The 2017-18 Kentucky Wildcats, like most Kentucky teams, were loaded with NBA prospects.

Hamidou Diallo, Kevin Knox, Jarred Vanderbilt, PJ Washington and Nick Richards were all five-star freshmen on that Sweet 16 squad, and all five are playing in the NBA.

Then there was four-star point guard Quade Green, and his backup — a promising prospect, but just the seventh-ranked player, according to the 247Sports composite,  in his own Kentucky class.

That’d be Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

“The guy with the hair,” as Sam Presti remembered him. “He’s in the paint a lot.”

Gilgeous-Alexander ditched his college dreads for braids, but living in the paint? That hasn’t changed. Neither has his upward trajectory.

More: OKC Thunder guard Jalen Williams goes from NBA Combine standout to All-Rookie first teamer

The same SGA that came off the bench in 13 of his first 15 college games received more first-team votes (63 out of 100) than any guard in the league. Dallas’ Luka Doncic was the other first-team guard. Doncic received 60 first-team votes.

Jayson Tatum (Celtics), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks) and Joel Embiid (Sixers) rounded out the first team.

Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell and Golden State’s Stephen Curry were the second-team guards. Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox and Portland’s Damian Lillard made the third team.

Gilgeous-Alexander, counting first, second and third-team votes, appeared on 97 of 100 All-NBA ballots, as voted on by the media.

Gilgeous-Alexander turned in the best two-way campaign of his career. He averaged 31.4 points per game on 51% field goal shooting, 35% 3-point shooting and 91% free throw shooting. He dished 5.5 assists per game.

He became the youngest guard in NBA history to average at least 30 points on better than 50% shooting.

The 24-year-old from Hamilton, Ontario, ranked fourth in the NBA in scoring, third in free throw attempts and first in free throw makes.

He bought in on the defensive end, using his 6-foot-6 frame and 6-foot-11 wingspan to rank fourth in steals per game (1.6) and first among guards in blocks per game (1.0).

Gilgeous-Alexander finished fifth for MVP, second for Most Improved Player and he received All-Defense votes.

SGA is the fourth Thunder player to make first team All-NBA, joining Paul George (once), Russell Westbrook (twice) and Kevin Durant (five times).

More: Tramel: Why the Thunder U. team of Durant, Harden and Westbrook was ahead of its time

George’s request to be traded from the Thunder to the Clippers in the summer of 2019, coupled with the fact that Kawhi Leonard wanted to team up with George in Los Angeles, gave the Thunder leverage to acquire Gilgeous-Alexander — along with a boatload of draft picks — as the prize of the blockbuster trade between OKC and LA.

The slippery scorer Presti had scouted at Kentucky, who was drafted 11th by the Clippers in a draft-night trade with the Hornets, was now on the Thunder.

Presti, in his exit interview, recounted a story from a scrimmage in SGA’s first season in OKC — the 2019-20 season when Gilgeous-Alexander started in the backcourt next to Chris Paul.

The Thunder was practicing in the Blue’s G League facility while a new floor was being installed in the Thunder’s practice gym.

“He made a finish that was, I thought, pretty unique,” Presti said.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s movements, the ways he steps and staggers in his own herky-jerky dance, are stunning like that in their unconventionality.

“That caught my attention,” Presti said. “But it wasn’t, ‘This guy is going to be an All-Star player.’ That wasn’t it. It was that there’s tools there.”

Gilgeous-Alexander made the most of those tools, building not only an All-Star campaign, but a season for the ages as an All-NBA first-teamer.

More: Tramel: OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti still won't take shortcuts, despite ticking clock

Thunder All-NBA appearances

The Thunder has had 18 All-NBA selections, including nine first-team selections, since 2008-09. Both of those numbers are league highs.

First team

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2022-23)

• Paul George (2018-19)

• Russell Westbrook (2015-16, 2016-17)

• Kevin Durant (2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14)

Second team

• Chris Paul (2019-20)

• Russell Westbrook (2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2014-15, 2017-18)

• Kevin Durant (2015-16)

Third team

• Russell Westbrook (2018-19)

• Paul George (2017-18)

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named All-NBA first teamer