44 Bill Lickert

Bill Lickert was born Billy Ray Lickert on January 8, 1939, in Lexington, Kentucky to R.H. Lickert and Nancy “Nannie” Jones Lickert.  He was a distinguished basketball player who made significant contributions to the University of Kentucky Wildcats during the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Lickert’s basketball journey began at Lafayette High School, where he led the team to a state championship in 1957 and earned the title of Kentucky Mr. Basketball. He grew up just across the street from UK’s campus as a child and told Oscar Combs, a friend of Lickert’s and member of the local media, in a recent podcast interview that he always dreamed of playing at Kentucky.  Lafayette saw Lickert average 22.2 points per game and score a total of 1,745 points during three years as a General. He sparked Lafayette to a fourth state championship and averaged 24.4 ppg in his final high school season (1957). He was named captain of the All-State team the same year as he made the star unit for the second time. In 1956, Lickert was picked as an All-State center.

Lickert continued his basketball career at the University of Kentucky, playing under the legendary coach Adolph Rupp from 1958 to 1961. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 185 pounds, he was known for his versatility, excelling as both a forward and guard. Throughout his three-year tenure, Lickert became a cornerstone of the Wildcats’ lineup.

As a freshman, Lickert posted 342 points and averaged 20.1 to pace the UK freshman to a record of 16 victories against a lone setback. His high was a 28-point outburst against Lees Junior College.

As a sophomore, Lickert scored 336 points and averaged 13.5 points per game.  He was named SEC Sophomore of the Year.

As a junior, Lickert was pacing Kentucky scoring at a better than 20-points-a-game clip and had stuffed in 29 against eventual national champ Ohio State in late December. He departed for surgery on his leg (calcification of thigh muscle) in mid-January, many feared his career was at an end, but Lickert came back virtually as good as ever after missing five games to be the Cats’ leading scorer in four of the last seven contests of the season. And, for the second straight season, SEC coaches accorded him a berth on the All-Conference team. He was second in UK scoring with 288 points, posted the best scoring average of 14.4 and was fourth in rebounding. He was the most accurate shot from the field, among the regulars, with a .401 mark.

In his senior year, Lickert earned All-America honors, averaging 16.1 points per game. He was also a three-time All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection, reflecting his consistent excellence on the court. Over his collegiate career, he amassed 1,076 points, becoming the 12th player in program history to surpass 1,000 career points.

After his collegiate career, Lickert was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the fifth round of the 1961 NBA Draft. However, he chose not to pursue a professional basketball career. Instead, he remained a beloved figure in Lexington, Kentucky, where he was inducted into the UK Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.

Lickert passed away on September 13, 2017, at the age of 78. His legacy endures as a testament to his contributions to Kentucky basketball and his embodiment of the Wildcats’ spirit.