Top 50 Kentucky Wildcats Prior to John Calipari Era

Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

44. Melvin Turpin

Melvin Turpin, also known as “The Big Dipper” or “Dinner Bell Mel” was the big man along side Sam Bowie during his Wildcat days, leading the Kentucky Wildcats to the Final Four in the 1984 NCAA Tournament.

During the 1984 season, Turpin had the season of a lifetime. Turpin was the Southeastern Conference scoring leader, holding the record for the most field goals made in SEC tournament play. Turpin also ties for the most points scored in a single tournament game. Turpin scored 42 points in a game against University of Tennessee during his junior season, making 18 of his 22 shots from the field; he also Louisiana State University a victim of his talent shooting during his senior season, shooting 15 of 17 from the floor and five of six from the free throw line.

Turpin was drafted sixth overall in the 1984 NBA draft by the Washington Bullets but was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Injuries and weight struggles plagued Turpin’s NBA career, ending in just six short seasons. That is where Turpin was labeled with the nickname “Dinner Bell Mel”

In 2010, Melvin Turpin succumbed to injuries from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 49 years old. Many former teammates have said they had no idea of the inner struggles Turpin was facing and that his suicide was a surprise.

It was never released whether or not Turpin left a note stating why or anything of that manner.

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