As it starts to really heat up outside in the Bluegrass, our list heats up as well. We continue today on our journey to name the best player to wear each jersey number. Today, we are up to number 24. Let's jump in.
The best 5 Kentucky Wildcats to wear o. 24
5. Larry Pursiful (1960–62)
In an era when Adolph Rupp’s system demanded discipline and efficiency, Larry Pursiful delivered both. The Corbin native developed into a steady backcourt presence for the Wildcats and saved his best for last. As a senior in 1961–62, Pursiful averaged over 19 points per game, earning First Team All-SEC honors from both the AP and the coaches. That season also saw him make the NCAA Regional Team, as Kentucky made a postseason push behind his scoring and composure. Across 71 career games, Pursiful scored 946 points while shooting 46.6% from the field and an impressive 81.4% from the free-throw line. He wasn’t flashy, but he was as reliable as any guard of his time, and his elite shooting numbers still stand out more than six decades later.
4. Mike Flynn (1973–75)
Mike Flynn might be the most underappreciated point guard to ever lead Kentucky to a national championship game. A three-year starter under Joe B. Hall, Flynn was the cool hand that guided the 1974–75 Wildcats all the way to the NCAA title game against John Wooden’s UCLA dynasty. That season, he posted 280 points and 106 assists while running a balanced offense loaded with weapons. Over 85 career games, Flynn totaled 835 points and dished out 260 assists. He was named to the SEC All-Tournament team during his sophomore and junior seasons and was a three-time Academic All-SEC selection—proof that his basketball IQ was matched by his classroom chops. His leadership, poise, and feel for the game gave Kentucky exactly what it needed during one of its most balanced and cohesive runs in program history.
3. Antoine Walker (1995–96)
Antoine Walker’s two seasons in Lexington were electric, but it was his sophomore campaign that vaulted him into Wildcat lore. A vital cog in Rick Pitino’s 1995–96 national championship team, Walker brought versatility, power, and a flair for the dramatic. That season, he averaged 15.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, earning First Team All-SEC honors and a spot on the NCAA Regional Team. Though not a prolific outside shooter, his ability to defend multiple positions, crash the glass, and stretch the floor as a playmaking forward gave Kentucky an irreplaceable weapon in its “Refuse to Lose” lineup. In total, Walker scored 806 points and grabbed 450 rebounds in 69 career games. His role in the '96 title run can’t be overstated—he was the energy guy, the tone-setter, and the matchup nightmare that no opposing team had an answer for.
2. Jamal Mashburn (1990–93)
There’s a reason Jamal Mashburn’s No. 24 now hangs in the rafters of Rupp Arena. In three seasons at Kentucky, “The Monster Mash” took on a wave of its own. He arrived during probation and left with the program back on top, leading the Wildcats to the 1993 Final Four and earning consensus First Team All-American honors in the process. As a junior, Mashburn averaged 21 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. He was named SEC Player of the Year by both the AP and the coaches, and his postseason résumé included All-Regional and All-Final Four team honors. Mashburn finished his Kentucky career with 1,843 points, shooting over 51% from the field and better than 37% from three. His skill set—inside scoring, deep shooting, passing vision—was ahead of its time. He’s not just one of the best to wear No. 24; he’s one of the best to ever wear a Kentucky uniform, period. But there is one more pe
1. Johnny Cox (1956–59)
When you talk about foundational stars in Kentucky basketball history, Johnny Cox belongs in that conversation. He was a three-time All-SEC performer and an All-American in both his freshman and senior seasons. Cox played a leading role on the 1958 national championship team, famously known as the “Fiddlin’ Five,” and earned a spot on the NCAA Final Four and Regional teams that year. Over the course of 84 games, Cox scored 1,461 points and grabbed over 1,000 rebounds—making him one of just a handful of Wildcats to ever hit both marks. His 1958 title team didn’t feature the most dominant talent, but Cox’s combination of scoring, rebounding, and leadership made the difference. When Kentucky raised his jersey to the rafters, it was a fitting tribute to a player who delivered the program’s fourth national title and helped define an era of excellence under Adolph Rupp.
Check back tomorrow as we continue our countdown through the jersey numbers, honoring the best to ever wear the blue and white. No. 25 is on deck—and it’s another number worn by some seriously tough Wildcats. Stay with WBN for the full summer countdown.