA, it's difficult to beat Calipari's ability to quickly develop players for the pros.
"It's been incredible to watch all Shai's hard work pay off," Ferrell said. He's a tremendous competitor. I knew if he was given the opportunity, he'd do exactly what Cal asked."
What Ferrell didn't immediately understand was the notion the 6-foot-6 SGA might wind up as a combo guard with the Wildcats, playing both on and off the ball.
"Shai's a natural point guard," he said. "Always makes the right play. Never gets rushed. He might not be the most impressive player on a mixtape. He's not always flashy. He just wins."
And now he has Kentucky two wins from Calipari's fifth Final Four in nine seasons and possibly Big Blue's ninth NCAA title.
Yet Ferrell rarely thinks of his former player in those terms, but rather as a family member never too busy to play with Peyton or daughter Lily.
"Shai loves the Frooties (candy) he'd get at Holder Concessions on Willow Street," he said. "(Hamilton Heights assistant) Trey High still buys them for him. We'll probably take him some in Atlanta."
SGA and cousin Nickeil apparently also share a fondness for Rachel's taco pie whenever they return to visit.
"It's rolled biscuit dough with ground turkey, sour cream and lots of cheese," Ferrell explained. "Every time they come back, that's what they request."
He has become so fond of both of them that when he filled out his bracket at the start of the tournament, he picked Kentucky and Virginia Tech to reach the title game, then left the winner blank. But Ferrell also admits to liking Kentucky because his father taught former Wildcats great Ron Mercer in middle school in Nashville.
Not that SGA has returned much of that Kentucky love to his former coach in the way of Big Blue swag.
"Zero, nothing," Ferrell said of what garb Gilgeous-Alexander has sent his way. "Now Peyton, that's a different story. Peyton's gotten T-shirts, hoodies, all kinds of stuff. But me? Nothing."
Well, nothing save that infectious, captivating smile that seems to touch the hearts of everyone who coaches him.
Contact Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com.