Kentucky Basketball: Players Who Need to Have Their Jerseys Retired In Rupp
The most historic college basketball program, the University of Kentucky Wildcats, has a tradition of retiring jerseys and displaying them in the rafters of Rupp Arena, the home of the Wildcats. 42 individuals are recognized in this honor of bringing an outstanding contribution to the Kentucky basketball program, starting with Basil Hayden, who graduated in 1922, to Rick Pitino, who left Kentucky after the 1997 season.
The last player to be recognized was Jamal Mashburn, who left in 1993.
Since then, Kentucky has won two National Championships, and yet, no one from those teams are represented in the rafters of Rupp Arena.
Here, we will go through the history of Kentucky Basketball since Jamal Mashburn left and discuss who should have their jerseys retired along with other Kentucky greats.
It is described as someone who had an outstanding contribution to the Kentucky basketball program. I think you'll see that these players have met that criteria.
We will look at the players starting from 1993 and on. The first player will be Tony Delk; the last player will be John Wall. This does not mean that John Wall is better than Tony Delk or vice versa. That debate can be settled later.
All my stats are from Jon Scott's Kentucky Statstics Project.
Tony Delk
1 of 13
1993-94: All-SEC [Second Team (Coaches) Third Team (AP)]; All-SEC Tournament
1994-95: All- NCAA Regional Team; All-SEC [First Team (AP and Coaches)]
1995-96: All-American [Consensus (first), AP (second), UPI (first), NABC (second), USBWA (first), Sporting News (second), Basketball Times (second), Wooden (first)]; NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player; NCAA Regional Most Outstanding Player; SEC Player of the Year [Associated Press and Coaches] ; All-SEC [First Team (AP and Coaches)]
Post-UK Career Notes:
Drafted No. 16 Overall in the First Round of the 1996 NBA Draft by Charlotte
Most of us remember Tony Delk hitting seven three pointers in the 1996 National Championship game. Tony also was the first star at player since Jamal Mashburn left. Jamal Mashburn brought Kentucky out of the probation period, but Tony Delk took the torch and brought Kentucky back to the heights of the best college basketball team in the country. There were other players that are loved and remembered by all Kentucky fans; for example, Travis Ford.
But Travis didn't take us to win the National Championship game, Tony Delk did.
| Year | Points Per Game | Rebounds Per Game | Assists Per Game | Steals Per Game | Minutes Per Game |
| Freshman | 4.53 | 1.90 | 0.73 | 0.57 | 9.57 |
| Sophomore | 16.59 | 4.50 | 1.74 | 1.88 | 28.53 |
| Junior | 16.70 | 3.33 | 1.97 | 1.61 | 29.09 |
| Senior | 17.75 | 4.17 | 1.78 | 1.86 | 26.31 |
| Total | 14.21 | 3.53 | 1.58 | 1.51 | 23.79
|
Antoine Walker
2 of 13
Declared Early for NBA Draft after Sophomore Season
Left for Professional Basketball after Sophomore Season for NBA
Season Notes:
1994-95: SEC Tournament MVP
1995-96: All- NCAA Regional Team; All-SEC [First Team (AP and Coaches)]; All-SEC Tournament
Post-UK Career Notes:
Drafted No. 6 Overall in the First Round of the 1996 NBA Draft by Boston
Only stayed two years, but looking back, that's an eternity for quality basketball players in college. Left after winning a championship to go to make a lot of money in the pros, but losing it all to debts that he couldn't pay.
| Year | Points Per Game | Rebounds Per Game | Assists Per Game | Steals Per Game | Minutes Per Game |
| Freshman | 7.85 | 4.48 | 1.42 | 0.85 | 14.52 |
| Sophomore | 15.19 | 8.39 | 2.89 | 1.69 | 26.97 |
| Total | 11.68 | 6.52 | 2.19 | 1.29 | 21.01 |
Ron Mercer
3 of 13
Season Notes:
1995-96: All-NCAA Final Four Team; All-SEC Freshman Team
1996-97: All-American [Consensus (First), AP (First), Sporting News (Second), NABC (First), USBWA (First), Basketball Times (Second), Wooden (First)]; All-NCAA Final Four Team; NCAA Regional Most Outstanding Player; SEC Player of the Year [Associated Press and Coaches] ; All-SEC [First Team (AP and Coaches)]; SEC Tournament MVP
Post-UK Career Notes:
Drafted No. 6 Overall in the First Round of the 1997 NBA Draft by Boston
Came into a team that was picked to win the National Championship as a freshman and instantly impressed everybody. First player for Rick Pitino to start as a freshman. Back then, that was saying something.
