44 Charles Hurt

Charles Hurt was born Charles Mitchell Hurt in Shelbyville, Kentucky, on March 28, 1961, to John A. Hurt and Alma L. O’Banion DeGraffenreid.  He was a talented forward who played for the University of Kentucky Wildcats from 1979 to 1983. Known for his toughness, rebounding, and defensive presence, Hurt was a key contributor for the Wildcats under head coach Joe B. Hall during an era when Kentucky remained a national powerhouse.

Hurt was a standout player at Shelby County High School in Kentucky, where he gained recognition for his physical style of play and ability to control the paint. He averaged 22.9 points and 16.6 rebounds per game and led the school to the 1978 State Championship where, in the final game, he made a 15-footer at the last second to go into overtime and get the eventual win.  Hurt was a two-time All-State selection and was named to the All-State Tournament team.  He was also a two-year letterman in track as a high-jumper.

His strong performances earned him a scholarship to play for the Kentucky Wildcats, a dream for many homegrown players.  He joined Sam Bowie, Tom Heitz, Derrick Hord, and Dirk Minniefield in the 1979-80 freshman class.

Hurt was one of the most powerful players to ever wear the Blue and White, and looked like a Mr. America candidate.  He was a tremendous leaper with an extremely quick jumping ability.  Hurt played four seasons at Kentucky, carving out a role as a physical forward known for his defense, rebounding, and hustle.

• As a freshman in 1979-80, he played a limited role but learned from veterans on a deep Kentucky team.

• By his sophomore and junior seasons (1980-81, 1981-82), he became a key rotational player, helping the Wildcats compete at a high level in the SEC.

• His senior season (1982-83) was his best; as team Captain, he started alongside stars like Melvin Turpin and Dirk Minniefield, averaging 7.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. He helped Kentucky reach the 1983 NCAA Tournament before falling in the Sweet 16 to Indiana.

• Hurt shot 59.3% from the field during his career.  This was a Kentucky record until Marquis Estill established a new record 20 years later in 2003.  Hurt scored 786 points in 124 games.

While Hurt was never the leading scorer, he was a gritty, reliable forward who played an important role for Kentucky during his four-year career. His toughness and rebounding ability were crucial to the Wildcats’ success, and he remains a respected figure among fans who remember the teams of the early 1980s.

Milwaukee picked Hurt in the sixth round of the 1983 NBA draft. Later, he played professional basketball in Japan. He worked briefly in the administration of former Governor Martha Layne Collins then joined the Army in 1987.

He was a career military man and obtained the rank of Master Sergeant. He lived in Germany, Kuwait, and Korea and became an information systems chief. In 1990, as a member of the 82nd Airborne Army unit, he was in Saudi Arabia as part of the Army’s intelligence force.

In 2012, he became an assistant basketball coach at Shelby County.

Hurt passed away on September 16, 2016, following a long battle with leukemia.