Former Kentucky center Karl-Anthony Towns’ mother Jackie Cruz dies of complications of coronavirus
By Keith Taylor
Kentucky Today
Jackie Cruz battled the coronavirus for more than a month and died because of complications from COVID-19 Monday.
“The Towns family is heartbroken by the untimely passing of Jacqueline due to complications as a result of COVID-19,” a family spokesman said. “Jackie, as she was affectionately known among family and friends, had been battling the virus for more than...
Possible matchup featuring ex-UK basketball stars and NBA super team in the works
By Keith Taylor
Kentucky Today
Could a team of former Kentucky players beat an NBA super team? That lingering question could be answered in the very near future.
During an appearance on Kentucky Sports Radio last week, DeWayne Peevy, deputy director of athletics at the University of Kentucky, said he’s trying to make such an encounter happen in an effort to settle the debate.
Karl-Anthony Towns...
Leading the Way: Nine former Wildcats participating in NBA All-Star Weekend showcase
The Kentucky men’s basketball team will make its annual presence felt at NBA All-Star weekend in New Orleans with nine Wildcats participating the league’s showcase of talent.
Headlined by three NBA All-Stars, more alumni than any other school, UK will touch nearly every part of All-Star weekend.
The main event will be Sunday night at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans for the All-Star Game....
Jamie Vaught: Following in some giant footsteps, Bam’s UK career off to a solid start
Post man Edrice “Bam” Adebayo certainly has big shoes to fill at Kentucky.
He has to follow John Calipari’s superstar big men at Kentucky such as DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns from the past. That’s if he wants to be considered a success.
While the 6-10, 260-pound freshman standout hasn’t gotten as much attention as the two UK high-flying rookie stars De’Aaron Fox...
DanceBlue among organizations benefitting from Coach Calipari’s Celebrity Softball Classic
The Coach Cal Celebrity Softball Classic will benefit a number of organizations through The Calipari Foundation, but now there’s another opportunity to aid in a great cause.
In conjunction with DanceBlue, tickets are now being offered at $5. DanceBlue will receive $1 for every ticket purchased when you use the code “DANCEBLUE” at your time of purchase.
The Lexington Legends have partnered with...
Former UK stars Towns, Noel, Macy to compete in inaugural Coach Cal Celebrity Softball Classic
The Lexington Legends have partnered with John Calipari and the John Calipari Basketball Fantasy Experience for the inaugural Coach Cal Celebrity Softball Classic, which will take place Aug. 28 at Whitaker Bank Ballpark in Lexington.
Gates will open at 4:30 p.m. with the celebrity softball home run derby at 5:30 p.m. First pitch for the celebrity softball game will be at 6 p.m.
Karl-Anthony Towns...
Calipari, former UK standout Towns to host first Rookie of the Year camp Aug. 3
Kentucky coach John Calipari and Karl-Anthony Towns will host a Rookie of the Year Camp Aug. 3 in Lexington.
The duo will team up for a camp broken up into two sessions. The first session begins at 8:30 a.m. and will last for 3.5 hours. The second session is slated to start at 1:30 p.m. for the same 3.5 hour duration. Boys and girls ages 7-17 are eligible for the camp.
Karl-Anthony Towns will host...
Towns becomes first former Wildcat to earn NBA Rookie of the Year honors; choice was unanimous
Succeed and proceed. From NCAA All-American to NBA Rookie of the Year, former Kentucky men’s basketball player Karl-Anthony Towns has become another beacon of head coach John Calipari’s players-first program.
Towns was honored as the league’s best rookie on Monday, becoming the first former Wildcat to earn the distinction. Towns is the fifth-ever and the first unanimous Rookie of the Year since...
Keith Taylor: Future UK guard Fox impresses at Hoop Summit; former Wildcat Booker on fire for Suns
Two future Kentucky Wildcats — De’Aaron Fox and Wenyen Gabriel — participated in the Nike Hoop Summit last weekend and helped lead the United States to a 101-67 win over the World Select team.
Fox, who likely will take over at point guard for John Calipari’s Wildcats next season, scored nine points and dished out a team-high five assists. He also collected a pair of steals and played...
Jamie Vaught: Versatile UK freshman Labissiere hard to compare to other Wildcat big men
Even though he didn’t play well against a tough Duke team in Chicago Tuesday night because of foul trouble, getting only seven points and four rebounds in 13 minutes, UK’s Skal Labissiere is still going to be one of the nation’s most exciting big men in college basketball this season.
After watching the 6-foot-11, 225-pound freshman from Haiti play a couple of games in person at Rupp...
Opening day NBA rosters include total of 21 of Calipari’s former Wildcats, including five rookies
The Kentucky men’s basketball team, the nation’s most prolific NBA player-producing program, once again leads the country by placing 21 players opening-day NBA rosters.
Of the 446 players in the NBA to start the 2015-16 season, approximately 4.7 percent played college basketball at Kentucky. Other than Kansas, which has 19, no other college basketball school comes within three players of UK as...
Sports Notes: Cost of attendance stipend welcomed, but few think it changes minds
UK coach Mark Stoops says student-athletes will see their quality of life improve thanks to cost of attendance stipends (Jon Hale Photo)
Later this month, NCAA Division I scholarship athletes will find a little something extra in their bank accounts.
In addition to their allotted scholarship money, they will get a “cost of attendance” stipend. That amount will vary from school...
Pick Six: Half dozen Wildcats go in NBA Draft, Towns taken with first overall pick
Karl-Anthony Towns was the third Kentucky player to be selected with the first overall pick (UK Athletics Photo by Barry Williams)
By Jonathan Coffman
KyForward intern
A record-tying six former Kentucky players were selected in the NBA Draft Thursday night, including the first overall pick, Karl-Anthony Towns, by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Kentucky held the previous record of...
Former Wildcats stock could be impacted
by a blockbuster trade prior to NBA Draft
Seven Kentucky players declared for the NBA Draft following the NCAA Tournament (UK Athletics)
By Jonathan Coffman
KyForward intern
Seven Kentucky players will wait to hear their names called during the NBA Draft Thursday night, and their anticipation could not be higher following trade speculation that may impact their stock.
Rumors of the Los Angeles Lakers “aggressively”...
Former Wildcats stock could be impacted by a blockbuster deal prior to upcoming NBA Draft
Seven Kentucky players declared for the NBA Draft following the NCAA Tournament (UK Athletics)
By Jonathan Coffman
KyForward intern
Seven Kentucky players will wait to hear their names called during the NBA Draft Thursday night, and their anticipation could not be higher following trade speculation that may impact their stock.
Rumors of the Los Angeles Lakers “aggressively”...
Welcome to the BBNBA: Kentucky rookies could join former Wildcats through draft
Willie Cauley-Stein, Andrew Harrison, Trey Lyles, Dakari Johnson, Devin Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns and Aaron Harrison declared for the NBA Draft April 9. (Photo by UK Athletics)
By Jonathan Coffman
KyForward intern
When John Calipari arrived as head coach of Kentucky in 2009, he came with a reputation for quickly developing future NBA superstars. But few expected there would soon be multiple...
Sports Notes: Murray State sharpshooter Payne has prominent position in NBA Draft
Cameron Payne, the OVC Player of the Year, is seen by many experts as a lock to be taken in the first round of the NBA Draft (MSU Athletics Photo)
While Kentucky basketball fans continue to speculate about the upcoming NBA Draft and where their favorite former Wildcats may wind up, a couple of other players with Bluegrass ties figure prominently in most mock predictions.
According to...
