Humphries stronger, more comfortable going into sophomore year

To appreciate the gains Isaac Humphries has made physically in the offseason, one has to see him in person.

When the media met with Kentucky players in late August, Humphries was noticeably slimmer and had added muscle. The seven-footer from Australia wasn’t out of shape last season, but he spent his offseason improving his body to better handle his conditioning this season.

“I changed my body,” Humphries said. “I changed my weight. I cut down on a lot of fat and built muscle. I was lifting everyday.”

The change is apparent. Humphries is listed at 255 pounds this season, down five pounds from his freshman year. Humphries, like the rest of the Wildcats, spent much of his time working out with the team. However, when Humphries went home to Sydney, Australia, for the summer for four weeks, he continued his rigorous workouts.

“I was running and working out everyday,” Humphries said. “My plan was to come back super skinny so I could build the muscle without having to break through the layer of fat first. I did a lot in Australia and that helped a lot.”

The change in his body has led to more confidence on the court, head coach John Calipari said.

“He’s a little more self-assured,” Calipari said. “I can’t help you with that. You either demonstrate performance on the court – he has to build confidence where his teammates want to throw him the ball. I can’t just say ‘have confidence in him, throw him the ball.’ So he’s doing that himself. That’s why, you look at him out there and you say ‘wow.’”

Calipari remembered watching Humphries in high school and thinking he could be like former Kentucky center Josh Harrellson. When Calipari arrived in Lexington, he said everything about Harrellson’s game was below the rim. Dunking was not a part of Harrellson’s repertoire, and for much of last season it wasn’t in Humphries’ game either.

That’s not the case anymore.

“He does not lay any balls in,” Calipari said. “He’s trying to dunk every ball.”

It’s not only Humphries’ physique that has him more confident, it’s the benefit of having a year of college basketball under his belt. Humphries -- who turned 18 during his freshman season -- was one of the youngest players in college basketball last season.

At times though, Humphries was a valuable member off of Kentucky’s bench. His best game statistically came in College Station against Texas A&M. Humphries had career-highs in points (6) and rebounds (12), along with two blocks in a loss to Texas A&M.

He’s remembered for spiking the ball and receiving a technical with Kentucky leading by one with 9.4 seconds left, which ultimately led to the overtime loss.

Regardless, Humphries is comfortable heading into his sophomore year.

“I didn’t play that much last year but in the little opportunities that I got I learned a lot,” Humphries said. “From being in amongst it and also from watching everyone on the sidelines. Last year was such a learning year for me. This year is just going to be so different in the fact that I’ll be playing a lot more. I hope to be an impact. Play a bigger role, help the young guys out.”