The 2013-2014 Kentucky Wildcats have the “most to prove” this season, as does Nerlens Noel

Jul 23, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; First round draft pick center Nerlens Noel poses with his jersey during a press conference at PCOM. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Could another Kentucky Mr. Basketball be lacing up the sneakers to ply his trade under the rafters of Rupp Arena?  Look ahead to the 2016 season and I give you Quentin Goodin.  Currently just a sophomore, the Taylor Co. guard has scheduled an “unofficial” visit with Kentucky today, though he has no scholarship offer.

"Taylor County sophomore point guard Quentin Goodin will take an unofficial recruiting visit to the University of Kentucky on Thursday to watch a preseason practice, his father said. It’ll be the first time Goodin, who doesn’t have a UK scholarship offer, has visited the school, and the Wildcats continue to evaluate him. His dad, Chris Goodin, said UK “liked what they knew of him and would continue to watch him.” The 6-foot-3 Goodin, is a member of the 2016 class and is one of the state’s best players, regardless of class. He is a top target of Indiana University, which has made an offer, and he has visited that campus before. He’s also visited the University of Louisville, although Goodin’s dad, Chris, said last week that he hadn’t had much recent contact with the Cardinals. Goodin has scholarship offers from IU, Northern Kentucky, Oklahoma State, Samford, Tennessee, Western Kentucky, West Virginia and UAB. The WVU and UAB offers are the most recent ones, coming in the past few months. Coaches from several of those schools that have made offers — plus many others — are expected to visit Taylor County soon to watch Goodin, a four-star prospect who is ranked as the nation’s No. 41 sophomore by 247Sports.com."

Philadelphia 76ers fans should be elated at how well set up they are for the present and future when the drafted for Kentucky Wildcat Nerlens Noel.  Though his time at UK was short, his impact was far reaching.  He was on pace to at least match Anthony Davis’ blocks record but he didn’t have much of a supporting cast and when he went down against Florida, his NBA draft was more than certain.  Well it was for me anyway.  And his rehabbing is going swimmingly so we should hopefully see him suit up at some point in 2013.

"HANG TIME SOUTHWEST — Imagine all those staunch Sixers fans falling for a skinny Boston kid raised four miles from the enemy Celtics’ home court. Get ready, Philly, here comes Nerlens Noel. Maybe a love affair rising from the failed ashes of Andrew Bynum isn’t so far-fetched. After all, Noel’s outdated box-top hair-do is inspired by his fave entertainer, Philadelphia’s own Will Smith from his days as the “Fresh Prince of Bel Air”. “Everything’s for a reason,” the 76ers rookie center told NBA.com last week, referring to the ACL tear in his left knee that derailed his near-certain path to becoming the No. 1 pick. “I definitely feel the injury is a blessing in disguise, and I feel that Philly is perfect as to my style, and definitely my playing style. I’m just always playing hard, working for everything and, of course, the city of Philadelphia itself having the die-hard fans they do and just being a blue-collar city.” When the home fans will get their first look at the one-year Kentucky wonder remains uncertain. Noel’s relentless recovery is ongoing. The devastating injury occurred on Feb. 12 in just his 24th collegiate game, the result of a hustle play the Wildcats’ center didn’t have to attack. He could have surrendered the breakaway layup against against rival Florida. He sprinted, closed the gap, leaped and swatted the ball away from behind. His 106th block had him on pace to threaten 2012 No. 1 pick Anthony Davis‘ school-record from the season before. Noel crashed to the floor and didn’t get up. More than four months later at the NBA Draft, Noel waited. He slid from No. 1 to No. 6. “I don’t regret making that play,” Noel said. “I definitely wanted to put my team in the best position to win and I’m not mad at myself for making that play. That’s just who I am.” Since undergoing surgery on March 12, and up until just last week, the 19-year-old Noel slept, ate and rehabbed in Birmingham, Ala., punching work-week-like hours to rebuild his knee under the supervision of renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews and esteemed physical therapist Kevin Wilk. He’s finally seeing evidence of all that hard work. “I feel great. I’m really starting to feel like my old self, being able to have my explosiveness. But I’m definitely being careful with it,” Noel said. ”From Day 1, every time I was in rehab, the last few reps, I would just think how bad I want to get on the court because of how much I want to prove to myself that I can get back and be the player I want to be.” He’s only now getting to know the city, having moved to Philadelphia about 10 days ago. He dropped off some boxes there, then he traveled to Lexington to attend a Wildcats alumni game and then to Los Angeles for a Reebok photo shoot, where he revealed the company will encourage his retro “Fresh Prince” fashion sense. Moving to Philly earlier in the summer wasn’t really an option. He and the Sixers’ No. 11 pick, Michael Carter-Williams, remain the only first-round picks yet to sign their rookie contracts. Salaries for first-round picks are slotted, so there’s no contract dispute here. The bottomed-out, 76ers, now under the guidance of general manager Sam Hinkie, are conserving cap space as they slowly fill out the roster. Then they’ll ink their draft picks. Unsigned players are prohibited from using team facilities and working with training and coaching staffs. “It’s not too disappointing. I’m definitely working as much as I can and staying focused. That will come,” Noel said. “They’re making strategic moves right now so I definitely understand, but that’s not stopping me from rehabbing and getting back to where I want to be.”"

The SEC announced the 2013 Football Legends Class was announced yesterday and yes, there is a Kentucky Wildcat on the roster for the East Division.  Wilbur Hackett played during the late 60’s and was a big time LB.  Here’s the complete list.

"KENTUCKY –  Wilbur Hackett, Linebacker, 1968-70 Wilbur Hackett was a three-year starting linebacker at Kentucky, earning Sophomore All-SEC honors in 1968, honorable mention All-SEC as a junior and was Kentucky’s Co-Most Valuable Player as a senior.  One of the pioneers of integration in the Southeastern Conference, in 1969 he became the first African-American team captain in any sport in SEC history.  Hackett stayed close to athletics by becoming a baseball umpire and football game official, retiring recently after 15 seasons as an SEC football official.  His officiating highlights included three SEC ChampionshipGames, two Rose Bowls and a Fiesta Bowl.  He is a member of the University of Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame and the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame."