If you ask Ansley Almonor how he got from Fairleigh Dickinson to the University of Kentucky, he’ll tell you straight up: it was all about work, faith, and controlling what he could control.
“You know, I went out there and worked the hardest every day. You know, I stayed down. I grinded. You know, I went to three different coaches at Fairleigh Dickinson, but I just trusted the process. I knew God had a plan for me and, you know, I just control what I can control.”
Embracing the Kentucky Mentality
That mentality, that grind, it’s what led Almonor to one of college basketball’s biggest stages. Coming off the bench for the Wildcats, he embraced his role with a championship mindset.
“Because I just, I really came here to win, you know, as a kid, I grew up just dreaming to be able to play at this level, play at the, you know, University of Kentucky. And the fact that I get to, you know, be able to put that jersey on and represent everybody who went through here and anybody who supports this team, it means a lot for me.”
Inspired by the Greats
For Almonor, the game of basketball has always been about inspiration. Ask him who influenced his game, and he’ll list some of the all-time greats.
“Uh, I mean, I was a big Kobe fan. I’m a big Carmelo Anthony fan. Big, big-time Carmelo Anthony fan, probably my favorite player. Watched a lot of him, watched a lot of Kevin Durant. Like, watching Paul George play like that.”
Kobe’s Legacy Lives On
His admiration for Kobe Bryant runs deep.
“I was a kid, you know, he was my GOAT growing up, a big-time fan of him just being a kid, just watching it, you know, being he was the guy when I was growing up.”
Almonor knows the impact Kobe had on the game, and it’s something he holds close to his heart.
“So he was all over TVs, winning the championships in the All-Star games, he was the face of the league then. So, you know, he’s just one of my basketball idols for sure. I just appreciate everything he’s done for the game.”
“The legacy he left, the footprint he left on the game, it’s just, it’s something that you can’t really, you can’t really replace. So I definitely have so much admiration and appreciation for Kobe for sure.”
Locked in for March Madness
But right now, Almonor is focused on the present—making noise in March Madness and helping Kentucky chase greatness.
“You know, but being at Kentucky, that’s like the expectation over here. That’s not even like scratching the surface of what we really want to do as a team to, you know, be able to fulfill our potential.”
“So personally, that means a lot for me to be able to be in the NCAA tournament again, two times in my career, a lot of people can’t say that, but we’re trying to go out there and make a deep run this year.”
A Cinderella Moment at Fairleigh Dickinson
His first taste of the tournament came with Fairleigh Dickinson, and it’s something he’ll never forget.
“That was, that was a crazy experience, a surreal experience, you know, it was just a whole bunch of hard-nosed kids, the smallest team in the country, you know, going out there and playing how we did, playing for each other.”
Kentucky’s NBA Brotherhood
And at Kentucky, the NBA fraternity is always watching, even if they’re busy handling their own business in the league.
“To be honest, we haven’t really been in touch with so many of the NBA guys, because obviously they play the same time we do. So we see them supporting us from afar. Like we see Anthony Davis, you know, showing love and Karl-Anthony Towns and who else?”
“Tyler Herro, I think. Like a few of the guys that always show up on social media and stuff like that. So we always appreciate the support. But like them being in season, we haven’t actually met with them in person and chopped it up, things like that.”
Family First
But when it comes to personal inspiration, his biggest motivation wasn’t an NBA star—it was family.
“I’ll probably just start with my brother. My brother inspired me. He’s local, but you know, he was one up at the ball in my hand. You know, watching him growing up always motivated me, you know, wanting to be better than him.”
Eyes on the League
Of course, Almonor has NBA aspirations. He knows his game, his skill set, and what he can bring to the next level.
“Yeah, obviously. After, you know, after this season, my end goal is to make it to the highest level possible. Which would be the NBA. And I feel like I could just be able to bring my hard work ethic and, you know, my IQ and my skill set, being able to shoot the ball. I feel like I could bring that to the team and help them immediately.”
Locked in with Melo
When he’s looking to get locked in, there’s one player he always turns to for motivation.
“Yeah, I go watch—I watch Melo. I go watch a lot of Carmelo Anthony. Yeah, he definitely motivates me. He gets me in the right mindset, you know. I just love watching the game by watching him play, especially on the Knicks. Uh, growing up, you know, when he first came over here, that was a big thing.”
Betting on Himself
For Ansley Almonor, the journey is far from over. From Fairleigh Dickinson to Kentucky, and with dreams of the NBA on the horizon, one thing is clear—he’s betting on himself. And if history tells us anything, that bet might just pay off.
