The best no. 27 in Kentucky history thrived under Adolph Rupp and Bear Bryant

We continue on our summer countdown at WBN of the greatest players to wear each jersey number, we turn our eyes to no. 27. There has actually only ever been 3 no. 27's in Kentucky's long and storied history. But the greatest of them all, may be the greatest multi-sport athlete in Kentucky history.

Greatest Kentucky Wildcats to wear no. 27

3. John Craig (1935-36)

Sometimes the numbers tell the full story. In Craig’s case, it’s a short chapter.

The 1935-36 season saw Craig appear in just three games. He didn’t record a field goal or free throw, finishing his Kentucky career scoreless. His name lives on only in the program records—one of the earliest to don No. 27, but not one who left a statistical impact.

2. Fred Curtis (1936–1939)

Fred Curtis brought steady production through the late 1930s, carving out a solid, if under-the-radar, career under Coach Adolph Rupp.

Over three seasons, Curtis logged 53 games and totaled 337 points—a meaningful number in an era of lower-scoring games and tight defensive play. His scoring rose each season, culminating in a senior campaign where he poured in 187 points. Curtis may not have received postseason accolades, but he was a dependable contributor on the early Wildcat squads that helped lay the foundation for the program's coming dominance.

1. Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones (1945–1949)

The name, the legacy, the legend.

Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones is the undisputed king of Kentucky’s No. 27. A native of Harlan County, just like current Wildcat Trent Noah, Jones was a two-sport superstar who left an indelible mark on both the hardwood and the gridiron. In fact he may have had the greatest Kentucky career ever.

In basketball, Jones helped lead Kentucky to two national championships (1948, 1949) and was part of the famed "Fabulous Five" that won Olympic gold in 1948. He scored 1,151 points across 131 games in an era without the three-point line, earning All-SEC honors all four years and All-America recognition in three.

Jones was the ultimate Rupp player—tough, versatile, and unshakably consistent. And as if that wasn’t enough, he was also a standout on the football field under Bear Bryant, making him the only Kentucky athlete to ever have his jersey retired in both sports. In football, he played from 1945 to 1948, earning All-Southeastern Conference honors in 1946 and 1948 though stats aren't reliable in football from that period.

So not only did he play under Adolph Rupp and Bear Bryant, he thrived.

His nickname? “Wah Wah”—born from the way his little sister tried to say “Wallace.” The name stuck. So did the legacy.

Up next: No. 30

That's right, in the illustrious history of Kentucky basketball, no one has wore number 28 or 29. But there have been some legends at no. 30. Find out tomorrow who tops the list.