Thread: Who could be the next Wildcat in the rafters?

It seems as though it's been ages since there was a player's jersey retired in Rupp Arena. I have no possible clue as to be the next one. Perhaps Patterson? Maybe Meeks? How about Harrellson? I think the fact that he only had one good year means nothing. Take a look at the "Unforgettables." None of them really had stellar careers. That team was filled with heart and stuck through the hard times, as did Harrellson. I'd just like to hear some feedback. And if anyone can clear up for me, who was the last Kentucky player to have his jersey retired?

Well first the unforgettables were good for more than just one season. Sure no player was super great but they were good. I'm not sure who could be next but to the ones you listed i'd say Patterson Yes, Meeks Yes and Harrellson No. I liked Jorts but they cant just put anyones jersey up there. The last player to be recognized was Jamal Mashburn, who left in 1993. I put a few suggestions below.

Tony Delk
Antoine Walker
Ron Mercer
Derek Anderson
Jeff Shepard
Wayne Turner
Scott Padgett
Tayshaun Prince
Keith Bogans
Chuck Hayes
Demarcus Cousins
John Wall

I put my favorite in bold lettering. I dont think all those belong but they could be suggested, I believe you most of the time need to be here two seasons but i think that John Wall made big enough of an impact on the team and the state to be honored.

I like your list with the exception of Cousins and Wall. All they did was reach the Elite 8. They were good, but not great. And if you are going to include them in the mix, you would have to include Jorts as well. See, they were all only good for one season....

Originally Posted by Steve Dave

I like your list with the exception of Cousins and Wall. All they did was reach the Elite 8. They were good, but not great. And if you are going to include them in the mix, you would have to include Jorts as well. See, they were all only good for one season....

Jorts was no Wall. John Wall (with Cal of course) put UK back in the "National" media spotlight. Jorts did mostly only in Lexington. He was popular because he shocked everyone by his play and Wall was expected to be great and then still shocked everyone. He had everyone doing the the John Wall dance. I mean i see what your saying about the one season part but there is no real comparison. Sure they were one game worse that season than this season but they just shot awful that West Virginia game. You could say the same about that UCONN game this year but Wall was just great. I said i usually wouldn't include one year players but personally i feel Wall was special and he deserves it. Sorry but you cant sell me on the Jorts inclusion. It is possible i guess but i think you would have to agree that a lot of the others guys on my list deserve it before he is even thought of.

If i had to pick a player to include first it be "double 0" Tony Delk hands down. He was huge for Kentucky.

It is a daunting task to pick out one favorite player. We have had so many great players and so many deserve to have their jerseys up there. My all time favorite has always been Kyle Macy, not only a great player, but one of the most respected also. However I can't help but notice lately that Patrick Patterson is always in my thoughts as maybe one of the greats. He also, was a great player and a great person. A few more years and I might vote for Patrick to be elevated to the rafters.

Originally Posted by BigBlueNation502

Jorts was no Wall. John Wall (with Cal of course) put UK back in the "National" media spotlight. Jorts did mostly only in Lexington. He was popular because he shocked everyone by his play and Wall was expected to be great and then still shocked everyone. He had everyone doing the the John Wall dance. I mean i see what your saying about the one season part but there is no real comparison. Sure they were one game worse that season than this season but they just shot awful that West Virginia game. You could say the same about that UCONN game this year but Wall was just great. I said i usually wouldn't include one year players but personally i feel Wall was special and he deserves it. Sorry but you cant sell me on the Jorts inclusion. It is possible i guess but i think you would have to agree that a lot of the others guys on my list deserve it before he is even thought of.

Wall was great, don't get me wrong, but he wasn't "Kentucky Great." He only played one season. He was the number 1 pick in the draft, but do you see anybody's name in the rafters that only played one season? It would be a mockery of our storied tradition, in my opinion. We would be rewarding the "one and done" mentality. While he is one of the best players to play for UK, he still doesn't deserve to be in with the likes of Issel, Mashburn, "Unforgettable's," Macy, "Sky" Walker, Bowie, and "Goose." They were all good players for more than just one season. Jorts doesn't deserve it, I'll give you that. But Wall doesn't either. Just let those names sink in and see if you feel the same.

do you see anybody's name in the rafters that only played one season?

