UK Wildcats Blog

UK by the Numbers: 54

The number 54 has been worn by eight players in the history of Kentucky basketball. The number 54 is currently the property of one of the most popular Wildcats of all-time, Patrick Patterson. Patterson went against popular wisdom and signed on to be a Kentucky Wildcat, snubbing other big time schools including long time rival Duke. It was a great day in Kentucky basketball history when Patterson chose the Big Blue over the other options he had. Since that moment, Patterson has been a fan favorite and his legend continues to grow each game as his UK career moves along.

Patterson joined the Wildcats after earning the honor of Mr. Basketball in the state of West Virginia and was a Parade and McDonald's All-American. Patterson was the perfect big-time player to help begin a new era in Kentucky basketball. Patterson had an immediate impact on the Kentucky team and quickly showed his future NBA skills. Unfortunately, the team's success under Billy Gillispie didn't live up to what UK fans and Patterson himself had hoped. While he had the ability to go into the NBA Draft, Patterson instead chose to stick around for his junior season under the leadership of John Calipari in hopes of bringing a National Championship back to Kentucky on his watch. That commitment to UK and his outstanding play and team leadership have placed Patterson firmly in a place of admiration among the Wildcat Nation. Patterson has definitely placed his claim on the number 54 at Kentucky.

Prior to Patterson donning the number 54, it was the property of center Melvin Turpin. Turpin is most famous for being a member of the famed "Twin Towers" with teammate Sam Bowie in the mid 1980's. The "Big Dipper" helped lead the Wildcats to the Final Four in 1984. The 6'-11", 240 pound center earned All-American and All-SEC honors in his junior and senior seasons. Prior to Patrick Patterson, the number 54 was a definite reminder of the exploits of Turpin as a Kentucky Wildcat.

Other Wildcats who have worn the number 54 include Howard Dardeen, Don Mills, Larry Lentz, Art Laib, Tom Payne and Dan Hill.

UK by the Numbers: 3

The number 3 for the University of Kentucky is a special one. Not only is the number routinely hung in Rupp Arena when the Wildcats connect from the three point line, but it has also graced the jerseys of many great players in the team's history.

The number 3 is currently in the hands of UK sophomore guard Darnell Dodson. Dodson is beginning his first year as a Kentucky Wildcat after transferring from Miami-Dade Junior College. Dodson is becoming a major contributor to the 2009-10 Wildcats. He has shown a great ability to score and to connect from outside the three point line, a key for a player wearing the number 3 at Kentucky. Dodson is well on his way to making his mark on this famous number as a Kentucky Wildcat.

Prior to 1986, the number three was only worn by three players at Kentucky. Bernard Opper wore the number 3 in the 1930's and the number belonged to Lee Huber and Wilbur Schu in the 1940's. It wasn't until the 1986-87 season that the number 3 really became a legend. 1986 ushered in the arrival of a Kentucky high school basketball star from Apollo High School in Owensboro. "King" Rex came to Kentucky with a great deal of national attention and as the reigning Mr. Basketball in the state of Kentucky. Kentucky fans immediately latched on to Chapman because of his Kentucky roots and huge potential.

Chapman's high flying dunks and incredible three point shooting were quickly apparent as his Kentucky career began. Chapman averaged 16 points a game in his freshman season and left fans with many great memorable moments throughout the season. In Chapman's sophomore season, he averaged 19 points per game and became known nationally as a player who could take his opponent to the basket and score from beyond three point range at will. He had an ability to take over a game at any time. Chapman left for the NBA after his sophomore season with a UK point total of 1073. Had Chapman remained for all four seasons, he could have challenged Dan Issel's all-time scoring record. Rex Chapman set the standard for the number 3 at the University of Kentucky.

The first player to wear Chapman's number after his departure was Chris Harrison in 1991. Harrison was a sharp shooting guard from Tollesboro Kentucky. Again the number 3 would be worn by a Kentucky kid with a sweet outside shot. Harrison had a modest career at UK and had a lot of pressure on him to live up to the hype that Rex Chapman gave to the number 3 at Kentucky.

During the Rick Pitino championship era of the mid 1990's, the number 3 was the property of Allen Edwards. Edwards guardianship of the number 3 occurred during one of the greatest eras in Kentucky basketball history. Edwards was a major contributor to the National Championship team in 1996, the National Runner-up team in 1997 and the National Championship team in 1998. The number 3 was in good hands during this period of incredible success for the Kentucky program.

During the Tubby Smith era, the number 3 was the property of guards J. P. Blevins, Brandon Stockton and Ramel Bradley. Ramel "Smooth" Bradley was a big fan favorite from 2004-2008. Bradley teamed up with classmate Joe Crawford as the leaders of the Wildcats team during that span. Bradley was a tough player who earned 1st team All-SEC honors in his senior season.

With Darnell Dodson, the legendary number 3 finds itself in good hands. Hopefully by the time Dodson's career at Kentucky comes to an end, he will have placed his own mark on this classic Kentucky number.

UK by the Numbers: 15

The current member of the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team to wear the number 15 is freshman DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins is another member of the freshman class brought in by coach John Calipari to restore Kentucky basketball to it rightful place atop the college basketball world. Cousins is quickly becoming an inside force for the Wildcats and is on his way to becoming one of the key components of this year's team success. Demarcus Cousins will definitely go down in UK history as making his mark on the number 15.

