Dear Perry Stevenson 1-24-2010

Attachment 177
January 24, 2010
Dear Perry Stevenson,

Let me first start by wishing you a happy 23rd birthday! It’s hard to believe that you’re already a senior at UK and with each passing game we are 1 game closer to seeing the end of your career as a Wildcat. I can remember your very first regular season game versus Miami (OH) in November of 2006 when you had your career high 7 blocked shots. It seemed like you blocked 20 that night. From that very first game I learned the most important thing there is to know about you and that is that you would put every gram of your heart into the game whenever you got the chance to play. Although you don’t get the minutes that I thought you would when I watched that first game I get excited when I see you come off the bench and enter the game to ring your excitement to the court. I know that when that warm-up gear comes off and you check in at the scorer’s table you are coming in to give 100% effort. That’s better than scoring 17 points per game if you ask me.

You are competing to play against a tremendous amount of talent this year but this fan thinks you’re playing a more important role from the bench than you did last year when you started 34 games. The 8 minutes per game this year is much more valuable to the team than the 28 minutes per game you played last year. You play 8 minutes with pure intensity on both sides of the court and that shows your genuine love for the game of basketball. You are a “classy cat” on the court and always stay well composed even in adverse situations. The only time I question what you are doing on the court is when you try to drive the ball from 20 feet out. That’s a whole other letter though.

One thing that I hate about your career at Kentucky is that you had to play 2 years of it under Billy Gillispie. Because of that I think you unfortunately lost on a great deal of leadership that could have developed you into a high draft pick in the NBA. Sure, you’ll play professional basketball and make a lot of money but I think you would do a lot more early on in your professional career if it weren’t for the lack of genuine leadership during those 2 years. You probably think that too but being the fine young man you are you’ll hold your head high and will always support your previous coach and will never say that publicly. That’s alright though, the people that care about you most, your fans, know that and believe in what you bring each and every day.

Instead of taking more of your time tonight and reminiscing on what may have been I want to close with two comments. First, being who you are today and what you bring to the Wildcats today is what we love about you. Never stop playing with the intensity and energy that you do and no one will care about anything else. The second thing that I want to mention is WHAT A DUNK yesterday against Arkansas. It must have felt good to slam the rock down on the Razorbacks on your 23rd birthday!

Here’s to hoping that you’ll get a Championship Title to close your career at UK,
Scott Z. and…

Leave a comment below to let Perry Stevenson know that you are a fan and you appreciate his intensity before this letter is sent to him.