21 Jim McDonald

From the 1962 University of Kentucky Media Guide:

“A two-time letterman whose experience is being counted on to steady the rebuilding program being undertaken by Coach Adolph Rupp’s Kentuckians this year, Jim McDonald is another prospect for the “darkhorse” role on the 1961-62 club. Admittedly, Mac has not set the world on fire in his three previous seasons in a Kentucky uniform but he is considered by his coaches to be a very valuable workhorse that they can insert when the going gets toughest. He’s a pretty fair shot and at his best as a rebound and defensive man. His height is not exceptional but would be a welcome addition to this year’s outfit that goes to the post minus the really big man to sweep the boards and must rely on its overall, above-average height balance to gang up on the opposition. McDonald has the necessary speed and ball-handling ability plus a proven knack of hitting from outside that seemed to justify experimenting with him at guard to get added height, but the move was abandoned in pre-season practice. His biggest problem in previous seasons has been a slight inconsistency, but coaches are hoping that he will lick this drawback in the upcoming campaign. After a good freshman season, in which he scored 92 points and posted a 10.5 average with a 22-point effort as his high, McDonald made an early bid for a starting job as a sophomore by netting 14 points as a sub in the season opener. The effort won him an opening berth in the next two games UK played on the West Coast, but he could collect only 12 points in the pair and regained his scoring form only once later in the season. Although he contributed flashes of fine play last season and aided the team effort in many ways, McDonald added only 14 points to his career total in about 124 minutes of reserve forward action in 19 games. His high was four against St. Louis in the UK Invitational. One of his long suits is defense. The Louisville St. Xavier product, who did not make the All-State team, is studying Electrical Engineering. “