Connect with us

Former Cat Derek Anderson overcame hard-luck beginnings to find ‘family’ with ‘Cats

Derek AndersonAt 12 years old on the streets of Louisville, Derek Anderson was effectively homeless.  His mom often left their home for days at a time. His father wasn’t involved in his life. That’s why he learned to play basketball, Anderson said — because otherwise, he had nothing else.  “Some nights when mom wouldn’t come home, I would stay at the basketball court,” he recalled.

 

Read full article here.

Related Topics

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 December 7, 1957, what was then referred to as “the longest game in UK history” proves fruitful for the Wildcats as they defeat Temple 85-83 in three overtimes. Vernon Hatton scores UK’s final six points to edge the Owls.  Hatton hit a shot from 47 feet against Temple that tied the score at the end of the first overtime.  This remains one of the games that looms largest in the lore of Kentucky basketball.

 

On December 7, 1988, LeRon Ellis scored 37 points against Northwestern State.

 

On December 7, 1996, No. 6 Kentucky defeated No. 8 Indiana, 99-65.  Before 20,074 fans in Freedom Hall, UK’s Derek Anderson (30 points) and Ron Mercer (26) led a Kentucky full-court blitz that annihilated Bobby Knight’s Hoosiers.

 

Wildcats Born on This Date

December 7, 2020

44 Cliff Dwyer

December 7, 2020

35 Woodrow Preston

More in Kentucky Basketball