SALT LAKE CITY Once again, Jimmer Fredette found himself surrounded by the media before a game.
Back in the state where he starred at BYU in nearby Provo, Fredette fielded several questions from reporters before the Kings played the Utah Jazz on Friday night.
At the start of the season, Fredette was surrounded by the media home and away, but as his playing time decreased, the frenzy became less the norm.
However, Fredette is still revered in Utah, where he was the consensus national college Player of the Year as a senior.
Fredette wouldn't mind the attention being on him again.
"Hopefully, it'll come again because that means you're playing well," Fredette said. "So we'll see how things go. But it's been nice to just go and do my own thing and not have too much media attention around me all the time.
"It's definitely different, but I've played like this before. I've been an underdog before, and now it's time to go out and prove them wrong again," he said.
Fredette entered Friday's contest averaging 7.1 points a game and shooting 38.4 percent.
Kings coach Keith Smart continued to speak positively about the rookie.
"This guy understands the whole picture," Smart said. "He understands he has to be patient, working in the gym by himself and with some of the things we're teaching him."
Final Four thoughts When Kentucky plays Louisville today, at least four Kings will have a big interest in the game.
DeMarcus Cousins and Chuck Hayes played for Kentucky. Francisco Garcia and Terrence Williams played for Louisville.
Hayes gave his favored Wildcats a "3 percent" chance of losing, based on Louisville coach Rick Pitino having a chance to lead an upset.
Cousins gave Kentucky a "1 percent" chance of losing to the Cardinals, who at No. 4 are the lowest remaining seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Sticking around Guard Terrence Williams said he has signed the paperwork to stay with the Kings the rest of the season. He signed a 10-day contract March 21.
Williams has proven to be a key player for the Kings with his passing and defense late in games. He was the 11th overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft by New Jersey before being traded to Houston in 2010 and waived by the Rockets on March 16.
Williams had eight points, six rebounds, four assists and a steal in 22 minutes Friday night against the Jazz.
© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.
Read more articles by Jason Jones


About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "Report Abuse" link below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.