Cotton Nash considered one of 39 Kentucky basketball greats with retired jerseys. See the complete checklist.

The Huge Blue Nation mourned the lack of considered one of its biggest athletes on Tuesday after the information that basketball legend Cotton Nash had died at age 80.

Nash’s passing served as a reminder of the unbelievable depth of basketball expertise that has entertained Kentuckians by means of the years.

A lot of that expertise is commemorated within the Rupp Area rafters.

The latest addition was, like Nash, a star of the Sixties: Mike Pratt. The previous participant and longtime UK radio analyst was honored posthumously last season.

Right here’s a take a look at the 39 Kentucky greats who’ve banners raised in Rupp Area. When you’re sitting beneath UK’s championship banners, that is the order — clockwise, from high proper — that you just’d see every former Wildcat.

Basil Hayden

Quantity: None

Years: 1919-22

Hayden — a 5-foot-11 ahead (the sport was completely different then) from Bourbon County — was Kentucky’s first All-American within the sport of basketball. He was the Cats’ main scorer as a sophomore — his first season after transferring from Transylvania — with a mean of round 11 factors per sport. His All-America season got here in his junior 12 months, when he helped lead UK to a 13-1 document and a Southern Intercollegiate championship. A knee damage suffered whereas competing in monitor and area — Hayden was a multi-sport athlete — restricted his play as a senior. He later coached the Cats for one season (a 3-13 marketing campaign in 1926-27) and spent practically all of his life in central Kentucky, passing away in 2003 in his hometown of Paris at age 103.

Burgess Carey

Quantity: 56

Years: 1924-26

Carey — a 6-foot guard from Lexington — performed two seasons for the Wildcats after transferring again dwelling from Washington & Lee. He was the captain of the Lexington Excessive Faculty Blue Devils crew that gained the varsity’s first nationwide basketball championship in 1921. Carey, who handed away in 1961, was UK’s second All-American, incomes that honor after scoring 20 factors in 20 video games because the crew’s level guard throughout the 1924-25 season.

Carey Spicer

Quantity: None

Years: 1928-31

One in all Kentucky’s high all-around athletes of the early twentieth century, Spicer was a two-time All-American in basketball and in addition competed in soccer, tennis and monitor and area for the Wildcats. A 6-1 ahead on the basketball court docket, he was a standout quarterback for UK’s soccer crew throughout his time on campus. Spicer — a Lexington native — has the excellence of being the main scorer on Adolph Rupp’s first Kentucky squad (1930-31) and the primary All-American of the Rupp period. Instantly upon his commencement, Spicer turned the pinnacle basketball coach at Georgetown Faculty for 4 seasons. He handed away in 1996 at age 87. (Spicer wore No. 17 for the Cats, however his Rupp banner has solely a UK brand).

Forest Sale

Quantity: 19

Years: 1930-33

Sale — a 6-5 submit participant from Lawrenceburg — was the primary Wildcat to earn a nationwide participant of the 12 months award, successful that honor after main Rupp’s 1934 SEC Event championship crew with 13.8 factors per sport. “Aggie” Sale — as he was recognized — was a consensus first-team All-American in every of his remaining two seasons for the Wildcats. “Every time (Rupp) talked about his greatest gamers, Aggie Sale was the primary participant he talked about,” longtime UK athletics sports activities info director and program historian Russell Rice mentioned in 1985, when Sale handed away at age 74. Sale was later a highschool basketball coach in Kentucky and a five-term state legislator.

John DeMoisey

Quantity: 00

Years: 1931-34

DeMoisey — a 6-4 heart from Walton — was the large man on a few of Rupp’s first Kentucky groups and the Wildcats’ high scorer with 12.5 factors per sport his senior season, main UK to a 15-0 document and 11-0 SEC mark earlier than the Cats misplaced their first sport of the league event. He was an All-American that season and, in accordance with his 1963 obituary, was credited by Rupp as the primary basketball participant to make use of the “one-hand overhead pivot shot” in a sport. Nicknamed “Frenchy,” DeMoisey was an avid campaigner for Kentucky Gov. A.B. “Pleased” Chandler — additionally working in his administration — in addition to a basketball referee, even officiating a handful of Kentucky video games within the Nineteen Forties.

Layton Rouse

Quantity: 10

Years: 1937-40

Rouse — a 6-1 guard from Ludlow in Kenton County — averaged 6.1 factors per sport throughout his UK profession and by no means greater than 8.3 in a season, however he was clearly a favourite of Rupp, who introduced Rouse together with his full uniform on the annual banquet following his remaining season — making him the primary Wildcat to formally have his jersey retired. Rupp cited “management” as the rationale for bestowing the unprecedented honor. “Mickey” Rouse was captain of the UK crew that gained the 1940 SEC championship and an all-conference choice that season, main the Cats in scoring. He later turned a dentist. Rouse handed away in 2012 at age 93.

