Gilgeous-Alexander played college basketball at the University of Kentucky, one of the most storied programs in college basketball history. He started the 2017-2018 season as a reserve player, sitting behind freshman point guard Quade Green, but still managed to average over 30 minutes per game. After a tough loss to UCLA, Gilgeous-Alexander had a breakout performance against Louisville in December, scoring 24 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, dishing out 4 assists, and securing 3 steals.

This performance proved to be a turning point in his college career, as he continued to lead the team for the following two games, scoring 21 points against Georgia and 18 against LSU. He was a consistent contributor to a "struggling" UK team that had a four-game losing streak during the season. He became a starter along with four other freshmen: Hamidou Diallo, Nick Richards, Kevin Knox, and P. J. Washington. Despite their losses, Gilgeous-Alexander's points per game shot up to 12.9 along with 3.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists.

Gilgeous-Alexander had a great SEC tournament and continued that momentum into the NCAA Tournament. After playing great basketball in the first two rounds against Davidson and Buffalo, Kentucky lost to Kansas State in the Sweet 16. Gilgeous-Alexander's final college basketball moment was a missed three-point attempt at the buzzer. On April 9, 2018, he declared for the 2018 NBA Draft, marking the beginning of his professional career.

Gilgeous-Alexander's college basketball career was marked by his impressive performances on the court, as well as his dedication and hard work off the court. He proved himself to be a leader on his team and a player with a bright future ahead of him. As he continues to develop his skills in the NBA, it is clear that he is a force to be reckoned with and a player to watch for years to come.