'Kentucky presence': Bluegrass natives back making their mark on UK basketball program

‘Kentucky presence’: Bluegrass natives back making their mark on UK basketball program

Posted by Admin December 4, 2024 Basketball

LEXINGTON — Adolph Rupp built Kentucky’s basketball program on the backs of boys born in the Bluegrass State.

Especially in the early years of his tenure, the rosters were almost entirely composed of Kentuckians, with perhaps a player or two from a bordering state such as Indiana, Missouri or Ohio. As time passed, Rupp began to find more and more out-of-state players. Take a look at the makeup of his four national championship clubs (1947-48, 1948-49, 1950-51 and 1957-58), however, and the Kentucky influence is clear: In-state products were starters, and key contributors, during every title run.

UK has added four more national championships since then. But as years have gone on, the in-state influence was less and less pronounced. For a period under former coach John Calipari, it was rare to see a Kentucky native take the court in any significant role — if they left the bench at all.

That changed last season.

Reed Sheppard, the son of a pair of former UK hoopers, authored a dazzling campaign, setting the program record for 3-point percentage — combining that shooting with precise passing, a knack for swiping the ball from opponents and finding ways to make winning plays — on his way to being the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

While he’s now suiting up for the Houston Rockets, the Bluegrass presence remains on this season’s roster: Trent Noah and Travis Perry had decorated high school careers before enrolling at UK. And two more Kentucky natives already are locked in for the 2025-26 roster, as Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno have signed with the Wildcats.

Kentucky never will rely as heavily on in-state high schoolers as Rupp once did; a Sports Illustrated feature on Rupp, penned in 1962, wrote that 85% of his players up to that time had been culled from inside the state’s borders. And he loved a specific part of the state. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help,” citing a Bible verse (Psalm 121: 1-2) to allude to the plethora of talent he plucked from the mountains of eastern Kentucky.

New coach Mark Pope‘s roster, on the other hand, has players from all over the country — from New Jersey and Oklahoma to Utah and New York — and the world (Amari Williams is from England, and Kerr Kriisa hails from Estonia). Yet Noah and Perry’s effect on the roster is evident. As will the addition of more Kentucky natives in the years to come.

“We’re going to win because we have some Kentucky presence,” Pope told The Courier Journal during a 1-on-1 sit-down interview in October. “And part of that’s dictated by the talent level, right? We’ve been really fortunate. … But us — listen, I’m telling you, one of the keys to us winning is understanding who we’re representing and why it matters, because it matters more here than anywhere else.”

Richie Farmer knows that. Noah and Perry are learning how to shoulder that responsibility. And in due time, Moreno will receive his introduction to the spotlight — the highs, lows and everything in between — that accompanies donning the blue-and-white uniforms of the beloved program that treasures in-state heroes.

As the leading scorer in the history of Kentucky high school basketball — surpassing a mark that had stood nearly 70 years, held by the legendary “King” Kelly Coleman — Perry’s reputation preceded itself well before he even arrived on campus. Becoming only the 10th high schooler to surpass 5,000 points in a career didn’t hurt, either. His renown only grew during UK’s summer workouts, when word spread he knocked down every free throw he attempted two consecutive days, 200 makes in all. During that same two-practice stretch, he also connected on 90% of his 3-point attempts.

All this before he even played a game for the Wildcats.

“I know I’m not going to make every shot,” said Perry, who was a superstar in every sense of the word at Lyon County High. “Hopefully (fans) realize I’m not going to make every shot. We’re all not going to make every shot. But it’s so fun to get in, have little cool things like that to work (on) and then ultimately trying to translate into the game.”

Perry is the lone link from the end of the Calipari era to the beginning of Pope’s tenure. He signed with UK when Calipari still was the coach. Once Calipari moved on to Arkansas, so did the 12 scholarship players on the 2023-24 roster. And every member of what once was a six-man recruiting class found new homes, too. Except for Perry.

He acknowledges it was “a tough situation” to deal with initially.

“You’ve been through the process for 3 ½, four years, made a decision, happy with (the) decision, then everything kind of shakes up and you don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said. “But, for me, it was just sitting a little bit to wait and see who the next coach they hired was.”

From there, it would come down to the relationship he established with Calipari’s successor.

“And luckily it worked out with them hiring coach Pope. Great dude,” Perry said. “The first conversation I had with him, I was just sold on him. Plays a style that I love to play. And really cares about and knows what it means to represent this program and this state.”

Noah didn’t reach the heights Perry did in high school. But he wasn’t far from the summit. Noah capped his career at Harlan County High with 3,707 points, the fifth-highest total in state history. He averaged a double-double (29.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game) as a senior in leading the Black Bears to a runner-up finish in the Sweet 16. Along the way, he had one of the most memorable performances in the history of the Sweet 16, pouring in 48 points in a quarterfinal victory over Campbell County.

Yet his path to UK was more circuitous than Perry’s.

Noah originally signed with South Carolina before he was released from his national letter of intent and jumped ship to join the Wildcats.