In his sophomore season, he led the Wildcats to the national championship game, averaging 18 points in 32 minutes a game. Had Kobe Byrant gone to Kentucky Rick Pitino later said Kobe would not have started because he would have been behind Ron Mercer and Derek Anderson.
| Year | Points Per Game | Rebounds Per Game | Assists Per Game | Steals Per Game | Minutes Per Game |
| Freshman | 8.00 | 2.89 | 1.39 | 0.94 | 18.81 |
| Sophomore | 18.13 | 5.25 | 2.43 | 1.65 | 32.48 |
| Total | 13.33 | 4.13 | 1.93 | 1.32 | 26.00 |
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Derek Anderson
4 of 13
1995-96: All- NCAA Regional Team
1996-97: All-SEC [Second Team (Coaches) Third Team (AP)]; (Missed last half of season due to knee)
Post-UK Career Notes:
Drafted No. 13 Overall in the First Round of the 1997 NBA Draft by Cleveland
Every Kentucky fan says we would have won the 1997 NCAA Championship had Derek Anderson played. He was hurt, and prior to the game, the doctor said he could play. Rick Pitino asked if playing against Arizona could jeopardize his NBA career. The doctor said yes, and Derek didn't play.
| Year | Points Per Game | Rebounds Per Game | Assists Per Game | Steals Per Game | Minutes Per Game |
| Freshman | 9.36 | 3.39 | 2.44 | 1.69 | 19.47 |
| Sophomore | 17.74 | 4.05 | 3.53 | 1.95 | 25.26 |
| Total | 12.25 | 3.62 | 2.82 | 1.78 | 21.47 |
Jeff Sheppard
5 of 13
1994-95: Academic All-SEC
1996-97: (Did not play - redshirt)
1997-98: NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player; All- NCAA Regional Team; All-SEC [Third Team (AP)]
Didn't really emerge until the 1997-98 season. Had several great players in front of him, including the two players in the previous two slides. Jeff Sheppard would not have been on the 1997-98 team had he not been red shirted the year before by Rick Pitino in what would have been his senior season.
You may ask, how can a player who only played significant minutes his senior year be included with these other great Kentucky Basketball players? He was the most valuable player on a National Championship team. That is an outstanding contribution to the Kentucky basketball program.
| Year | Points Per Game | Rebounds Per Game | Assists Per Game | Steals Per Game | Minutes Per Game |
| Freshman | 3.15 | 0.71 | 0.88 | 0.50 | 7.59 |
| Sophomore | 8.33 | 2.27 | 2.70 | 1.36 | 22.67 |
| Junior | 5.53 | 2.06 | 1.91 | 0.47 | 12.76 |
| Senior | 13.71 | 3.97 | 2.74 | 1.24 | 28.00 |
| Total | 7.85 | 2.30 | 2.07 | 0.90 | 18.02 |
Wayne Turner
6 of 13
1996-97: All- NCAA Regional Team
1997-98: NCAA Regional Most Outstanding Player; SEC Tournament MVP
1998-99: All-SEC [Third Team (Coaches)]; All-SEC Tournament
Wayne Turner played more games than any other Kentucky basketball player. This was due to the three consecutive trips to the National Championship game. He was point guard for the 1998 championship team. A play that seemed to be unstoppable was Wayne Turner driving into the lane then kicking it back out to a streaking Jeff Sheppard. It seems simple, yet it always worked.
| Year | Points Per Game | Rebounds Per Game | Assists Per Game | Steals Per Game | Minutes Per Game |
| Freshman | 4.46 | 1.49 | 1.60 | 1.14 | 13.11 |
| Sophomore | 6.60 | 2.68 | 3.00 | 1.98 | 22.70 |
| Junior | 9.28 | 3.05 | 4.44 | 1.59 | 28.15 |
| Senior | 10.49 | 2.78 | 3.92 | 1.54 | 28.73 |
| Total | 7.75 | 2.52 | 3.27 | 1.58 | 23.36 |
Scott Padgett
7 of 13
1996-97: All-NCAA Final Four Team; (Missed first half of season due to academic probation)
1997-98: All-American [Wooden (First)]; All-NCAA Final Four Team; All- NCAA Regional Team; All-SEC [Second Team (Coaches) Third Team (AP)]; All-SEC Tournament; Academic All-SEC
1998-99: All- NCAA Regional Team; All-SEC [First Team (Coaches) Second Team (AP)]; SEC Tournament MVP; Academic All-SEC
Post-UK Career Notes:
Drafted No. 28 Overall in the First Round of the 1999 NBA Draft by Utah
As a kid growing up, his dream was to one day play for the Kentucky Wildcats. He achieved that dream and was a part of two national championship teams. He also was a key to the Arizona Wildcats game plan against Kentucky in the 1997 Championship game. They constantly set picks to match up Scott to guard Mike Bibby. He played a significant role in the 1998 Championship team, which gives him the honor of having his jerseys retired.
