Satisfaction comes from a different point of view for Jarrod Polson.

Walking on the Kentucky basketball team would be the ultimate experience for UK fans and Bluegrass natives like Polson. To turn that into a scholarship, like Polson did before the start of last season, would be a dream come true for just about anybody. And then to sit on the sidelines and be a part of NCAA Tournament games that so many grew up watching and adoring as kids, does it get any better than that?

Polson is hoping it does.

Instead of relying on a four-year ride to the best seat in the house, Polson wants to contribute more this season for John Calipari. Broken free of walk-on chains – Polson was awarded a scholarship before the start of last year after Coach Cal called him the “most talented walk-on” he’s ever coached – he believes he can take the next step in his Kentucky-groomed Cinderella story and become a full-time supporter this year.

“I’m hoping (Coach) has the confidence to put me in maybe every game, even if it’s not for that long,” Polson said in an exclusive interview with CoachCal.com. “I want to work hard in practice every day and make the first team better. When I get my chance, I need to go in and perform.”

Polson played in 17 games as a freshman and logged 31 minutes, six points and two rebounds, reasonable numbers for someone who came to UK with only a handful of offers from mid-major schools. But Polson, even if it was only a nibble, got a taste of what it was like to play for Kentucky last year, and now he wants more.

Jarrod Polson made 17 appearances last year as a freshman. (photos courtesy of Chet White, UK Athletics)

“Getting your feet wet is definitely going to help me and gives me more confidence this year in terms of maturity and composure,” Polson said.

Believe Polson when he says he’s grateful for the opportunity he’s been awarded at Kentucky. He arrived without a guarantee to play, and just to be a part of the sacred tradition he grew up loving was worth turning down a scholarship offer from Liberty.

“It was honestly kind of surreal,” Polson said. “Growing up and watching Kentucky and all the tournaments on TV, to actually be there, I don’t know if I realized what was actually going on while I was there (at the Final Four). Looking back on it now, it was a really cool experience.”

But just because he came to UK without any false assumptions doesn’t mean he isn’t aspiring to accomplish more. Polson doesn’t want to become complacent.

“It was kind of what I expected last year,” Polson said. “I knew I wasn’t going to come in and get a lot of minutes, but I got the opportunity to go in sometimes during some games that were actually meaningful. Hopefully that will continue this year.”

Polson’s first action of the season was in mop-up duty against East Tennessee State. He received several more opportunities in late-game situations against other early season opponents in November and December, including a career-high four minutes in the Boston game.

Often times, Polson was peppered with chants to shoot the ball whether he got it at the 3-point line, midcourt or the other side of the floor.

“Two years ago I was a fan, so I know where they’re coming from,” Polson said. “They just want to see me succeed. I’m just trying to do what Coach Cal tells me to do. I’m trying to show Cal I can run the offense and not do anything crazy like they’re wanting me to do.”

The game that Polson really remembers was a three-minute, first-half stint against South Carolina in late January. It was the first time he was between the lines with the game still hanging in the balance. Polson nearly scored on a last-second run-out before the half. He also registered two shots the following game at Florida and played three minutes in a thriller at Vanderbilt.

Those experiences whetted Polson’s appetite.

“It was definitely nerve-wracking, but at the same time it was definitely a cool experience,” Polson said. “When your head coach has the confidence to put you in the game in crunch time, that definitely puts a bunch of confidence in you.”

Polson’s best shot at playing time this year is at the point guard position. Freshman Marquis Teague will almost certainly be the starter, but behind him is where it gets fuzzy.

Sophomore Doron Lamb has the ability to fill in at point guard when Teague needs a breather, but Lamb flourished as a shooting guard last season. Does Calipari really want to use Lamb for multiple roles, or can Polson or former Mississippi State guard Twany Beckham eat up some minutes?

“That’s probably going to be my best chance to play, so I’ve got to work on my point guard skills the most,” Polson said. “(That means) a lot of defense. I’ve been working on that this summer, being able to lock someone up. Cal says if you can play defense you can stay in the game, so that’s definitely what I’ve been working on the most.”

Polson says he’s put on 10 pounds to his 6-foot-2 frame and feels a lot more comfortable with the offense and expectations of being in the program.

“In Cal’s system, being a sophomore, I’m kind of a veteran now in terms of knowing what to expect and know what the practices and games are going to be like,” Polson said. “I’m just trying to help the younger guys know what to expect and tell them to go 100 percent all the time.”

Most – and probably all – of those younger guys will play more than Polson, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have the talent to play at UK. After all, the lefty averaged 18.2 points, 6.4 assists and 4.9 rebounds as a senior at West Jessamine High School, leading his squad to the second round of the Sweet 16 state tournament.

“He is a great teammate and he’s gotten better,” Calipari said. “He is a basketball player I’m comfortable putting in the games, even in tough situations.”

Which is exactly what Polson wants. As a former walk-on, the perception may be that he’s a part-time contributor, but from Polson’s point of view, he wants to make playing at Kentucky a full-time reality.