The first palyer to achieve legendary status with the Kentucky baskebtall program wearing the number 15 was Alex Groza. Groza was the the captain and star center on the University of Kentucky's 1948 Fabulous Five national basketball championship team. Groza was an outstanding player for the Wildcats and was an All-American for the 1846-47, 1947-48, and 1948-49 seasons. Groza's career points total at Kentucky was 1744 which currently places him 10th on the All-Time UK scoring list. Groza's number 15 is an officially retired jersey and he is a member of the UK Athletics Hall of Fame.

In the mid 1980's the number 15 appeared on the jersey of Ed Davender. Davender was an All-SEC performer in his junior and senior seasons. Davender played along UK legends Kenny Walker and Rex Chapman, graduating in 1988. Davender's 1637 career points place him just behind Groza in the 11th spot on the all-time UK scoring list.

During the 1990's, the number 15 belonged to fan favorite Jeff Sheppard. The Peachtree Georgia native came to Kentucky as a Parade All-American and quickly became a fan favorite. Sheppard's three point shooting and ability to take the ball to the rim made him an important member of the UK basketball program during one of its most successful eras. Sheppard was a member of the 1995-96 team that won the NCAA Championship under Rick Pitino. After redshirting due to injury for the 1996-97 season, Sheppard returned to the program for the 1997-98 season, leading the first Tubby Smith coached team to the National Championship.

Other members of the University of Kentucky basketball program who have worn the number 15 include J. Rice Walker, Stan Cluggish, Melvin Brewer, Reggie Warford, Steve WIlliams, Chris Gettelfinger, Matt Heissenbuttel and A.J. Stewart.

UK by the Numbers: 11

One of the biggest story lines for the 2009-10 Kentucky Wildcats is the arrival of freshman sensation John Wall. Wall arrives at Kentucky as one of the top freshmen in the nation and carries a big reputation as a potential superstar. Wall is about to embark on his first season at Kentucky that could place him among the all-time great freshmen in the history of the program, if not one of the best players ever to don the blue and white. John Wall will definitely set the bar high for his chosen #11. It should become commonplace to see that number 11 time after time on the Sportscenter highlight reels.

Since John Wall will make the #11 one of the most recognizable numbers on the court this season, let's take a look back at other Wildcat players who have donned the #11 during their careers.

In the 1980's the number 11 will always be remembered as the number that was worn by Dicky Beal. Beal came to the Wildcats as a Northern Kentucky legend from Holmes High School in Covington Kentucky. Beal played for the Wildcats through one of its most popular eras, the Twin Towers years of the early 1980's.

Another famous name to have worn the #11 for the Wildcats was a member of the "Unforgettables", Sean Woods. Woods hit one of the greatest shots in the history of the Kentucky basketball program against the Duke Blue Devils in that memorable game in 1992. Woods, along with teammates Richie Farmer, John Pelphrey and Deron Feldhaus will long be remembered by Wildcats fans for their amazing contributions to the rebirth of Kentucky basketball in the 1990's.

During the Tubby Smith era at Kentucky, the #11 was worn by Saul Smith. Other UK players that have worn the #11 include Milerd Anderson, Don Whitehead, Clyde Cooper, Shelby Linville, Herky Rupp, Randy Embry, Benny Spears, Bob McCowan and Adam Delph.

UK by the Numbers: 24

The number 24 has been worn by many memorable stars over the course of the history of Kentucky Basketball. For the 2009-10 season, the number 24 will be worn by freshman Eric Bledsoe. Bledsoe joined the Wildcats program as the third rated point guard in the nation. In his senior season at Parker High School in Alabama, Bledsoe averaged 20 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists per game. Bledsoe's performance in the exhibition game against Campbellsville has Wildcat fans excited about the contributions this young player will make to the UK program. Bledsoe is another piece of the great freshman class of 2009-10 and should leave his mark on the number 24 at the University of Kentucky before his career is over.

The number 24 has been worn by 14 different players at the University of Kentucky. All-American Johnny Cox was the second player at Kentucky to wear the number. Other players to wear the number were Malcolm McMullen, Larry Pursiful, Bob Tallent, Greg Starrick, Larry Miller, Mike Flynn and Brad Lawless.

During the era of the Twin Towers at Kentucky, the number 24 was worn by Bret Bearup. Bearup arrived at UK during the Joe B. Hall era after being a Parade and McDonald's All-American. Bearup was a popular player with UK fans and was a key contributor on the 1983-84 team that played their way all the way to the Final Four.

The 1990-91 season saw the arrival of freshman Jamal Mashburn. Mashburn is likely the most memorable player to ever wear the number 24 at Kentucky. Mashburn was the first top recruit of the Rick Pitino era and would go on to lead a renaissance of Kentucky Basketball during his three seasons. The number 24 will always be associated with the Monster Mash. Mashburn's number 24 hangs in the rafters at Rupp Arena and is an officially retired jersey number.

Later in the Rick Pitino era, the number 24 would become the property of Antoine Walker. Walker was a key player in one of the greatest eras in UK basketball history. Walker was a member of the 1996 National Championship team that was considered by many as one of the most talented teams ever assembled.

During the Tubby Smith era, two players donned the number 24 for the Wildcats. The number was worn by the late Marvin Stone from 1999 until 2003. The number would then become the property of Kelenna Azubuike. Azubuike arrived at UK with  a reputation as a high scoring player. Azubuike became an all-SEC player and has gone on to have a successful career in the NBA.