Top 50 Kentucky Wildcats Prior to John Calipari Era

Mar 26, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Kentucky Wildcats mascot during the second half against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the semifinals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

15. Alex Groza

Alex Groza was the captain and center of the Fabulous Five that won the 1948 and 1949 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championships at the University of Kentucky. He had an absolutely outstanding career with the Wildcats.

Like the other member of the Fabulous Five, Groza took part in the 1948 Olympics. Gross was the leading scorer on the gold medal-winning 1948 US Olympic basketball team.

During his tenure at the University of Kentucky, Groza was three-time All-American and All-SEC, and two-time NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player.

After his collegiate career, Groza went 70 miles west to become the coach of Bellarmine College, which is now known as Bellarmine University, in Louisville, Kentucky.

In 1963, Groza led the Knights to a Kentucky Intercolliegiate Athletic Conference title and was named KIAC coach of the year.

Groza left Bellarmine in 1966 for a brief coaching and managerial career in the American Basketball Association. Between 1971 and 1975, Groza coached 40 games with the Kentucky Colonels and San Diego Conquistadors.

After his time coaching, he moved to the front office of these teams.

Groza passed away in 1995.

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