Top 50 Kentucky Wildcats Prior to John Calipari Era
Dec 1, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Tayshaun Prince (12) against the Orlando Magic at Target Center. The Magic defeated the Timberwolves 96-93. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
10. Tayshaun Prince
Tayshaune Prince played four seasons (1998 to 2002) for the Kentucky Wildcats. Prince averaged 13.2 points and 5.7 rebounds.
The furthest the Wildcats made in the tournament during Prince’s tenure with them was the regional finals, losing to the Michigan State Spartans.
Prince won SEC Player of the Year in his junior season (2000–2001) and also lead the SEC in free throw percentage (84.3%)
Prince was named to the Associated Press All-SEC Teams in both his junior and senior seasons.
Kentucky won the SEC Tournament in 1999 and 2001, and Prince was awarded the 2001 tournament’s Most Valuable Player award in both wins.
Now, I know you remember these performances by Tayshaun Prince, there is no way you don’t. The 31-point, 11 rebound, four assist, four steal effort in a 79–59 victory over North Carolina Tarheels. Prince scored Kentucky’s first fifteen points, he made five consecutive three-point shots. In the 2012 NCAA tournament, Prince scored a career-high 41 points (along with nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks) to lead Kentucky to the Sweet 16.
Prince, who is still in the NBA has played for a handful of teams, too, winning the championship in 2004 with the Detroit Pistons. He was the 23rd overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft.
- 2002-13: Detroit Pistons
- 2013-15: Memphis Grizzlies
- 2015: Boston Celtics
- 2015: Detroit Pistons
- 2015-Now: Minnesota Timberwolves
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