Kent Hollenbeck

[arenk]

I was a freshman and sophomore at UK when he played for us in 1971-72. I can recall that he was recovering from a broken foot that had been broken on two occasions in the same place. We were trailing Alabama in Lexington by about 4 points in the first half and Coach Rupp put Kent into his first game after he had apparently recovered from the second break. I believe he came in and hit about 6 or 7 straight shots and then suddenly he was carried off the court after brreaking his foot for the third time. I never heard a word about him after that and have always wondered what became of him. He was a damn good guard and had NBA potential. Does anyone know where he is now, how he's doing, etc? I'd appreciate any information on him.

Thanks in advance.

 

[clevenger32]

He might have gone down as one of the best guards to have ever played at UK. The multiple breaks in his foot ended that. He was on a great Freshman team that had it stayed together could have made another run at a title in Coach Rupp’s last years. You will remember he played a key role in the near comeback in the 1970 Mideast Regional
When Issel, Pratt, and Steele all fouled out vs Jacksonville. Last I saw anything about him he lived in Virginia around Roanoke somewhere.

 

[CatTough]

He was drafted in 10th round 1972.

 

[otis-gip]

I think he lives in FT. Denaud FL near Fort Myers.

 

[2Adulterers]

I think he lives in FT. Denaud FL near Fort Myers.

You are correct

 

[megablue]

He was a very good player, for sure, but I recall him bitching about every foul called on him. Actually, it was kinda funny !! 😎

 

[2Adulterers]

I was his teammate and don’t remember that

 

[clevenger32]

I was his teammate and don’t remember that

Isn’t it your feeling that if Hollenbeck hadn’t had the broken foot issues, and Noll and Soderberg would have stayed that we’d had a shot the last teams Coach Rupp had?

 

[2Adulterers]

Isn’t it your feeling that if Hollenbeck hadn’t had the broken foot issues, and Noll and Soderberg would have stayed that we’d had a shot the last teams Coach Rupp had?

Yes absolutely Kent was in UK Med Center in 1970 with a groin injury and Rupp was also in there Joe Hall left me behind to tend to Coach Rupp he drove me crazy

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Remember how much I enjoyed those teams at that time. Good memory. All those guys was good and fun to follow.

 

[RogCat1119]

I was his teammate and don’t remember that

Teammate?

 

[yoshukai]

He might have gone down as one of the best guards to have ever played at UK. The multiple breaks in his foot ended that. He was on a great Freshman team that had it stayed together could have made another run at a title in Coach Rupp’s last years. You will remember he played a key role in the near comeback in the 1970 Mideast Regional
When Issel, Pratt, and Steele all fouled out vs Jacksonville. Last I saw anything about him he lived in Virginia around Roanoke somewhere.

Do you mind me asking who are the two players in your avatar picture?

 

[Fox2monk]

Do you mind me asking who are the two players in your avatar picture?

Hard to tell kinda looks like Bernard Butts. Maybe 13 is Ned Jennings. Looks kinda taller maybe ED Beck? 13 kinda looks like Rodger Day. These are all guesses based on that Tiny picture tho.

 

[2Adulterers]

Teammate?

Manager

 

[Kybluedude]

Do you mind me asking who are the two players in your avatar picture?

Also- are you any relation to Steve Clevenger #32 who played with Rupp’s Runts?

 

[storm1507]

This was just a little before my time. Thanks for the history.

 

[clevenger32]

Do you mind me asking who are the two players in your avatar picture?

#34 Mike Casey and #13 Phil Argento.

 

[yoshukai]

#34 Mike Casey and #13 Phil Argento.

I’m assuming you knew Mike Casey .He spoke at one of my athletics banquets. He also sold me my class ring .

 

[yoshukai]

Also- are you any relation to Steve Clevenger #32 who played with Rupp’s Runts?

I’ve asked him that before and he said yes . I actually thought he may be Steve . Still wonder really,lol.

 

[2Adulterers]

#34 Mike Casey and #13 Phil Argento.

Casey my roommate

 

[clevenger32]

Pratt said on several occasions over the years and others attributed the statement to Coach Rupp, if he was going to start a team, his first pick would be Mike Casey. He was the complete basketball player. While the terrible car accident ended his brilliant career from an excellence perspective (he was a shell of himself his last year following the accident) NO one will ever convince me that with him for the 69-70 season that we would not have won it all. Casey was simply the best. As much as Pratt Jersey should be in the rafters, so should Mike Casey’s.

 

[2Adulterers]

Pratt said on several occasions over the years and others attributed the statement to Coach Rupp, if he was going to start a team, his first pick would be Mike Casey. He was the complete basketball player. While the terrible car accident ended his brilliant career from an excellence perspective (he was a shell of himself his last year following the accident) NO one will ever convince me that with him for the 69-70 season that we would not have won it all. Casey was simply the best. As much as Pratt Jersey should be in the rafters, so should Mike Casey’s.