Ralph Beard

Quantity: 12

Years: 1945-49

Beard — a 5-10 guard from Louisville — was one of many leaders throughout the Wildcats’ epic run of the late 40s. UK gathered a document of 130-10 in his 4 seasons with the crew, successful Rupp’s first two nationwide championships throughout that point, together with 4 SEC titles and an Olympic gold medal in 1948. UK was 39-0 within the SEC and gained the league event all 4 years. Beard was a three-time All-American at Kentucky and nonetheless sits fifteenth on this system’s all-time scoring checklist with 1,517 factors.

An NBA All-Star in his second season as a professional, Beard’s profession ended earlier than his third 12 months within the league on account of the school basketball point-shaving scandal that concerned gamers from Kentucky and different colleges. Beard admitted to taking $700 from gamblers however mentioned he by no means shaved factors. He was banned from the NBA for all times. When Beard handed away at age 79 in 2007, former teammate Joe B. Corridor mentioned the lightning-quick guard would have been an All-American in any period. “His model of play was timeless,” Corridor mentioned.

Alex Groza

Quantity: 15

Years: 1944-45, 1946-49

Groza — a 6-7 participant from Martins Ferry, Ohio — was drafted into the U.S. Military halfway by means of the 1944-45 season. When he returned to the Cats in 1946, he turned one of many program’s all-time greats. Groza was the primary UK participant to eclipse 1,000 factors and nonetheless ranks Tenth on Kentucky’s all-time scoring checklist. He gained All-American honors in 1947 and 1948 earlier than successful the nationwide participant of the 12 months award in 1949, main the Wildcats in factors in every of their first two nationwide championship seasons. He’s additionally considered one of solely 5 gamers in faculty basketball historical past to win back-to-back Last 4 most excellent participant awards.

The No. 2 general choose within the 1949 NBA Draft, Groza was the unofficial rookie of the 12 months for the 1949-50 season and a first-team All-NBA choice throughout his first two years as a professional earlier than being implicated within the faculty basketball point-shaving scandal. Like Beard, the NBA banned him for all times on account of the scandal. Groza later turned the pinnacle coach at Bellarmine, and labored as a professional scout and ABA basic supervisor. He handed away in 1995 at age 68.

Kenny Rollins

Quantity: 26

Years: 1942-43, 1946-48

Rollins — a 6-0 guard from Wickliffe in Ballard County — joined the Navy after one season at Kentucky and returned to the Cats following World Conflict II, turning into the crew captain for his remaining two seasons and a member of the “Fabulous 5” that delivered UK its first nationwide title in 1948. Rollins scored 684 factors in 98 video games and was generally known as an awesome defensive participant in his faculty days. He was the first defender on Bob Cousy when Kentucky defeated Holy Cross within the 1948 nationwide semifinals in Madison Sq. Backyard. Rollins — like the remainder of UK’s “Fab 5” — gained Olympic gold on the 1948 Video games in London. He handed away at age 89 in 2012.

Cliff Barker

Quantity: 23

Years: 1946-49

Barker — a 6-2 guard/ahead from Yorktown, Ind. — left UK after his freshman season to affix the Military and, upon his return, was one other member of the “Fabulous 5” that helped the Cats win the nationwide title in 1948 and 1949, scoring precisely 248 factors in every season. Barker served as a gunner on a B-17 bomber throughout World Conflict II and spent greater than a 12 months as a prisoner of conflict after being shot down over Germany. According to his 1998 obituary within the New York Occasions, “he crammed idle time in jail camp by bouncing and passing a volleyball, the one ball he may discover. When he returned to varsity, his ball-handling expertise have been outstanding.”

Wallace Jones

Quantity: 27

Years: 1945-49

“Wah Wah” Jones — a 6-4 ahead from Harlan — is likely one of the most celebrated athletes from the commonwealth and gained a state championship in his senior season. He additionally performed baseball and soccer — and was a two-time All-SEC choice within the latter — throughout his time at Kentucky, however he’s greatest remembered as a member of the “Fabulous 5” and winner of two nationwide titles and an Olympic gold medal. Jones was a first-team All-SEC choice in every of his 4 seasons at Kentucky and considered one of UK’s first 1,000-point scorers. He nonetheless ranks forty sixth on the all-time factors checklist. Jones was the third-leading scorer — behind Groza and Beard — on every of Kentucky’s first two championship groups and handed away at age 88 in 2014, the final surviving member of UK’s famed “Fab 5.”

