First UK player you remember that you liked?

[KentuckyCat420]

Ron Mercer.

This.

Was my first UK jersey, I made my dad take it to the local print shop and have Mercer put on the back because I hated that his name wasn’t on it.

And yes, I still have that jersey.

 

[BlueRunner11]

Probably Roger Harden. Rex was the first player I followed a ton. I was 10 when he started at UK.

Prob close to the same age. Was a big Harden fan as a kid. Loved Rex as a kid too til I asked him for an autograph at the S16 one year and he basically told me to eff off.

 

[coachcombs57]

Gotta go with Antoine Walker. Why I collect his cards. Up over 230 now

 

[rick64]

Jay Shidler

 

[Blueaz]

Prob close to the same age. Was a big Harden fan as a kid. Loved Rex as a kid too til I asked him for an autograph at the S16 one year and he basically told me to eff off.

That sounds like Rex (it’s only because he was so mistreated in those two years)

 

[blue woman]

Vern Hatton and johnny cox---saw both win Kentucky sweet 16 titles, and then beat Seattle/Baylor in 1958 for the "Fiddling five"

rr

 

[HagginHall1999]

Mashburn...started really following Cats in '91-'92.

Rex should probably count as the first but I hardly remember much, just seeing him periodically....I was like 6 or 7 at the time.

 

[HagginHall1999]

Vern Hatton and johnny cox---saw both win Kentucky sweet 16 titles, and then beat Seattle/Baylor in 1958 for the "Fiddling five"

rr

That's awesome!

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

Mine was Larry Johnson. My all time favorite would have to Goose Givens. So smooth. That lefty jumper was pure.

Goose but really like, Macy.

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

Mashburn...started really following Cats in '91-'92.

Rex should probably count as the first but I hardly remember much, just seeing him periodically....I was like 6 or 7 at the time.

I sure remember him. That first impression at midnight madness 1986 was epic. The place was packed before 10 and Rex put on a show. You're making me feel really old.

 

[ArcadiaFan]

Gimel Martinez. He was the second basketball player I remember, right after Larry Bird.

 

[YouKay]

Cotton Nash.

Same. But later I told everyone I was going to marry Louie Dampier.

 

[clevenger32]

Cotton Nash

 

[bluefaithful]

Gettlefinger.
Jk, jk
Robey

Nothing wrong with Butterfinger
"The Human Victory Cigar."
along with Bo Lanter




Chris surprisingly was 10 out of 16 from the field
For 62.5% lifetime shooter
Bet they never played in a loss.
1977~78 was my first game at Rupp
I saw them beat Magic in Mideast Reguonal Finals
Great Great Great Team
Jay Shidler was my favorite but he already blew out his knee

 

[megablue]

Cotton Nash

 

[zannmann]

Kyle Macy was my first, but my favorite is a tie between Sky Walker and Monster Mash.

 

[drew_ukfan]

Is it his first or last name that’s similar.

Both. My given name is Pcott Sadgett

 

[UK_fan_41102]

Kenny "Sky" Walker. Great player with a great nickname.

 

[BlueSince92]

Reggie Hanson. All suave and when Rick would have him bring it up against the press he was like our own little low-rent miniMagic.

 

[precipitance]

Charles Hurt. First game I remember watching had this massive dude in it. I was just a boy and he looked like he could whip the entire planet by himself.

 

[drcats2013]

Scott Padgett. His last name is similar to mine and I thought he was the coolest

Drew Fadgett, right?

 

[Jazzycat]

Louie Dampier first and then, Kyle Macy…..

 

[westerncat]

Larry Parker

 

[wmarkedwards]

Gimel Martinez, end of thread, I win

 

[Gromcat]

He explicitly said “last name.”

What does explicitly mean?

 

[Cawood86]

Nothing wrong with Butterfinger
"The Human Victory Cigar."
along with Bo Lanter




Chris surprisingly was 10 out of 16 from the field
For 62.5% lifetime shooter
Bet they never played in a loss.
1977~78 was my first game at Rupp
I saw them beat Magic in Mideast Reguonal Finals
Great Great Great Team
Jay Shidler was my favorite but he already blew out his knee

There's my man Larry Johnson and Goose

Thanks for that picture

 

[UKhoopCat]

Thad Jaracz…plus we share the same birthday.

 

[CB3UK]

Richie Farmer and Gimel Martinez. Both for their glorious mustaches.

 

[ALL4UK]

Kevin Grevey then Jack Givens shortly thereafter.

 

[TNCatfanforever]

Mine was Larry Johnson. My all time favorite would have to Goose Givens. So smooth. That lefty jumper was pure.

Louie Dampier

 

[MrHotDice]

Mine was Larry Johnson. My all time favorite would have to Goose Givens. So smooth. That lefty jumper was pure.

Cotton Nash

 

[yes_takeaside]

Bob Burrow

 

[mfritzg1]

Bob Burrow

Vernon Hatton and Johnny Cox

 

[mfritzg1]

Vernon Hatton and Johny Cox

 

[ORCAT]

Cotton Nash though he was well before my time. But, a guy called Cotton, how could you not like him? I kid, he was a great player and athlete from what I have learned.

 

[RVCAT84]

Travis Ford/Jamal Mashburn simultaneously as my first experience with Kentucky was following that '93 team as a boy.

I was heartbroken when they came up short against Michigan.

This. My first UK memory is the Duke game in '92, but '93 is the first season I remember following closely. It still is one of my favorite seasons.

 

[bfawns]

Vern Hatton and johnny cox---saw both win Kentucky sweet 16 titles, and then beat Seattle/Baylor in 1958 for the "Fiddling five"

rr

I really started listening to Caywood in 1957 so I heard a lot of their games. Hatton and Cox were great!

 

[ArtLaibsGhost]

My first UK hero was Dan Issel. He could dominate a game on both ends of the floor The only UK player I have seen since that could even come. Close to him was Jamal Mashburn

 

[sluggercatfan]

Mine was Larry Johnson. My all time favorite would have to Goose Givens. So smooth. That lefty jumper was pure.

Cotton...

 

[Shadow1671]

The first player I ever remember noticing was Jim Master. I was just a kid but I remember him hitting the shot against Louisville in the "Dream Game" to send it to overtime and my Dad going ape shit over it. That one didn't turn out that well but that's probably the first game I ever remember. So Jim Master was one of my first favorites...

However, my first favorite player was actually Roger Harden. I liked him a lot because back in the day, he was a good shooter and I thought he had cool hair. I also attended his basketball camp at the Lexington Ice Center and remember three distinct things about it. #1) Roger wasn't there the whole time, so his brother filled in for him a lot. His brother looked A LOT like him but had darker hair. #2) Roger was very nice when he was there and I remember thinking that was cool because he was one of my heroes because he was on TV. #3) Roger showed up in some Janky ass Pinto or something and that confused me because I thought everyone that was on TV must be rich. LOL

I'm going with Roger Harden.