Casey was my roommate my Freshman year
He was so competitive in all sports not the
Fastest but he always knew where the ball was coming off the rim
The accident took his speed but not his ability Case as I called him was playing softball and partied too much He wrapped his Camaro around a light pole at the Simpsonville exit on I-64 and was trapped in the car His leg was mangled and he may have died in the wreck
The Waddy Fire Department had just received the Jaws of Life rescue tool and were able to remove Mike from the car
Shelbyvlille had only a clinic so the Hall Taylor (Martha Layne Collins Family )
Funeral Home hearse/ambulance took Casey
To St. Joseph Hospital in LouisvilleCoach Hall called me at 2:00 AM and told me to get a. car and pick up Rupp at his home
There were 2 Kentucky State Troopers waiting to escort us to Louisville
We made it in 35 minutes (we were flying) as KSP had the Interstate cleared Westbound all the way
Adolph was really pissed as we pulled up the
Ambulance/hearse still had its emergency lights on Rupp saw the lettering on the door

“Casey’s dead he moaned” I told him that was the ambulance.He said”he’ll be dead when I get hold of him!”
We waited for Casey to come out of surgery
Seemed like forever
When he came to I remember what he said “
I’m sorry Coach “
Rupp said “ you have cost me the Title Issel and Pratt aren’t enough “
How right he was
Casey took that to the grave with him we lost to Jacksonville beat us with Casey #9
Would have been ours

 

[2Adulterers]

Pratt said on several occasions over the years and others attributed the statement to Coach Rupp, if he was going to start a team, his first pick would be Mike Casey. He was the complete basketball player. While the terrible car accident ended his brilliant career from an excellence perspective (he was a shell of himself his last year following the accident) NO one will ever convince me that with him for the 69-70 season that we would not have won it all. Casey was simply the best. As much as Pratt Jersey should be in the rafters, so should Mike Casey’s.

So true I look for Mitch to add both names ASAP😎😎

 

[clevenger32]

Casey was my roommate my Freshman year
He was so competitive in all sports not the
Fastest but he always knew where the ball was coming off the rim
The accident took his speed but not his ability Case as I called him was playing softball and partied too much He wrapped his Camaro around a light pole at the Simpsonville exit on I-64 and was trapped in the car His leg was mangled and he may have died in the wreck
The Waddy Fire Department had just received the Jaws of Life rescue tool and were able to remove Mike from the car
Shelbyvlille had only a clinic so the Hall Taylor
Funeral Home hearse/ambulance took Casey
To St. Joseph Hospital in LouisvilleCoach Hall called me at 2:00 AM and told me to get a. car and pick up Rupp at his home
There were 2 Kentucky State Troopers waiting to escort us to Louisville
We made it in 35 minutes (we were flying) as KSP had the Interstate cleared Westbound all the way
Adolph was really pissed as we pulled up the
Ambulance/hearse still had its emergency lights on Rupp saw the lettering on the door

“Casey’s dead he moaned” I told him that was the ambulance.He said”he’ll be dead when I get hold of him!”
We waited for Casey to come out of surgery
Seemed like forever
When he came to I remember what he said “
I’m sorry Coach “
Rupp said “ you have cost me the Title Issel and Pratt aren’t enough “
How right he was
Casey took that to the grave with him we lost to Jacksonville beat us with Casey #9
Would have been ours

You made me cry. I was listening to the 10 PM news on 84 WHAS when I heard the news. It was a sad moment. We have all lived with that moment, a burden for #34. Thank you for sharing. It is sad to me that so many on this board didn’t live during the Rupp/Hall era and could understand what Kentucky basketball meant as comparison to today. It was a way of life.

 

[2Adulterers]

You made me cry. I was listening to the 10 PM news on 84 WHAS when I heard the news. It was a sad moment. We have all lived with that moment, a burden for #34. Thank you for sharing. It is sad to me that so many on this board didn’t live during the Rupp/Hall era and could understand what Kentucky basketball meant as comparison to today. It was a way of life.

Part of my life that I never forgot

 

[2Adulterers]

You made me cry. I was listening to the 10 PM news on 84 WHAS when I heard the news. It was a sad moment. We have all lived with that moment, a burden for #34. Thank you for sharing. It is sad to me that so many on this board didn’t live during the Rupp/Hall era and could understand what Kentucky basketball meant as comparison to today. It was a way of life.

Sorry to make you weep

 

[clevenger32]

Part of my life that I never forgot

Yep. It is really too bad with all due respect to the younger fans that there is not a discussion site for our era.

 

[Dirt Court King]

I was a freshman and sophomore at UK when he played for us in 1971-72. I can recall that he was recovering from a broken foot that had been broken on two occasions in the same place. We were trailing Alabama in Lexington by about 4 points in the first half and Coach Rupp put Kent into his first game after he had apparently recovered from the second break. I believe he came in and hit about 6 or 7 straight shots and then suddenly he was carried off the court after brreaking his foot for the third time. I never heard a word about him after that and have always wondered what became of him. He was a damn good guard and had NBA potential. Does anyone know where he is now, how he's doing, etc? I'd appreciate any information on him.

Thanks in advance.

I remember that I was there as a freshman those same years....

 

[2Adulterers]

I remember that I was there as a freshman those same years....

I was Manager and Kent had a groin pull in UK Med Center Rupp across hall with health
Issues Coach Hall left me home on a road trip to be a gofer for Rupp
Kent and I really bonded a great friend

 

[2Adulterers]

I remember that I was there as a freshman those same years....

Heard he’s retired living in Florida