Invoice Spivey

Quantity: 77

Years: 1949-52

Spivey — a 7-footer from Warner Robins, Ga. — was a improbable faculty basketball participant and stays one of many greatest “what if?” tales within the sport’s historical past. His numbers over simply two seasons at Kentucky are eye-popping. With 1,213 factors, he ranks thirty ninth on this system’s all-time scoring checklist. Rebounds weren’t recorded as an official stat throughout his first season, however Spivey grabbed 567 boards in 33 video games the following season. Greater than 70 years later, that continues to be UK’s single-season document. (For comparability’s sake, Oscar Tshiebwe had 515 rebounds in 34 video games final season). Spivey was the nationwide participant of the 12 months in 1951 (the primary season UK performed in Memorial Coliseum) and recorded 22 factors and 21 rebounds within the nationwide title sport that 12 months, incomes the Last 4 most excellent participant award in main Kentucky to its third championship in 4 years.

He probably would have been a star within the NBA, however Spivey’s profession was reduce brief by the identical playing scandal that concerned different UK gamers. Spivey, nonetheless, by no means admitted to any wrongdoing and was acquitted of perjury costs associated to the investigation by a New York court docket in 1953. However he was barred by UK from competing in athletics and banned for all times by the NBA. Spivey later gained a small settlement towards the league, however he spent the remainder of his enjoying days on lower-level squads, and the remainder of his life was haunted by the scandal that had successfully ended his basketball profession. Spivey handed away in Costa Rica in 1995. He was 66 years outdated. His jersey was not retired to the Rupp Area rafters till 2000.

Cliff Hagan

Quantity: 6

Years: 1950-52, 1953-54

A reputation that has turn out to be synonymous with UK athletics, Hagan — a 6-4 heart from Owensboro — gained a nationwide title in 1951 and was a consensus first crew All-American for the 1951-52 and 1953-54 seasons. Kentucky did not play in 1952-53 because of the earlier point-shaving scandal that had rocked this system. Hagan was the main scorer on each of these groups within the early ’50s and completed his three-year profession with 1,475 factors (seventeenth all-time) and 1,035 rebounds (third all-time) in simply 77 video games. Kentucky had an ideal 25-0 document within the 1953-54 season, however Rupp declined an NCAA Event bid as a result of a stipulation that graduate college students couldn’t play within the occasion. (Hagan, Frank Ramsey and Lou Tsioropoulos have been all grad college students on the time).

Hagan was a five-time All-Star in his 10-year NBA profession, then got here out of retirement to play three seasons within the ABA, the place he was additionally a head coach. In 1978, Hagan turned the primary former Kentucky participant to be inducted into the Naismith Corridor of Fame, and he served as UK’s athletics director from 1975 to 1988. Hagan is 91 years outdated.

Frank Ramsey

Quantity: 30

Years: 1950-52, 1953-54

Ramsey — a 6-3 guard from Madisonville — performed alongside Hagan for those self same three seasons and put up related statistics. His 1,344 factors rank twenty seventh on Kentucky’s all-time checklist, and he’s second with 1,038 whole rebounds. (He was first in rebounds and fourth in factors when he left UK). Ramsey was an All-American — both second- or third-team — in all three of his seasons with the Wildcats and was chosen with the No. 5 general choose by the Boston Celtics. Within the NBA, he was credited as basketball’s first “sixth man” — a wonderfully expert participant who got here off the bench as an alternative of beginning the sport. Ramsey gained seven NBA titles in his 9 seasons with Boston. His No. 23 jersey has been retired by the Celtics, and Ramsey was inducted into the Naismith Corridor of Fame in 1982. He passed away in 2018 at age 86.

Lou Tsioropoulos

Quantity: 16

Years: 1950-52, 1953-54

One other key Wildcat from that 1950-54 run, Tsioropoulos — a 6-5 ahead from Lynn, Mass. — scored 709 factors over his three-year profession and averaged 14.5 factors and 9.6 rebounds per sport enjoying alongside Hagan and Ramsey for the Wildcats’ undefeated crew in 1953-54. He ranks twenty fifth on the varsity’s all-time rebounding checklist. Tsioropoulos was additionally drafted by the Boston Celtics and gained two titles with the NBA franchise whereas enjoying as a backup to Corridor of Fame energy ahead Tommy Heinsohn. Tsioropoulos was generally known as a defensive specialist throughout his time at Kentucky, and he returned to the state as the pinnacle coach at DuPont Guide. Tsioropoulos handed away in 2015 at age 84.

