Meeks in Kentucky after successful start in pros

Former Kentucky guard Jodie Meeks returns to the Bluegrass State this weekend to stage several autograph sessions and, if he’d like, reflect on a solid start to his pro career.
Since being taken in the second round by the Milwaukee Bucks in June’s NBA Draft, Meeks got acquainted with his new team’s operation, led the franchise’s Las Vegas Summer League entry in scoring, made the event’s all-league team and signed a multi-year contract. The latter, which includes guaranteed money, seems significant given that second-round picks usually must first make the team to get a deal.
“I thought I had a great summer,” said Meeks, his matter-of-fact tone in keeping with his inclination toward modesty.
Mission accomplished. Jeff Weltman, an assistant general manager for Milwaukee, declined to speak about specifics of the deal.
But, Weltman added, “We hope he’s a Buck for a long time.”
After a junior season in which he broke UK’s 39-year-old single-game scoring record and set new scoring standards in two Southeastern Conference arenas, Meeks entered his name in the NBA Draft.
“I had no really high expectations,” he said. “Just impress as many people as I could.”
His plans changed as the workout process unfolded.
“I turned out playing really well,” he said. “With each workout, I gained a lot of confidence.”
A second-round pick might have been a letdown, but Meeks said he was more concerned with finding a “very good fit” rather than a particular position in the draft’s pecking order.
He’s liked the Bucks’ operation. He returns to Milwaukee on Tuesday to begin looking for a home and resume workouts in preparation for pre-season training camps.
For the Las Vegas Summer League, Meeks sought to gain greater familiarity with Milwaukee’s offensive and defensive systems.
He led the team in scoring (19.0 ppg), shooting 55.7 percent from the field and 53.3 percent from the NBA’s three-point distance.
Impressive numbers, but the competition was largely NBA rookies and one-year veterans.
“I don’t want to get hung up on the significance of that,” Weltman said of Meeks making the all-league team. “It’s a nice little feather in the cap for his hard work.”
Weltman noted how Meeks played well with fellow rookie Brandon Jennings, the point guard who famously played in Italy last season rather than try to gain eligibility for college.
Meanwhile, Meeks returns to Kentucky this weekend to sign autographs in Paintsville today (Brown’s Ford, 4:30 to 6 p.m.). Then he will be in Pikeville (Walmart 11-12:30 p.m., Pikeville High School 6-7:30 p.m.) and Hindman (Sports Complex 2-3:30 p.m.) on Saturday. He will be in Lexington’s Fayette Mall on Sunday at John Millard’s Art Gallary 2-4 p.m.
Of the autograph sessions, Meeks said, “I want to show my appreciation for the fans.”