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Kentucky Basketball: Charles Hurt Passes Away At Age 55

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 6, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats cheerleaders hold up a sign during the game against the Florida Gators in the second half at Rupp Arena. Kentucky defeated Florida 80-61. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats cheerleaders hold up a sign during the game against the Florida Gators in the second half at Rupp Arena. Kentucky defeated Florida 80-61. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /
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Former Kentucky basketball forward Charles Hurt has passed away at age 55 after a battle with leukemia. Joe B. Hall and Jack Givens reflected.

Heartbreaking news broke on Friday, September 16. After undergoing stem cell surgery in attempt to treat his leukemia, Kentucky basketball player Charles Hurt has passed away at the age of 55.

Hurt’s former coach and close friend weighed in on his untimely passing.

Hurt played for the Wildcats from 1979 to 1983. He scored 786 points and pulled down 496 rebounds in 124 games as one of the Wildcats’ most beloved players.

According to Greg Kocher of The Herald-Leader, former Kentucky head coach Joe B. Hall spoke about how shocked he is to hear of Hurt’s passing.

"Hall said Hurt “was from an excellent family. They were very gracious people, and they were very supportive of their children. They were absolutely the finest people in the world, and Charles reflected that in everything that he did. He was a wonderful kid to coach.”"

Hurt’s close friend and former Kentucky star Jack “Goose” Givens, who led the Wildcats to the 1978 NCAA championship, echoed the sentiment.

"“But the main thing is, Charlie was always a gentleman,” Givens said. “He played the game the way it was supposed to be played. He played hard. No one outworked Charlie Hurt."

This is devastating news.

During his senior season, Hurt helped the Wildcats reach the Elite Eight. He earned the respect of the masses as the energy guy who brought an unrivaled level of intensity to Kentucky’s attack on both ends of the floor.

He averaged 28.9 minutes, 8.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in 1983, when Kentucky made that deep NCAA Tournament run.

As someone who has lost multiple loved ones to cancer, this news is especially troubling. No one deserves to endure this agonizing and unforgiving disease, especially not someone as beloved as Hurt.

Hurt’s legend in Lexington will live on, however, as a wonderful person and a tenacious player.

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Rest In Peace, Charles Hurt. You will be missed.

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