Billy Evans

Quantity: 42

Years: 1951-52, 1953-55

Evans — a 6-1 guard from Berea — tallied 716 factors and 549 rebounds in three seasons at Kentucky and was the crew’s fourth-leading scorer — behind Hagan, Ramsey and Tsioropoulos — on the undefeated 1953-54 squad. Evans was a gifted participant who accepted a team-first position whereas enjoying alongside different greats, and the Wildcats achieved a 77-6 document in his three seasons on the varsity degree. He additionally performed baseball and tennis at UK and later gained an Olympic gold medal in basketball on the 1956 Video games in Australia. Evans handed away in 2020 at age 88.

Gayle Rose

Quantity: 20

Years: 1951-52, 1953-55

Rose — a 6-0 guard from Carter County who completed his prep profession at Paris Excessive — was the place to begin guard for Kentucky’s undefeated 1953-54 crew and wrapped up his UK profession with 443 factors over three seasons. After serving within the navy, Rose returned to Lexington as a scholar on the UK Faculty of Pharmacy and in the end spent greater than three many years as a pharmacist in Olive Hill. He handed away in 2016 at age 84.

Jerry Chook

Quantity: 22

Years: 1953-56

Chook — a 6-6 ahead from Corbin — performed simply 4 video games for the undefeated 1953-54 crew however averaged a double-double in every of his different two seasons at Kentucky, with 16.2 factors and 11.3 rebounds per sport as a senior. In an NCAA Event loss to Iowa that season, Chook grabbed 24 rebounds, which nonetheless stands as the varsity document in a postseason sport. All three of Chook’s brothers — Calvin, Rodger and Billy — performed soccer for Kentucky. Jerry Chook handed away in 2017 at age 83.

Phil Grawemeyer

Quantity: 44

Years: 1953-56

Grawemeyer — a 6-7 ahead from Louisville — was the main bench scorer on the undefeated 1953-54 crew and ended up with 626 factors and 703 rebounds over his three-year profession. He stays twenty fourth on the varsity’s all-time rebounding checklist and was a pitcher for the UK baseball crew throughout his time on campus. Nicknamed “Cookie,” he was a Tenth-round choose by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1956 — and was additionally a Main League Baseball draft choose — however he by no means performed skilled sports activities. Grawemeyer handed away in 2008 at age 73.

Bob Burrow

Quantity: 50

Years: 1954-56

Burrow — a 6-7 heart from Arkansas who completed highschool in Wells, Texas — transferred to Kentucky from Lon Morris Junior Faculty and performed simply two seasons for the Wildcats, however he put up some main stats throughout his time on campus. Burrow led the crew in scoring and rebounding in each seasons at Kentucky, ending with 1,023 factors and 823 rebounds over that point. Amongst UK gamers who performed simply two seasons for the Wildcats, he’s at the moment fourth in factors and first in rebounds. Burrow shares the varsity’s single-game rebounding document (34) with Invoice Spivey. After a short professional profession, Burrow returned to Kentucky and spent nearly four decades as an educator for Fort Knox colleges, retiring as superintendent in 1997. Burrow handed away in 2019 at age 84.

Vernon Hatton

Quantity: 52

Years: 1955-58

Hatton — a 6-3 guard from Lexington — was the primary winner of the Kentucky Mr. Basketball award following a standout profession at Lafayette Excessive Faculty that included a state title throughout his junior 12 months. In three seasons at Kentucky, he tallied 1,153 factors and was the main scorer on the Wildcats’ 1958 nationwide championship crew. Hatton scored 30 factors in UK’s 84-72 victory over Elgin Baylor and Seattle College within the 1958 title sport, and he was additionally a first-team All-American that season. Hatton’s 47-foot shot with one second left in extra time — in an eventual 3OT win over Temple — is thought to be considered one of the biggest shots in school history. The Cincinnati Royals chosen Hatton with the No. 9 general choose within the 1958 NBA Draft, and he performed a complete of 4 seasons within the league. Hatton is 87 years outdated.

Johnny Cox

Quantity: 24

Years: 1956-59

Cox — a 6-4 ahead from Hazard — earned All-American consideration in his first season at Kentucky, was the second-leading scorer on the Cats’ 1958 title crew after which was honored as a consensus first-team All-American following the 1958-59 season. Cox completed his UK profession with 1,461 factors and 1,004 rebounds — considered one of solely 4 Wildcats to ever eclipse the 1,000 mark on rebounds. He was additionally constant from the beginning on the boards. Every of his three seasons is included among the many high 30 all-time single-season rebounding marks at Kentucky. Cox led Hazard Excessive to the 1955 state championship. He’s 86 years outdated.

