Sunday we brought you the battle of the number 0, where Ashton Hagans got our vote while BBN went with De’Aaron Fox. Monday, it was Tony Delk in a walk-off for number 00.
Now it's time to tackle jersey number 1 — and it's a bigger field. Thirteen Wildcats have worn No. 1 over the years, and the names range from legends to lightning-in-a-bottle freshmen to a couple guys who barely saw the court. We ranked them all — not by what they did in the NBA, but by what they actually did at Kentucky. Let the debates begin.
13. John Trivette
Played in two career games. No stats are available. But hey — Trivette was later inducted into the inaugural Dawhare’s KHSAA Hall of Fame class in 1988 as a coach. Always nice when a Wildcat finds greatness elsewhere.
12. Brandon Stockton
Tubby Smith-era backup guard from Kentucky who got some applause just for being homegrown. Appeared in 66 games across three years, averaging 1.5 points per game. A fan favorite despite limited minutes.
11. Alex Legion
A top-50 recruit with top-10 transfer energy. Played just six games in 2007–08 before leaving the program. Averaged 6.7 points and still might hold the record for the shortest Kentucky career that had real expectations.
10. Sacha Killeya-Jones
SKJ was a 5-star recruit and part of the 2016 class but never quite found his footing in Lexington. He showed flashes — especially in the 2018 NCAA Tournament — but averaged just 3.1 points and 2.7 rebounds in two seasons. Transferred to NC State and kept bouncing.
9. Skal Labissiere
One of Calipari’s most intriguing misses. Skal was a top-2 recruit, projected as a lottery pick, but just didn’t adjust to the college game. Averaged 6.6 points and 3.1 rebounds. His best moment might’ve been teaching Kentucky fans not to trust recruiting rankings too much.
8. Nate Sestina
The Bucknell grad transfer was tough, smart, and had a sweet jumper. Played a vital role in 2019–20 — the team that COVID stopped cold. Averaged 5.8 points and 3.8 rebounds and helped stretch the floor for Immanuel Quickley and Tyrese Maxey. He brought big-brother energy to a young team.
7. C.J. Fredrick
Another “what could’ve been.” Injuries plagued his time in Lexington. When healthy, Fredrick could shoot the lights out and defend better than expected. In two years, he played just 35 games — but every time he hit a three, Rupp erupted like it was 1996.
6. Justin Edwards
The No. 3 overall recruit in 2023, expectations were sky high. The delivery? More roller coaster than rocket ship. Still, Edwards averaged 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds, dropped 28 at Mississippi State, and came on strong late. After one year, he transferred to Ohio State — but not before teasing greatness.
And now the top 5:
5. Devin Booker
Bench player? Technically. Star? Undeniably. Booker averaged 10.0 points in just 21.5 minutes during the 38–1 season and was named SEC Sixth Man of the Year. His smooth shooting (41.1% from three) made the platoon system dangerous. More than anything, he felt like the calmest guy in the building — a deadly scorer who never needed the spotlight to shine.
4. Lamont Butler
In his one season at UK, Butler gave Big Blue Nation everything it needed: leadership, defense, clutch shooting, and grit. Averaged 11.4 points and 4.3 assists while shooting 49.8% from the field. He was named Battle of the Bluegrass MVP, made the Naismith Defensive Player Watch List, and kept a young team grounded. In many ways, he was the soul of the squad.
3. Cliff Hawkins
There may never be a more Tubby Smith player than Cliff Hawkins. A defensive hound who could run the show, Hawkins ranks third all-time in Kentucky history in steals (189) and dished out 397 assists. In 2004, he averaged 10.3 points, 5.2 assists, and 2.3 steals while being the heartbeat of a 27–5 team. Never flashy. Always effective.
2. James Young
The 2013–14 season was unforgettable — and James Young played a massive role. The southpaw shooter averaged 14.3 points and 4.3 rebounds, knocked down 34.9% from deep, and had one of the greatest dunks in Final Four history. He was a microwave scorer who gave Kentucky spacing and swagger. Final Four All-Tournament Team and second-team All-SEC. He went out on top, nearly.
1. Darius Miller
The pride of Maysville. The calming presence for one of the most loaded rosters in college basketball history. Miller played 152 career games (a UK record), won SEC Sixth Man of the Year in 2012, and was a key cog on the national title team. He scored 1,248 points, made over 200 threes, and always delivered in big moments. Quiet. Clutch. Consistent. The ultimate Wildcat.
BBN's turn, you tell us who you believe the best Wildcat number 1 is
Jersey number 1 at Kentucky has seen a little bit of everything — from five-star fizzle to hometown heroes to tournament legends. But if you’re handing out the crown, it’s Darius Miller all day. He didn’t just wear the jersey — he defined what it meant to wear it.
Want to argue Booker should be higher? Think Hawkins was underrated? Let us know on X and Facebook.