Greatest number 45 in Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball history
The number 45 jersey at Kentucky isn’t as iconic as 1, 21, or 23, but it’s been worn by some quietly impactful Wildcats through the years. While it never housed a household name, it did feature a few guys who made the most of their moment in blue and white.
Here’s a full rundown of every player to wear 45 for the Wildcats:
John Adams, Cliff Berger, Mark Soderberg, Darryl Bishop, Bob Guyette, Derrick Ramsey. Yes, that Derrick Ramsey the football great who is now elected ot the UK Hall of Fame.
And here’s our pick for the top two:
No. 2 – Cliff Berger
A steady contributor across three seasons in the late 1960s, Berger racked up 412 points and shot a crisp 51.82% from the field. His 1966-67 campaign was his best, averaging double-digit scoring with strong efficiency and 120 rebounds to go with it. While he never led the team in scoring, he was a reliable piece of Adolph Rupp’s final decade and a player who showed up in big games with hustle and toughness.
No. 1 – Bob Guyette
The clear No. 1. Guyette played in 84 games from 1972-75 and scored 758 points, averaging nearly 9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. He was part of the 1975 national runner-up team that pushed John Wooden’s UCLA to the brink in the title game. Guyette was tough, productive, and a model of consistency, with three straight years of at least 160 points and 125 rebounds. On a team full of stars, he filled in the gaps.
Honorable mention goes to John Adams, who quietly put together a 377-point, 333-rebound career in the mid-1960s, including a stellar senior year in 1964-65.
So while No. 45 may not hang in the rafters, it’s had its moments. And Bob Guyette made sure it left a mark in the record books.