Cotton Nash

Quantity: 44

Years: 1961-64

Nash — a 6-5 ahead born in Jersey Metropolis, N.J. — earned consensus second-team All-American honors in every of his first two seasons at Kentucky earlier than turning into a consensus first-team All-American as a senior, main the Cats in scoring all three years. He had 1,770 factors for his profession and was this system’s all-time main scorer by the point he left campus. Nash stays ninth on that checklist and is fifth all-time in rebounding. He’s additionally considered one of solely three UK gamers to seize 30 or extra rebounds in a single sport and the one Wildcat to attain that feat twice. Nash performed one season within the NBA and one season within the ABA, and — a baseball participant at UK — he additionally appeared in a complete of 13 video games for the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins. According to Baseball-Almanac.com, Nash is considered one of simply 13 gamers to play in each the NBA and Main League Baseball. “Trying again on it, I’m not actual positive how I did it,” he told the Herald-Leader in 2020. “I by no means had an offseason. I went constantly from one sport to the following with no off days.” After retiring from professional sports activities in 1972, Nash returned to Lexington. He died May 23, 2023, at age 80.

Louie Dampier

Quantity: 10

Years: 1964-67

Dampier — a 6-0 guard from Indianapolis — was a consensus second-team All-American and led the Wildcats in scoring in two of his three seasons at Kentucky. He was the second-leading scorer (with 21.1 factors per sport) on the “Rupp’s Runts” squad that entered the 1966 NCAA Event ranked No. 1 and misplaced within the nationwide title sport to Texas Western. Dampier completed his Kentucky profession with 1,575 factors, which is twelfth on the all-time checklist. He’s additionally twelfth on the all-time free-throw share checklist at 83.4 %.

Outdoors of the commonwealth, Dampier is called one of many biggest gamers in ABA historical past. In actual fact, he’s the all-time main scorer in that league, ending with 13,726 factors throughout a nine-year profession with the Kentucky Colonels that included an ABA title in 1975. Dampier later performed three seasons with the San Antonio Spurs and was inducted into the Naismith Corridor of Fame in 2015, the fifth and most up-to-date former UK participant to earn that honor. Dampier is 78 years outdated.

Pat Riley

Quantity: 42

Years: 1964-67

Riley — a 6-4 ahead from Schenectady, N.Y. — is likely one of the most well-known names in basketball, however earlier than he made waves within the NBA, he was a star participant at Kentucky. Riley was the main scorer on the “Rupp’s Runts” crew that misplaced within the 1966 NCAA title sport and completed his UK profession with 1,464 factors, which is 18th on the all-time checklist. He’s additionally twenty sixth all-time with 672 rebounds. Riley performed 9 seasons within the NBA — successful a title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972 — and was inducted into the Naismith Corridor of Fame in 2008, primarily as a result of his document as a coach. Riley gained 4 NBA championships from 1982 to 1988 whereas presiding over the “Showtime” period of the Lakers and the crew’s younger star, Magic Johnson. He later gained a fifth title as head coach of the Miami Warmth in 2006 and helped construct two extra NBA championship groups in Miami in 2012 and 2013. Riley is 77 years outdated and remains to be president of the Miami Warmth.

Mike Pratt

Quantity: 22

Years: 1967-70

It had been eight years since a Kentucky basketball participant’s jersey was added to the rafters of Rupp Area earlier than Pratt achieved that honor on Feb. 4, 2023.

Pratt helped lead the Wildcats to 3 Southeastern Convention championships and completed his profession as a high participant on a Kentucky squad that was ranked No. 1 nationally within the remaining Related Press High 25 ballot of the 1969-70 season.

He left UK together with his identify within the high 10 on the all-time factors, rebounds and assists lists, and he stays considered one of solely two former Cats to be ranked within the high 30 in all three classes.

The rebounding stat is particularly spectacular, given Pratt’s 6-foot-4 measurement. With 718 rebounds, he was eighth in program historical past by the point he left UK and stays twenty third on that checklist. Pratt additionally performed solely three seasons, whereas 10 of the 22 gamers forward of him performed 4 or extra.

Three many years after his faculty profession ended, Pratt returned to Kentucky because the crew’s radio analyst, a job he held for 21 seasons until his death at age 73 final June.

Pratt’s jersey retirement ceremony was the primary for a UK participant since Tony Delk’s No. 00 joined the Rupp rafters in 2015.

His jersey was positioned within the rafters subsequent to teammate and buddy Dan Issel.

