Position: Center-Forward

Bret Bearup was born Bret Neal Bearup on November 17, 1961, in Pocatellio, Idaho, to Linda and Charlie Bearup. He had four brothers. He was affectionately known as simply “Bear.” His father, an executive with DuPont, played basketball at Idaho State. Bearup’s family moved to Long Island, New York in 1976. In high school, Bearup…

Sam Bowie was born Samuel Paul Bowie on March 17, 1961, in Lebanon, Pennsylvania to Ben Bowie and Cathy “Sammy” Bowie.  His father was 6 ft 10 in and had played basketball for the Harlem Magicians for six seasons. Bowie made a significant impact during his time at the University of Kentucky in the 1980s.…

Scott Courts was born Scott David Courts on December 28, 1958, to Howard and Jeanette Courts Courts was a three-time Jefferson County Basketball League All-Star in Arvada, Colorado, a suburb of Denver.  He took ‘77 league honors in scoring (20.0), rebounding (13.6) and shooting percentage (63.0).  Courts was named All-Metro and All-State by the Denver…

Thad Jaracz (pronounced Jair-as) was born Thaddeus Vincent Jaracz, Jr. on December 15, 1946, in Lexington, Kentucky to Thaddeus (Ted) Vincent Jaracz, Sr. and Marion D. McCaw Jaracz.  His father, originally from Massachusetts, was a dairy farmer on Harrodsburg Road in Lexington who played football for Kentucky. Jaracz came to Kentucky from Lexington’s Lafayette High School…

John Adams was born May 15, 1943, in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Adams hailed from Rising Sun, Indiana, a small Indiana community 25 miles down river from Cincinnati.  His father was a chemist and his mother worked at an insurance agency. Adams averaged 21 points and 22 rebounds a game in his final schoolboy campaign at Rising…

If you’re a University of Kentucky basketball fan, you probably recognize the name Nash. Charles “Cotton” Nash is known as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. In fact, he played basketball and baseball at UK from 1961 to 1964. His jersey, number 44, hangs in the rafters of Rupp Arena.  Charles…