| Year | Points Per Game | Rebounds Per Game | Assists Per Game | Steals Per Game | Minutes Per Game |
| Freshman | 2.00 | 1.21 | 0.29 | 0.21 | 4.07 |
| Sophomore | 9.63 | 5.06 | 1.75 | 1.50 | 23.72 |
| Junior | 11.51 | 6.54 | 2.10 | 1.26 | 27.92 |
| Senior | 12.62 | 5.86 | 2.59 | 1.27 | 29.05 |
| Total | 10.26 | 5.34 | 1.95 | 1.20 | 24.43 |
Tayshaun Prince
8 of 13
Season Notes:
1999-00: All-SEC [Second Team (Coaches)]
2000-01: All-American [Consensus (Second), AP (Second), Wooden, NABC (Thirrd), USBWA (Second), Sporting News (Second), Basketball Times (Second)]; SEC Player of the Year [Associated Press and Coaches] ; All-SEC [First Team (AP and Coaches)]; SEC Tournament MVP
2001-02: All-American [AP (third), NABC second)]; All- NCAA Regional Team; All-SEC [First Team (AP and Coaches)]
Post-UK Career Notes:
Drafted No. 23 Overall in the First Round of the 2002 NBA Draft by Detroit
Tayshaun Prince was the first star recruit for Tubby Smith. He led a talented and successful Kentucky team, but never made it to a championship game.
There are several Kentucky players who have their jerseys retired that didn't make a championship game, and no other players on this list from here on out has played in a championship game. Just reminding you that playing in a championship game doesn't keep you off the historic list.
Later in the NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons drafted Darko Milicic instead of drafting Carmelo Anthony because they already had Tayshaun Prince.
| Year | Points Per Game | Rebounds Per Game | Assists Per Game | Steals Per Game | Minutes Per Game |
| Freshman | 5.78 | 3.84 | 1.22 | 0.68 | 20.19 |
| Sophomore | 13.31 | 6.00 | 1.81 | 0.84 | 33.97 |
| Junior | 16.91 | 6.50 | 2.91 | 0.71 | 32.82 |
| Senior | 17.50 | 6.38 | 1.66 | 1.09 | 33.31 |
| Total | 13.15 | 5.62 | 1.89 | 0.82 | 29.75 |
Keith Bogans
9 of 13
1999-00: All-SEC Freshman Team
2000-01: All-SEC [Second Team (AP and Coaches)]; All-SEC Tournament
2001-02: (Declared for NBA Draft after season, returned to school)
2002-03: All-American [AP (Third), NABC (Second), Sporting News (Third), Basketball Times (Third)]; All- NCAA Regional Team; SEC Player of the Year [Coaches] ; All-SEC [First Team (AP and Coaches)]; SEC Tournament MVP
Post-UK Career Notes:
Drafted No. 43 Overall in the Second Round of the 2003 NBA Draft by Milwaukee
Looked like Deebo from the Friday movies, which always gives you points. Was the star player on the first two overall number one seeds in the NCAA tournament history. His last season, he was a part of a team that won 26 games in a role before losing to DeWayne Wade and the Marquette Eagles.
| Year | Points Per Game | Rebounds Per Game | Assists Per Game | Steals Per Game | Minutes Per Game |
| Freshman | 12.45 | 3.61 | 1.73 | 1.42 | 27.79 |
| Sophomore | 16.97 | 4.65 | 2.35 | 1.03 | 30.91 |
| Junior | 11.59 | 4.31 | 2.47 | 0.97 | 27.47 |
| Senior | 15.67 | 3.83 | 2.72 | 1.17 | 29.61 |
| Total | 14.24 | 4.10 | 2.33 | 1.15 | 28.99 |
Chuck Hayes
10 of 13
2001-02: All-SEC Freshman Team
2003-04: All-SEC [Second Team (Coaches) Third Team (AP)]; All-SEC Tournament
2004-05: All- NCAA Regional Team; All-SEC [First Team (AP and Coaches)]
May be one of the most beloved Kentucky Wildcats of all-time. He was an undersized big man who always hustled and never quit. He was a rebounding machine when he was only six feet six inches tall. That hustle and desire to get to the ball was what made Kentucky fans love him. He never made it to the final four but got to the elite eight twice before falling to Dwyane Wade and Marquette, and also Michigan State in an overtime thriller.
