This is a list of Kentucky Wildcats basketball players who have attained notability through their performance in the sport of basketball and other endeavors. The list includes over 150 current and former players. The list is presented in alphabetical order but is sortable by the years and positions at which they played.
List of current and former players Name Position Hometown First season Last season Notes Center Litchfield, Connecticut 1978 1979 Member of the 1978 National Championship team. Transferred after his sophomore season to Connecticut. Center Bronx, New York 2004 2006 Tallest player in the history of Kentucky basketball (7'3"). Guard Louisville, Kentucky 1996 1997 Member of the 1996 National Championship team. Transferred to Kentucky from Ohio State. Guard Dayton, Ohio 1979 1980 Nicknamed the Blur. Transferred after his sophomore season to Southern Cal. Forward Tulsa, Oklahoma 2003 2005 Entered the NBA Draft after his junior season. Guard Lexington, Kentucky 1961 1963 Former U.S. Congressman, Kentucky 6th District (D). Guard Elizabethtown, Kentucky 2003 2004 Guard Yorktown, Indiana 1947 1949 Member of the 1948 and the 1949 National Championship teams. Was an All-SEC guard in 1948 and 1949. His jersey hangs in the rafters of Rupp Arena. Guard Antioch, Illinois 1947 1950 Member of the 1948 and the 1949 National Championship teams. Guard Louisville, Kentucky 1946 1949 Three time consensus First team All-American. Member of the 1948 and the 1949 National Championship teams. One of Rupp's Fabulous Five. His jersey hangs in the rafters of Rupp Arena. Forward Louisville, Kentucky 1984 1988 Was an All-SEC forward. Was Kentucky Mr. Basketball his senior season in high school. Former head coach of Kentucky State. Forward Corbin, Kentucky 1954 1956 His jersey hangs in the rafters of Rupp Arena. Guard Marion, Indiana 1984 1987 Guard Birmingham, Alabama 2010 2010 An All-SEC Freshman in 2010. Declared for the NBA Draft after his freshman season. Guard Alexandria, Virginia 2000 2003 Was the 2003 SEC Player of the Year. Was a consensus second team All-American in 2003. He is #4 on Kentucky's scoring list. Guard Moss Point, Mississippi 2015 2015 An All-SEC guard in 2015. Declared for the NBA Draft after his freshman season. Center Lebanon, Pennsylvania 1980 1984 Was a consensus second team All-American in 1983. His #31 jersey hangs in the rafters of Rupp Arena. Was the #2 overall pick in the 1984 NBA draft. Forward Worcester, Massachusetts 1998 1999 Member of the 1998 National Championship team. Transferred after his sophomore season to Villanova. Guard New York, New York 2005 2008 Nicknamed Smooth. Averaged 20 points per game his senior season. Center Winfield, Kansas 1943 1944 Was a consensus first team All-American in 1944. Served in World War II. Transferred after his sophomore season to Michigan State. Center West Chester, Pennsylvania 1949 1949 Member of the 1949 National Championship team. Also a three-sport athlete at Kentucky playing football and track with basketball. Forward Wells, Texas 1955 1956 Was a consensus second team All-American in 1956. His #50 jersey hangs in the rafters of Rupp Arena. Guard Morganfield, Kentucky 1976 1979 Member of the 1978 National Championship team. Current Head Coach of the Toronto Raptors. Guard Shelbyville, Kentucky 1969 1971 Three-time First team All-SEC. Missed the 1970 season with a broken leg. Center Olathe, Kansas 2013 2015 Was a consensus first team All-American in 2015. Was the 2015 NABC Defensive Player of the Year. Declared for the NBA Draft after his junior season. Guard Owensboro, Kentucky 1987 1988 Nicknamed King Rex. Was First team All-SEC both of his two seasons. Declared for the NBA Draft after his sophomore season. Guard Ashland, Kentucky 1964 1966 One of Rupp's Runts. A three-time All-SEC player. Current College Basketball TV broadcaster with Fox Sports. Guard Lawrenceburg, Kentucky 1973 1975 Was an All-SEC player in 1973. Center Mobile, Alabama 2010 2010 Was a consensus second team All-American in 2010. Was the 2010 SEC Freshman of the Year. Declared for the NBA Draft after his freshman season. Guard Hazard, Kentucky 1956 1959 Member of the 1958 National Championship team. Was a consensus first team All-American in 1958. His #24 jersey hangs in the rafters of Rupp Arena. Guard Detroit, Michigan 2005 2008 Guard Indianapolis, Indiana 1965 1967 Was a two-time consensus second team All-American in 1966 and 1967. Was a member of Rupp's Runts. Played 12 seasons in the ABA and NBA with the Kentucky Colonels and San Antonio Spurs; named to the ABA All-Time Team in 1997; inducted as a player to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015. Forward Cincinnati, Ohio 2001 2004 Forward Batavia, Illinois 1968 1970 The Wildcats' all-time leading men's scorer and a two-time consensus All-American in 1969 (second team) and 1970 (first team). Played 15 seasons in the ABA and NBA with the Kentucky Colonels and Denver Nuggets; named to the ABA All-Time Team in 1997; inducted as a player to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. Also coached the Nuggets in six seasons during two stints. Jamal MashburnForwardThe Bronx, New York19901993Consensus first-team All-American (1993) and SEC Player of the Year (1993) Forward Dallas, Texas 2014 2014Entered into 2014 NBA draft after his freshman season. Forward Schenectady, New York 1965 1967 Member of Rupp's Runts who played nine seasons in the NBA, winning an NBA title with the 1971–72 Los Angeles Lakers. Went on to greater fame as a coach, winning four NBA titles with the Lakers and one with the Miami Heat; named one of the Top 10 Coaches in NBA History in 1996 and inducted to the Hall of Fame as a coach in 2008. Forward Chicago, Illinois 1992 1995 Guard Bedford, Kentucky 1944 1947 Forward Metuchen, New Jersey 2015 2015 Was a consensus second team All-American in 2015. The #1 overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft, the second in UK history. Unanimous selection as NBA Rookie of the Year in . Guard Lynn, Massachusetts 1950 1953 1951 National Championship team. His #16 jersey hangs in the rafters of Rupp Arena. Guard Boston, Massachusetts 1996 1999 Member 1996 and 1998 National Championship teams. Center Lexington, Kentucky 1981 1984 Was a consensus second team All-American in 1984. Guard Lima, Ohio 2014 2016 Forward Moca, Dominican Republic 2011 2012 Member of the 2012 National Championship team. Forward Chicago, Illinois 1995 1996 Member of the 1996 National Championship team. Was a first team All-SEC in 1996. Forward Roberta, Georgia 1983 1986 Was the 1985 and 1986 SEC Player of the Year. Was a consensus first team All-American in 1986. Forward Owensboro, Kentucky 1949 1952 Member of the 1949 and the 1951 National Championship teams. Guard Raleigh, North Carolina 2010 2010 Was a consensus first team All-American in 2010. The #1 overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft, the first in UK history. Forward Portland, Oregon 2012 2013Member of the 2012 National Championship team. Transferred to Gonzaga after sophomore season. Guard Indianapolis, Indiana 1989 1992Was a member of the Unforgettables. Former head coach at Morehead State. Guard Rochester, Michigan 2014 2014Entered into 2014 NBA draft after his freshman season.
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