Meeting the UK Wildcats

I started a new tradition last year when I got season tickets for the first time and the team had such a memorable year. I started taking the kids to meet the players when they leave for the NBA. It is our way to say thanks for all the memories that we have gotten to enjoy since they put on the blue and white of the Kentucky Wildcats! I figured this year should not be any different even though they didn't have as good of a season as last year. I missed the first scheduled player visit when they came to the mall so I was able to catch Alex Poythress when he came to Nicholasville.

Brinley was really excited to meet Alex. She is not shy at all either. She handed Alex the ball he asked her what color she wanted him to sign the ball with. I had to ask for black because I didn't know if all the other players would have been able to have the additional colors.

Posing with her new buddy Alex. He was being really nice and taking his time and interacting with everybody that came in to meet him.

Landon finally decided that he wanted to get a picture with Alex. I couldn't get Landon to look at the camera though.

I had to get a picture with him too. I wished him all the best of luck and said how thankful we were for the previous 4 years that he played for UK. Brinley even showed him her 3 goggles before we left and he gave her a big smile.

Brinley with the ball that her new buddy Alex had just signed for her. When we got out to the car she told me that she thought Alex was nice.

 Next on the autograph tour was to meet Skal Labissiere at the mall. We arrived at the mall 15 minutes prior to the start of his signing time and there was about 30 or 40 people in front of me in line. The kids did pretty good waiting in line because they played with their little Ipods. The line moved fairly quick and in no time it was our turn to meet Skal.

Again Brinley was our ball girl. In the line Brinley kept asking me what the guy's name was and I repeatedly told her Skal. She would then say "I don't know him". Well now she won't be able to say that.

Brinley got a big smile from Skal when she showed him her 3 goggles. Landon was in the middle of a meltdown because I took his Ipod away from him so that we could take a picture with Skal.

Skal is a very nice young man and I wished him all the best in the NBA. I know this season didn't turn out the way we had wanted, but at times Skal showed why he is going to be a high draft pick. 

 The next stop on the autograph tour was one of the BBN favorites, Tyler Ulis. I knew the line was going to be much longer than the previous two players that we had met. I just didn't realize how many people were going to get there that early. Some people apparently started lining up at 11am and the line just kept getting longer throughout the day. When I got to the mall an hour before the signing time there were about 100 people in front of me. Jennifer stayed at home with the kids for a little while longer and then showed up when we were close to the front.

When it was our time to meet Tyler we were greeted by a lady taking pictures. She picked Landon up and put him on the table and took some pictures of the kids. 

Then I asked if I could get a family picture too. He was a nice young man and I thanked him for the past 2 years and said that it was fun to watch him play. I also wished him all the best in the NBA.

We just had one thing left to do before saying bye to Tyler and that was to throw up our 3 goggles. Brinley has gotten so good at doing it on demand and Tyler was a good sport too. I just love this picture and I think it is one that will be something she will really appreciate later in life. Before we left the store I spotted Tyler's dad and told him too that I was glad he let us borrow his son for a couple of years. He said that Tyler and himself had loved it here at Kentucky!

The last (at least I hope) of this seasons wildcats to leave for the NBA was by far my favorite Wildcat, Jamal Murray. He is an exceptional athlete and an amazing shooter. He is the record holder at UK for the most points scored by a freshman and he actually hit a 3-pointer in every game that he played which was another record. I believe that he is going to be a superstar in the league for many years to come.

The kids and I with Jamal. He was a very nice young man and I wished him all the best in the NBA. I can't wait to see which team is lucky enough to get to draft him.



Brinley and Jamal exchanging 3 goggles. I am so glad that we got this whole exchange between the kids and Jamal on film because it was awesome to see them interact. Both kids were so good and Jamal loved their 3 goggles and bow and arrows.

Brinley got a smile out of Jamal when she showed him her shooting the arrow. He was distracted by Brinley so I had to let him know that Landon was throwing up the 3 goggles too!

I know that the kids really don't know or care at all about meeting these guys at this point in their lives. However, I think someday they are going to love knowing that they got to meet some of the Wildcat greats. They have met all the departing players the last 2 years and they have also been to see all of these guys play at RUPP too. I hope that they grow up to have as much pride in our CATS as I do. Thanks for reading and God bless!