“I can’t be prouder that he’s proper up there subsequent to me,” Issel mentioned, pointing towards the 2 blue and white banners. “I adore it. I adore it!”

Dan Issel

Quantity: 44

Years: 1967-70

Issel — a 6-9 heart from Batavia, Unwell. — stays Kentucky’s all-time chief in scoring and rebounding greater than 5 many years after his faculty profession ended. He was a consensus first-team All-American in 1970, the top of a three-year run that included a 71-12 document for the Wildcats and, thus far, untouchable particular person numbers for Issel: 2,138 factors and 1,078 rebounds in simply 83 video games. He has 4 of the ten highest-scoring video games in UK historical past, and his document of 53 factors held for 39 years earlier than Jodie Meeks scored 54 in 2009. He’s additionally the one Kentucky participant with 24 or extra rebounds in a sport on three completely different events. Issel and the Cats completed the 1969-70 season ranked No. 1 earlier than shedding to Jacksonville (and future ABA teammate Artis Gilmore) within the NCAA Event.

Issel performed 5 seasons with the Kentucky Colonels — he’s the ABA’s second-leading scorer behind Dampier — and one other 10 seasons with the Denver franchise within the ABA and NBA. He nonetheless ranks twelfth on the all-time NBA/ABA mixed scoring checklist. Issel later coached the Denver Nuggets. He was inducted into the Naismith Corridor of Fame in 1993 and at the moment co-hosts a every day radio present on ESPN 680 in Louisville. Issel is 74 years outdated.

Kevin Grevey

Quantity: 35

Years: 1972-75

Grevey — a 6-5 ahead from Hamilton, Ohio — was named the SEC participant of the 12 months in his first and third seasons at Kentucky, a star for Joe B. Corridor’s first three years as head coach, and he stays one of many program’s main scorers. Grevey’s 1,801 factors rank seventh all-time on the UK checklist. He led the Cats with 23.6 factors per sport as a senior and took Kentucky all the best way to the 1975 nationwide championship sport, the place UK misplaced to UCLA in John Picket’s remaining sport as a school coach. Grevey was chosen with the No. 18 choose in that 12 months’s NBA Draft and spent eight seasons with the Washington Bullets, successful the franchise’s solely NBA title in 1978. He additionally performed two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks. Grevey has labored as an NBA scout and a school basketball analyst for Westwood One Radio Community. He’s 69 years outdated.

Jack Givens

Quantity: 21

Years: 1974-78

Givens — a 6-4 ahead from Lexington — stays one of the crucial beloved figures in UK basketball historical past and is this system’s all-time main scorer amongst Kentucky natives. After incomes Mr. Basketball honors at Bryan Station Excessive Faculty in 1974, Givens stayed dwelling to play for UK and a few of Joe B. Corridor’s first Wildcats groups. A task participant and fourth-leading scorer for the 1975 nationwide runner-up squad as a freshman, “Goose” led the Cats in scoring in every of the following three seasons and completed his profession with 2,038 factors (third all-time). He joins Mike Pratt as the one UK participant to be included within the high 30 in factors, rebounds and assists. After all, he’s greatest recognized for main the Wildcats to the 1978 nationwide championship — this system’s first NCAA crown in twenty years — and scoring 41 factors within the title sport towards Duke. Givens was the No. 16 choose within the 1978 NBA Draft and performed two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks. He’s at the moment the radio analyst for Kentucky basketball games. Givens is 66 years outdated.

Rick Robey

Quantity: 53

Years: 1974-78

Robey — a 6-10 submit participant from New Orleans — was a highschool All-American and Mr. Basketball within the state of Louisiana earlier than a standout profession with the Wildcats, incomes a number of first-team All-American honors his senior season. Robey completed his time at UK with 1,395 factors (twenty third in program historical past) and 838 rebounds (ninth all-time). Of the 56 former UK gamers with 400 or extra made baskets, Robey was third in all-time field-goal share (58.1 %) behind solely Melvin Turpin and Patrick Patterson. He was the second-leading scorer (behind Givens) and the main rebounder for Kentucky’s 1978 title crew, the one Wildcat to affix Givens as an All-Last 4 choice that 12 months. Robey was chosen with the No. 3 choose within the 1978 NBA Draft and performed eight seasons within the league, successful an NBA title in 1981 with the Boston Celtics. Robey returned to the Louisville space after his professional profession. He’s 67 years outdated.

