Fifteen years ago, a prized University of Kentucky basketball recruit died on the court during a high school playoff game. Sunday night at 8, an hour-long documentary will bring John Stewart to life again — for those whose memories have faded and those who never even knew of the “gentle giant,” his enormous potential or his tragic end.
Thomas Beisner, host of “Kentucky Sports Television” on cn|2, was a student at UK in 2003 when then-Wildcats coach Tubby Smith honored Stewart and his family on what would've been his Senior Night. It was an emotional scene. It left a deep impression.
“Since then, I've always thought about their family,” Beisner said. “I just felt a connection to that story. I always wanted to try to make a documentary.”
Walter Cornett, of Glendale, Kentucky, is the owner and operator of Walter's Wildcat World. He founded WildcatWorld.com in 1998 making it one of the oldest Kentucky basketball fan sites in operation today.
On This Day In UK Basketball History
- On March 19, 1966, Pat Riley joined the 1,000-point club. He did it in 54 games.
- On March 19, 1966, in one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history, top-ranked UK, featuring “Rupp’s Runts,” loses in the NCAA Championship game, 72-65, to Texas Western.
- On March 19, 1989, in the wake of an NCAA investigation, Eddie Sutton resigns as UK basketball coach.