Favorite Former Player?

[Bluesong]

Antoine Walker
John Wall

[George]

I loved watching Chuck and I'm sure I'm not alone. I think nearly every UK fan likes Chuck Hayes. I can't imagine being a UK fan and NOT liking Chuck Hayes. Everything you said is true, plus he was just a stand-up dude. Never heard a bad word about him. Not even years after he left Kentucky and played several years in the pros. As much as people want to give Tubby crap saying he couldn't recruit and didn't bring in UK caliber players (and the last few years it was definitely trending that way) during his first handful he was doing fine, bringing in guys like Tayshaun, Bogans, Chuck, Fitch, Azabuike, etc.

He pulled the number one class in ‘04, but Tubby never loved recruiting the big names. Kevin friggin’ Durant is on record saying he wanted Kentucky to recruit him, but Tubby wouldn’t do it.

[SportsFan]

He pulled the number one class in ‘04, but Tubby never loved recruiting the big names. Kevin friggin’ Durant is on record saying he wanted Kentucky to recruit him, but Tubby wouldn’t do it.

True, and as good as the '04 class was (Rondo, Morris, Crawford, Bradley, Sparks) the '05 class was equally as bad (Jared Carter, Rekalin Sims, Adam Williams).

Tubby is on record saying he didn't want to recruit one and done players....that's why he wouldn't recruit someone like Durant. That ultimately became a big part of the appeal of a guy like Calipari, who WOULD recruit one and dones. So going from a coach who wouldn't recruit one and dones to one who would definitely had its appeal. At that time, though, Tubby wasn't alone. A LOT of coaches preferred not to recruit one and done players...I believe Coach K was one of them! Once Cal became coach, the problem then became that was seemingly the only type of player he would recruit!

[EKYCat]

I think Chuck probably got the most out of what skills he did have as any UK player in my lifetime, and I’m 38 years old.

Brute strong, great effort and teamwork, excellent footwork, just all of the intangibles. He was a joy to watch.

Chuck was kind of the embodiment of Kentucky Basketball. Not one second he didn't give 100% of everything he had. Program first, loved being here. His senior day may be the best ever.

[BigBluPapi81]

Wayne Turner. Floor general for 2 Nattys.

[KentuckyWild2020]

Wayne Turner. Floor general for 2 Nattys.

Maybe the most accomplished point guard in UK history..

[EKYCat]

I'd consider Anthony Epps the floor general for the 1996 Title Team. Wayne absolutely abused that little punk Wojo in the Regional Final in 1998. Turner, at one time, held the record with most NCAA games played at 151. Really liked that guy. Great college player.

[KentuckyWild2020]

I'd consider Anthony Epps the floor general for the 1996 Title Team. Wayne absolutely abused that little punk Wojo in the Regional Final in 1998. Turner, at one time, held the record with most NCAA games played at 151. Really liked that guy. Great college player.

I would cringe would Turner would shoot his first few years but during that run, he was money when it counted.

I agree with you, Turner was a great college player and glad he was a Wildcat.

[KentuckyWild2020]

He pulled the number one class in ‘04, but Tubby never loved recruiting the big names. Kevin friggin’ Durant is on record saying he wanted Kentucky to recruit him, but Tubby wouldn’t do it.

Don't say that, you going to tarnish Tubby's reputation lol lol lol..

[KentuckyWild2020]

Antoine Walker
John Wall

I like them both. To me Wall and Chapman was maybe the two most electrifying freshman talents we ever had come through, at least for me it was....

[KentuckyWild2020]

Chuck was kind of the embodiment of Kentucky Basketball. Not one second he didn't give 100% of everything he had. Program first, loved being here. His senior day may be the best ever.

I have to agree with this. Chuck was a hard working blue collar player that did it the right way. If Chuck would have had a jump shot, would have been more dangerous in my opinion. Played like old school Charles Barkley in my opinion...

[DA#23]

I like them both. To me Wall and Chapman was maybe the two most electrifying freshman talents we ever had come through, at least for me it was....

Definitely the two biggest rock stars.

Patterson was super popular, for example, but Wall seemingly had an "aura" .