Kyle Macy

Quantity: 4

Years: 1977-80

Macy — a 6-3 guard from Peru, Ind. — was Indiana’s Mr. Basketball in 1975 and began his faculty profession at Purdue, averaging 13.8 factors per sport as a freshman for the Boilermakers earlier than transferring to Kentucky and sitting out the 1976-77 season. He was the crew’s third-leading scorer — behind Givens and Robey — as a sophomore on the 1978 title crew and led the Wildcats in factors the following two years. In three seasons at Kentucky, he completed with 1,411 factors (twenty first on the all-time checklist) and 470 assists, the sixth-most in program historical past. His profession free-throw mark of 89.0 % stood because the UK document till it was surpassed by Jodie Meeks, Tyler Herro and Immanuel Quickley on more moderen Kentucky groups. Macy was a consensus first-team All-American and SEC participant of the 12 months in 1980, chosen with the No. 22 choose in that 12 months’s draft. He performed seven seasons within the league and later turned the pinnacle coach at Morehead State for 9 seasons. He’s 65 years outdated

Sam Bowie

Quantity: 31

Years: 1979-81, 1983-84

Bowie — a 7-1 heart from Lebanon, Pa. — was a McDonald’s All-American and a star participant for his first two years at Kentucky however suffered a stress fracture in his left leg that in the end led him to overlook the next two seasons. He returned to the court docket for the 1983-84 marketing campaign, averaging 10.5 factors, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocked photographs per sport — alongside fellow huge males Melvin Turpin and Kenny Walker — to assist lead the Cats to the Last 4. He ranks thirtieth in factors (1,285), eighth in rebounds (843) and fourth in blocked photographs (218) on UK’s all-time lists. Bowie was the No. 2 general choose within the 1984 NBA Draft and performed 10 seasons within the league. He later returned to Lexington and was previously the radio analyst for UK basketball video games. He’s 61 years outdated.

Kenny Walker

Quantity: 34

Years: 1982-86

Walker — a 6-8 ahead from Roberta, Ga. — was Georgia’s Mr. Basketball and a McDonald’s All-American in 1982 earlier than turning into one of many biggest gamers in UK historical past. Walker was the second-leading scorer on the Cats’ 1984 Last 4 crew as a sophomore, a consensus second-team All-American his junior 12 months and a consensus first-team All-American as a senior. He’s second on Kentucky’s all-time scoring checklist with 2,080 factors, sixth on the all-time rebounding checklist with 942 boards and seventeenth with 122 blocked photographs. He’s additionally UK’s all-time chief with 550 made free throws and shot 75.0 % from the road. Famously nicknamed “Sky” Walker, he went No. 5 general within the 1986 draft and later gained the 1989 NBA dunk contest. Walker lives in Lexington and has been a fixture on sports activities speak radio for the previous twenty years. He’s 58 years outdated.

Sean Woods

Quantity: 11

Years: 1989-92

Woods — a 6-2 guard from Indianapolis — was considered one of 4 “Unforgettables” for Kentucky basketball, the gamers that caught with this system by means of two years of probation stemming from a scandal within the Eighties and helped revitalize the Wildcats in the beginning of the Rick Pitino period. Woods scored 794 factors in his three-year profession and dished out 482 assists (fifth in UK historical past) as a ground chief for these early Pitino groups. His unbelievable shot to offer the Cats a one-point lead over Duke with 2.1 seconds left within the 1992 Elite Eight sport is likely one of the most memorable in program historical past. Woods has been a school coach for the previous twenty years and is at the moment the head coach at Southern University. He’s 52 years outdated.

Deron Feldhaus

Quantity: 12

Years: 1988-92

Feldhaus — a 6-7 ahead from Maysville — is the son of former UK participant Allen Feldhaus and was a highschool standout at Mason County earlier than coming to Lexington. Feldhaus began 27 video games as a sophomore and was successfully the sixth man for the “Unforgettables,” primarily coming off the bench in his final two seasons. Feldhaus completed with 1,232 factors (thirty seventh all-time) and was a 37.5-percent three-point shooter at Kentucky. He’s 54 years outdated and final 12 months joined the Mason County basketball staff as an assistant coach.

John Pelphrey

Quantity: 34

Years: 1988-92

Pelphrey — a 6-7 ahead from Paintsville — was Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball in 1987 and have become the main scorer of the 4 “Unforgettables” — tallying 1,257 factors over his 4 seasons. Pelphrey was an All-SEC first-team choice and led the Wildcats in scoring as a junior. He’s additionally thirteenth on Kentucky’s checklist of assists leaders with 327 for his profession. Pelphrey averaged 19.0 factors per sport and went 26-for-41 from the sector (making all 15 of his free-throw makes an attempt) throughout Kentucky’s 1992 NCAA Event run. He was an assistant coach underneath Billy Donovan for eight seasons and was head coach at South Alabama and Arkansas after that. Pelphrey is 54 years outdated and at the moment in his fourth season as head coach at Tennessee Tech.

