Kentucky Baseball: Sean Hjelle won't play Basketball

Sean Hjelle, a 7′ senior out of Mahtomedi High School in Minnesota, will suit up for the Kentucky Wildcats but for baseball, not John Calipari’s basketball team.

More from Kentucky Wildcats News

As of January 19, Hjelle was “averaging 15.2 points and 10.5 rebounds for the Zephyrs” according to the Pioneer Press. While his height makes him a good basketball player, take him to the baseball field and he’s just as impressive.

Mahtomedi basketball assistant George Palke has said that he would write Kentucky coach John Calipari to tell him about the two-sport star. Much to Palke’s dismay, Hjelle has no interest in playing basketball at the collegiate level.

"“Even if I could, I wouldn’t,” he said. “That would really be like having a full-time job. It’d be fun, and it’d be a lot of great memories; it would just be too much.”"

At a time when we don’t know which of the current big men on campus decide to go pro, it would certainly be nice to know that another 7-foot basketball player was heading to Lexington. Unfortunately for the Kentucky basketball program, Hjelle’s number one passion is to play baseball. This is despite being a two-sport athlete since he started high school.

Hjelle realizes that he’s one of very few baseball players with his height. Alex Meyer was the last pitcher close to 7-feet to play for the Wildcats. Interestingly enough, Meyer is in the Minnesota Twins system.

A senior for now, he seems happy to be enjoying what little time remains for him in high school before he leaves to start his freshman year at the University of Kentucky.

"“I’m excited, and at the same time it’s also really scary,” he said. “It’s the next chapter in my life, and I’ll be ready for it.”"

Kentucky Baseball fans will be waiting to see what he offers during the 2016 baseball season.

Home/Kentucky Wildcats News

Kentucky Baseball: Sean Hjelle won’t play Basketball

By Danielle | Jan 21, 2015