Who's the shortest "center" (who played meaningful minutes) that we've had ?

[rick64]

Agree probably Cliff Hagan.

 

[BlueSince92]

Reggie Hanson was fricking awesome especially for the desolate probationary years he gave to us. He wasn't our shortest center, but in stints he was our tallest point guard. Great personality too.

 

[TeoJ]

We won the NIT in 1975-76 season. Bob Fowler at 6'- 4", but could jump out of the gym ended up playing center for us and was pretty good. I was about 13 at the time and it's "been awhile", but I seem to remember he played well in the NIT. Not super gifted offensively but could rebound and was kind of tough. I think both Robey and Phillips were hurt.

Found it on the link below. He was a freshman as well. He only played that year I think, left the program for some reason.

http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/statistics/TeamNITChampions.html

Robey was out that game but Phillips played very well.Larry Johnson was the star that year.I remember Cornbread was killing us in the finals.

 

[TeoJ]

Probably correct,Jaracz in the "modern" era

Leroy Edwards was also 6'4

 

[bigbluehomer]

Robey was out that game but Phillips played very well.Larry Johnson was the star that year.I remember Cornbread was killing us in the finals.

Thanks for this, and the other clarifications. FWIW I remember Fowler having to play out of position at C and giving us some surprisingly good minutes, etc. Maybe it was backing up MP or perhaps when MP got in foul trouble, or perhaps I'm just losing my mind. LOL!

I've still got a good memory, just not for very long................

 

[RKulmer]

Pat Riley.

 

[TeoJ]

Pat Riley.

Jumped center for start of game but played forward.

 

[JPScott]

Thanks for this, and the other clarifications. FWIW I remember Fowler having to play out of position at C and giving us some surprisingly good minutes, etc. Maybe it was backing up MP or perhaps when MP got in foul trouble, or perhaps I'm just losing my mind. LOL!

I've still got a good memory, just not for very long................

The link below gives you the individual game stats for Fowler during his UK career. He scored 5, 2, 2 & 5 points in NIT games for a total of 14 points. If you click on the links you can see the individual box scores.

Bob Fowler UK Game Stats

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Jason Parker was only 6-7 wasn't he? He was a beast.

6-8

 

[FFWhite]

Rob Locke with alligator arms played the shortest until his senior year.

 

[nickhorvathsuxazz]

Reggie Hanson 89-90 season.

beat me to it...6'7 and @ a buck ninety-five and having to battle down low against the behemoth, shaq, who made him look really, really small. May've even beaten them (LSU) once that year?

 

[anon_9qtxg60vqzy0y]

We won the NIT in 1975-76 season. Bob Fowler at 6'- 4", but could jump out of the gym ended up playing center for us and was pretty good. I was about 13 at the time and it's "been awhile", but I seem to remember he played well in the NIT. Not super gifted offensively but could rebound and was kind of tough. I think both Robey and Phillips were hurt.

Found it on the link below. He was a freshman as well. He only played that year I think, left the program for some reason.

http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/statistics/TeamNITChampions.html

Bob Fowler died at the young age of 31 after collapsing at Keeneland.

https://www.aseaofblue.com/2011/8/2/2339678/kentucky-wildcats-history-dying-young

 

[BARRYBLUE1]

Cotton Nash was one of the shorter ones.

 

[clevenger32]

Cliff Hagan and Thad Jaracz were the two best hands down.

 

[JPScott]

FYI, here's the list of players who played some center while at UK, listed by shortest to tallest. This list obviously doesn't include players for whom their height is not known.

Player Position Last Season Played Height Minutes Played (if known)
Lawrence Longsworth C-F 1916-17 5-6
R. C. Preston C 1913-14 5-10
Singleton Yeary F-C 1944-45 6-0
Harry Denham C 1938-39 6-0
John Everett C-F 1919-20 6-0
Thomson Bryant C 1906-07 6-0
Joe Rupert C 1932-33 6-1
Ben Marsh C 1917-18 6-1
John Morris C 1932-33 6-2
Paul Adkins C 1921-22 6-2
George Zerfoss C 1917-18 6-2
James Park C 1913-14 6-2
Larry Conley F-C 1965-66 6-3 2600
Ed Lander C 1942-43 6-3
Milt Ticco F-C 1942-43 6-3
Garland Lewis C 1935-36 6-3
Lovell Underwood C-F 1925-26 6-3
Boone Simpson C 1918-19 6-3
Carroll Burchett F-C 1961-62 6-4 436
Cliff Hagan C 1953-54 6-4
Dan Swartz C 1951-52 6-4
Wallace Jones F-C 1948-49 6-4
Kenton Campbell C 1947-48 6-4 74
Homer Thompson C 1938-39 6-4
Leroy Edwards C 1934-35 6-4
John DeMoisey C-F 1933-34 6-4
Forest Sale C-F 1932-33 6-4
George Yates C 1932-33 6-4
W. C. Harrison C 1911-12 6-4
Thad Jaracz C-F 1967-68 6-5 2503
Brad Bounds F-C 1966-67 6-5 183
Cotton Nash C-F 1963-64 6-5 1964
Allen Feldhaus F-C 1961-62 6-5 401
Harry Hurd C 1961-62 6-5 0
Vincent Del Negro C/F 1960-61 6-5 220
Phil Johnson F/C 1958-59 6-5
Dick Howe C/F 1957-58 6-5
Bob Brannum C 1946-47 6-5
Malcolm McMullen F/C 1946-47 6-5
Deward Compton C 1945-46 6-5
Ernest Sparkman C 1944-45 6-5
Melvin Brewer C 1942-43 6-5
Stanley Milward C 1929-30 6-5
George Atkins C/F 1962-63 6-6 0
Don Mills C 1959-60 6-6
Ronald Clark C/F 1951-52 6-9
Jim Weber F-C 1945-46 6-6
Reggie Hanson C-F 1990-91 6-7 2707
Rick Drewitz F-C 1973-74 6-7 337
Steve Lochmueller C-F 1973-74 6-7 369
John Adams C-F 1964-65 6-7 1087
Don Rolfes C 1962-63 6-7 442
Ed Beck C 1957-58 6-7
Bob Burrow C 1955-56 6-7
Harold Hurst C 1954-55 6-7
Roger Layne C 1950-51 6-7
Alex Groza C 1948-49 6-7
Patrick Patterson F/C 2009-10 6-8 3290
Jason Parker F-C 2000-01 6-8 651
Fred Cowan C-F 1980-81 6-8 2180
Dan Issel C 1969-70 6-8 2943
Cliff Berger C 1967-68 6-8 1095
Larry Lentz C 1965-66 6-8 93
Cliff Dwyer C 1951-52 6-8
George Vulich C 1944-45 6-8
Marion Cluggish C 1939-40 6-8
Edrice Adebayo C 2016-17 6-9 1145
Marquis Estill F-C 2002-03 6-9 1844
Andre Riddick C 1994-95 6-9 1657
Todd Svoboda F-C 1992-93 6-9 38
Bret Bearup C-F 1984-85 6-9 1611
Bob Guyette C 1974-75 6-9 1863
Ned Jennings C 1960-61 6-9 799
Nerlens Noel C 2012-13 6-10 765
Josh Harrellson C 2010-11 6-10 1486
Daniel Orton C 2009-10 6-10 502
Randolph Morris C 2006-07 6-11 2121
Marvin Stone F-C 2001-02 6-10 1180
Michael Bradley C 1999-00 6-10 1032
Jamaal Magloire C 1999-00 6-10 2837
Nazr Mohammed C 1997-98 6-10 1574
Mark Pope C 1995-96 6-10 1444
LeRon Ellis C 1988-89 6-10 1392
Mike Scott C 1988-89 6-10 489
Chuck Aleksinas C 1978-79 6-10 582
Scott Courts C-F 1977-78 6-10 30
Mike Phillips C 1977-78 6-10 2518
Rick Robey F-C 1977-78 6-10 2711
Dan Hall C 1975-76 6-10 168
Mark Soderberg C 1970-71 6-10 181
Art Laib C 1969-70 6-10 72
Nick Richards C 2017-18 6-11 0
Skal Labissiere C 2015-16 6-11 568
Karl-Anthony Towns C 2014-15 6-11 822
Eloy Vargas C 2011-12 6-11 490
DeMarcus Cousins C 2009-10 6-11 893
Morakinyo Williams C 2007-08 6-11 30
Rodney Dent C 1993-94 6-11 820
Robert Lock C 1987-88 6-11 1909
Melvin Turpin C 1983-84 6-11 3327
Roger Wood C 1973-74 6-11 55
Jim Andrews C 1972-73 6-11 2259
Isaac Humphries C 2016-17 7-0 525
Willie Cauley-Stein C 2014-15 7-0 2575
Dakari Johnson C 2014-15 7-0 1185
Lukasz Obrzut C 2006-07 7-1 906
Bill Spivey C 1951-52 7-0
Sam Bowie C-F 1983-84 7-1 2761
Jared Carter C 2008-09 7-2 185
Tom Payne C 1970-71 7-2 816
Shagari Alleyne C 2005-06 7-3 464

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

Trash Can Juice

 

[true blue1]

Pat Riley.

 

[catman111]

beat me to it...6'7 and @ a buck ninety-five and having to battle down low against the behemoth, shaq, who made him look really, really small. May've even beaten them (LSU) once that year?

Yes 100-95. It was the loudest I've ever heard Rupp. Insane environment.

 

[bigbluehomer]

The link below gives you the individual game stats for Fowler during his UK career. He scored 5, 2, 2 & 5 points in NIT games for a total of 14 points. If you click on the links you can see the individual box scores.

Bob Fowler UK Game Stats

Holy Buckets, I wasn't even close. LOL! I didn't remember him doing much offensively, just rebounded and played good D when we needed someone to step up. Even his per game rebounds are low.

I guess I'll call it a senior moment. LOL!

 

[caneintally]

Hayes was short but big and strong . The smallest starting center I have seen since I began watching in 92 is Eric Daniels when he had to start his senior year. Hell we were the number 1 overall seed with him. ( also got upset but damn UAB ugh).

 

[bbn93]

Did Mark Coury play the 4 or 5? Can't believe he actually started some games. Tough times.

 

[Myth Buster51]

Chuck Verderber

I was thinking the same thing - that Chuck was moved to the 5 due to a lot of injuries that season.

 

[bowfreak]

I can throw of football over that mountain.....

 

[JC43]

Hayes hands down