Richie Farmer

Quantity: 32

Years: 1988-92

Farmer — a 6-0 guard from Manchester, Ky. — is a Kentucky basketball people hero. He was a highschool sensation for Clay County, beating Ballard within the 1987 Candy Sixteen title sport earlier than shedding to the Louisville college with the 1988 state championship on the road. Farmer was named the Candy Sixteen MVP each years and was Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball in 1988. He was a key participant over his remaining three seasons with the Wildcats — and a significant fan favourite all through his profession — ending with 898 profession factors. Farmer was later the state’s agriculture commissioner for eight years. He’s 53 years outdated.

Jamal Mashburn

Quantity: 24

Years: 1990-93

Mashburn — a 6-8 ahead from Bronx, N.Y. — is likely one of the most celebrated gamers in program historical past. The highest highschool participant in New York in 1990, he was a coveted nationwide recruit and the primary main dedication within the Pitino period. He later led a renaissance of Kentucky basketball and helped this system rapidly get better from probation, cementing his legacy as one of many Wildcats’ saviors at that pivotal level within the early Nineteen Nineties. Mashburn had 28 factors and 10 rebounds towards Duke within the 1992 Elite Eight sport, main the Cats in scoring and rebounding as a sophomore that season. He was SEC participant of the 12 months and a consensus first-team All-American as a junior, main Kentucky to the Last 4, this system’s first in 9 years.

“Monster Mash” is sixth on UK’s all-time scoring checklist with 1,843 factors and second-highest on that checklist behind Issel amongst gamers who performed fewer than 4 seasons. Mashburn was the No. 4 choose as an early entry within the 1994 NBA Draft and spent 12 years within the league, making the All-Star crew for the primary and solely time throughout his Tenth season. He turned a extremely profitable businessman after his enjoying profession and has additionally labored as a basketball broadcaster. He’s 50 years outdated.

Tony Delk

Quantity: 00

Years: 1992-96

Delk — a 6-1 guard from Brownsville, Tenn. — was a McDonald’s All-American in 1992 and a job participant on UK’s 1993 Last 4 crew as a freshman earlier than main the Wildcats in scoring over every of the following three seasons. As a senior, Delk was a consensus first-team All-American and in the end earned the Last 4 most excellent participant honor after main Kentucky to the 1996 nationwide championship, the varsity’s first NCAA title in 18 years. In his remaining sport as a UK participant, Delk made seven three-pointers and scored 24 factors to raise Kentucky previous Syracuse for the championship. He’s fifth in program historical past with 1,890 factors and is the varsity’s all-time chief with 283 made threes, a 39.8 % shooter from lengthy vary. He’s second (behind Wayne Turner) on the UK all-time steals checklist with 201.

Delk was the No. 16 choose within the 1996 NBA Draft and performed 10 years within the league. He’s been lively in basketball since his enjoying profession ended, working as a coach, an analyst and an NBA scout. Delk turned 49 years outdated on Jan. 28 and is the latest UK participant to have a jersey retired within the Rupp Area rafters.

Different Kentucky greats

Six different banners are hanging from the Rupp Area rafters to honor figures from Kentucky basketball’s previous.

Each former UK head coach who led the Wildcats to a nationwide championship is acknowledged: Adolph Rupp (1930-72), Joe B. Corridor (1972-85), Rick Pitino (1989-97) and Tubby Smith (1997-2007). Rupp gained 4 nationwide titles throughout his 42 seasons at Kentucky and is seen because the architect of UK basketball. The opposite three head coaches gained one NCAA championship apiece (and Corridor was an assistant coach underneath Rupp for seven seasons, whereas Smith was an assistant underneath Pitino for 2 years).

Subsequent in line is a banner honoring Invoice Keightley, who began working as an gear supervisor for the Wildcats in 1962 and held that place till his dying in March 2008. Keightley — generally known as “Mr. Wildcat” — was a beloved determine for Kentucky basketball followers and have become a face of this system throughout completely different eras, working underneath each head coach from Rupp to Billy Gillispie.

And the ultimate banner hanging in Rupp honors Cawood Ledford, the Harlan native who began calling UK video games on the radio in 1953 and continued to take action till his retirement in 1992. Ledford was the voice of the Wildcats for generations of Kentucky followers, one of the crucial revered figures within the historical past of this system and a nationally revered broadcaster. He handed away in 2001.

Cotton Nash, once a Kentucky basketball ‘rock star,’ dies at age 80