No, but in todays game its different. There is two seasons guys though like Mashburn. Do you see anyone else's name up there that was a #1 NBA Draft pick? I mean it could go both ways. I see Wall similar to Mashburn as he was a huge star who came in and resurrected the program with a great new coach after a few subpar years like in 89-91 and 07-09. Why would Mashburn be there and not Wall then?

Originally Posted by jimbr

It is a daunting task to pick out one favorite player. We have had so many great players and so many deserve to have their jerseys up there. My all time favorite has always been Kyle Macy, not only a great player, but one of the most respected also. However I can't help but notice lately that Patrick Patterson is always in my thoughts as maybe one of the greats. He also, was a great player and a great person. A few more years and I might vote for Patrick to be elevated to the rafters.

Well Kyle Macy has already had his jersey retired but i agree that Patterson should have that honor one day soon. The only thing that i wonder about is why they haven't done one in awhile. Pitino was the last coach to be honored, Mashburn being the last player that was honored and Bill Keightley was of course honored recently. Other than that i'd think it was time to honor some UK greats that have been slighted in a way as of yet.

How can you over look Patrick Patterson?? Everyone loved him and he was one of the best players on the team for 3 straight years. One of the hardest working players at UK in a few years.

Originally Posted by JoshHopkins

How can you over look Patrick Patterson?? Everyone loved him and he was one of the best players on the team for 3 straight years. One of the hardest working players at UK in a few years.

Who is you? UK? Everyone is this thread so far has agreed Patterson belongs as well. I do believe that others deserve it first and he has only been gone one season as well.

Originally Posted by BigBlueNation502

Who is you? UK? Everyone is this thread so far has agreed Patterson belongs as well. I do believe that others deserve it first and he has only been gone one season as well.

Yes, You as in UK. I believe Patterson deserves it as much as anyone. And so does Tayshaun Prince. I do not believe any "one and done" players should deserve to be retired. Just my opinion.

Originally Posted by BigBlueNation502

No, but in todays game its different. There is two seasons guys though like Mashburn. Do you see anyone else's name up there that was a #1 NBA Draft pick? I mean it could go both ways. I see Wall similar to Mashburn as he was a huge star who came in and resurrected the program with a great new coach after a few subpar years like in 89-91 and 07-09. Why would Mashburn be there and not Wall then?

Mashburn, in my opinion, was a better all-around player than Wall. Wall had a great supporting cast, so his numbers look amazing as a pg. Do you think that without Cousins, Bledsoe, and Patterson that his numbers would look like they do? Mashburn was the greatest player on the team. So great, that he made those around him look good. Wall was surrounded with talent, so it doesn't seem as though he had much to do with improving those around him. Mashburn set screens, rebounded, scored down low and outside, and played great defense. Wall doesn't have that.

Do you think that without Cousins, Bledsoe, and Patterson that his numbers would look like they do?

Yes i do. He just have more points and less assists. He can score but he is a pass friendly Point Guard. Masburn had some decent guys on his team as well like Jeff Brassow, Sean Woods, Richie Farmer, Pelphrey, Feldhaus, "downtown" Dale Brown, Gimel Martinez, Travis Ford, Riddick, Timberlake, Harrison...i mean these are all good players. True Masburn and Wall were two different type of players and its easy to point out those differences but it's hard to say they both weren't great.

Originally Posted by JoshHopkins

Yes, You as in UK. I believe Patterson deserves it as much as anyone. And so does Tayshaun Prince. I do not believe any "one and done" players should deserve to be retired. Just my opinion.

So two and done is ok? even though a player couldn't leave after a year then and some would of.