| Year | Points Per Game | Rebounds Per Game | Assists Per Game | Steals Per Game | Minutes Per Game |
| Freshman | 5.88 | 4.47 | 1.00 | 0.75 | 16.66 |
| Sophomore | 8.61 | 6.78 | 2.33 | 1.17 | 27.69 |
| Junior | 10.69 | 8.13 | 3.03 | 1.28 | 30.97 |
| Senior | 10.91 | 7.74 | 2.26 | 1.82 | 29.26 |
| Total | 9.04 | 6.79 | 2.16 | 1.26 | 26.24 |
Patrick Patterson
11 of 13
2007-08: All-SEC [Second Team (AP and Coaches)]; All-SEC Freshman Team; (Injured late in season (stress fracture))
2008-09: All-SEC [First Team (Coaches) Second Team (AP)]; (Declared for NBA Draft after season, returned to school)
2009-10: All-SEC [First Team (Coaches) Second Team (AP)]
Post-UK Career Notes:
Drafted No. 14 Overall in the First Round of the 2010 NBA Draft by Houston
When he was being recruited, Tubby Smith had just left for Minnesota. The Kentucky Basketball program was seemingly in a downward spiral with no real star recruits coming to Lexington. Billy Gillespie came in and continued recruiting Patrick. When he finally declared on the last day, men were saying they were crying over the signage. He was the only bright spot in his first two years at Kentucky. His final season included a new coach with new players and a trip to the elite eight.
| Year | Points Per Game | Rebounds Per Game | Assists Per Game | Steals Per Game | Minutes Per Game |
| Freshman | 16.44 | 7.68 | 1.72 | 0.84 | 35.72 |
| Sophomore | 17.91 | 9.29 | 1.94 | 0.62 | 33.59 |
| Junior | 14.32 | 7.45 | 0.95 | 0.71 | 33.03 |
| Total | 16.12 | 8.15 | 1.49 | 0.71 | 33.92 |
Demarcus Cousins
12 of 13
Season Notes:
2009-10: All-American [CBSSports.com (first), Fox Sports (first), Yahoo! Sports (first), Sporting News (second), USBWA (second)]; All- NCAA Regional Team; All-SEC [First Team (AP and Coaches)]; All-SEC Tournament; All-SEC Freshman Team
Post-UK Career Notes:
Drafted No. 5 Overall in the First Round of the 2010 NBA Draft by Sacramento
The most talented player in the number one overall recruiting class brought in by first year coach John Calipari. The problem with him was his head. If he stayed cool and stayed in the game, he was unstoppable. He was a key component to leading the Kentucky Wildcats getting back to the elite eight but also a key component to bringing Kentucky back to the power house Kentucky once was. Just like Tony Delk and Antoine Walker brought Kentucky back to National Championship contenders, Demarcus Cousins and John Wall did the same thing.
| Year | Points Per Game | Rebounds Per Game | Assists Per Game | Steals Per Game | Minutes Per Game |
| Freshman | 15.13 | 9.87 | 1.00 | 0.97 | 23.50 |
| Total | 15.13 | 9.87 | 1.00 | 0.97 | 23.50 |
John Wall
13 of 13
Season Notes:
2009-10: National Player of the Year [Rupp, Yahoo! Sports]; All-American [CBSSports.com (first), Fox Sports (first), Sporting News (first), USBWA (first), Yahoo! Sports (first)]; All- NCAA Regional Team; SEC Player of the Year [AP and Coaches] ; All-SEC [First Team (AP and Coaches)]; SEC Tournament MVP; All-SEC Freshman Team
Post-UK Career Notes:
Drafted No. 1 Overall in the First Round of the 2010 NBA Draft by Washington
John Wall is Tony Delk 2.0 but better. The only difference is in today's college basketball world, you don't stick around any longer than you have to. But even in his only year if you were to choose any former Kentucky point guard to play a two on two pick up game with you, everyone would choose John Wall to be on their team. Like I said in the previous slide, his and Demarcus' contribution to the Kentucky basketball program was astronomical, and thus, they deserve to have their jerseys retired.
| Year | Points Per Game | Rebounds Per Game | Assists Per Game | Steals Per Game | Minutes Per Game |
| Freshman | 16.65 | 4.30 | 6.51 | 1.78 | 34.81 |
| Total | 16.65 | 4.30 | 6.51 | 1.78 | 34.81 |
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.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