“It means the world,” he said. “It really is a dream come true. Just being able to put on the Kentucky basketball jersey, there’s so much pride that comes with it. To be honest, it’s hard to put in the words. I’m just super grateful and blessed to be a part of this rich history and tradition.”

Unsurprisingly given they graduated in the same class, their cherished childhood memories of the Wildcats are the same.

The 2012 national title, UK’s most recent championship. The 2014-15 club that started 38-0 and lost in the Final Four, Kentucky’s most recent appearance in college basketball’s signature event.

As they try to navigate life as college freshmen, their similar background and immediate fan favorite status left them thankful they’re not going it alone.

“It’s awesome to get to go through it every day with him,” Perry said. “It’s the same thing for him. He dreamed of playing here. This has been the ultimate goal for him. So to get to live through that with him, go through the same, same struggles — same everything. … is really special.”

Farmer can relate to what Perry and Noah are going through. He was Mr. Basketball in Kentucky in 1988. That same year, he was the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year. Yet despite all the accolades he enjoyed at Clay County High, Farmer still was in awe of UK. There were times back then, he said, he’d have his Kentucky jersey and look in a mirror. He couldn’t believe his eyes.

“I can tell you from my experience as a little kid, I laid in the bed and dreamed of playing at Kentucky,” said Farmer, who appeared in 118 games for the Wildcats over four seasons (1988-89 through 1991-92). “I used to, when I was shooting baskets on the side of the hill, it was, ‘Kyle Macy for the game-winner at the buzzer!’ Or Rick Robey. Or Jack Givens. I was those guys, and I idolized all the players who played there, the coaches who coached there.”

Just like Farmer, boys across the state grow up imagining themselves as future Wildcats. Which is why Farmer cheered so hard for Sheppard last season. And why Noah and Perry are his two favorite players this season.

“That’s not to take anything away from the other guys,” Farmer said, “but I just love to see those Kentucky boys out there.”

As does the fan base. Any time Sheppard’s picture is flashed on the video board, or Perry or Noah takes off their warmups to check into a game at Rupp Arena, the decibel level noticeably rises.

“That’s what makes it so special about being a Kentucky kid playing at the University of Kentucky is, the fans are so special,” Farmer said, “and those guys, they’ll be able to stay in this state, and people will know them for the rest of their lives. And that’s pretty cool. And that don’t happen everywhere. That’s something that is unique to Kentucky.”

Moreno will be part of the next wave of in-state Wildcats, stepping foot in Lexington next season alongside Johnson, whose father, Dennis Johnson, was a star defensive lineman for the UK football team. Barring something unforeseen, it’s presumed the additions of Johnson and Moreno, coupled with the return of Noah and Perry, will give Kentucky a quartet of players who grew up in the state.

“We’ve always played against each other in high school, and it got to that point where we all were just good friends,” Moreno said. “And then now, me, Trent and Travis can finally say we’re teammates, instead of having to say, ‘Oh, we have to play against each other tonight.'”

Moreno is so young, he wasn’t even born 20 years ago, when Rajon Rondo and Patrick Sparks were two of Kentucky’s most popular players, Rondo from Louisville and Sparks from Central City. To say nothing of Moreno’s age relative to Farmer’s glory days. Moreno admitted he’s only known Kentucky as a “powerhouse” brand that became an NBA draft factory under Calipari.

After committing to the Wildcats during a ceremony at his high school, Great Crossing in Georgetown, Moreno conceded there’s “more attention” on him now than ever. Even as one of the most sought-after prospects in the 2025 class.

“It’s been a little different, just because I’m an in-state kid and I’m committed to Kentucky,” he said, “but at the same time, the love has always been there. And I think it’s just grown even stronger now.”

Moreno said he’s already let his mind wander to next season. To the first time he hears his name announced at Rupp Arena. The cheers and the applause.

“I can’t wait for it,” Moreno said.

The state lionizes and reveres every player who puts in blood, sweat and tears chasing the decades-long excellence the Wildcats are defined by. But it’s different for Kentucky natives. They occupy an even more hallowed place in fans’ hearts.

The greater the degree of adulation, the higher the magnitude of expectations.

“I don’t think it has to be pressure on you to perform,” Farmer said. “I think that what it does is, you have a deep love and desire to see the team that you grew up watching and cheering for and dreaming of playing for, that just gives that little — you know, you just love it. … That just means that sometimes you may give a little extra.

“I know those Kentucky boys will do that.”

Pope wants that desire — to honor the jersey, the history — to permeate throughout the program.

“The sooner our guys can learn that and understand that and start to incorporate that into their DNA, and the more they can be around BBN (Big Blue Nation) and our fans and donors and boosters, the administration and student body and really feel that? That’s actually a reason why we’re going to win: Because we understand that it just matters more here and that’s a driving force.”

Noah welcomes it.

And he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Pressure is a privilege,” he said. “I love where I’m from, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. And being a Kentucky kid playing for the University of Kentucky?

“You couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.