WATCH: Kentucky basketball stars help hand out Thanksgiving meals
The Kentucky men’s basketball teamed up with the Salvation Army and the Boys and Girls Club to serve food to those in need on Thanksgiving.
Cameras captured John Calipari, star Oscar Tshiebwe and the rest of the 4-2 squad dishing out meals, laughs and smiles, as well as well-wishes for Big Blue Nation.
“It’s one of the best things I love to do is be around people and giving back is the best thing in life,” Tshiebwe told the cameras.
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Kentucky fans are certainly feeling thankful for Tshibwe’s return to the team this year. The senior from the Democratic Republic of the Congo is back to leading the team with 16 points and 13.8 rebounds per game so far in 2022. He’s cracked 20 points in two of the four games he’s played this year, but the Wildcats came up short in both of them.
Tshibwe had a late start to the year after undergoing a procedure on his knee. He averaged 17.4 points and 15.1 rebounds a year ago for Kentucky, while also chipping in 1.8 steals, 1.6 blocks and 1.1 assists per contest.
No. 15 Kentucky gets back to work on Nov. 29 after a few days of rest following the Thanksgiving holiday. They’ll host 2-3 Bellarmine for a 7 p.m. ET tipoff.
Calipari’s Thanksgiving advice
The Thanksgiving holiday is a time that many take to step back and reflect on all they are thankful for in their lives. While many will spend the day with family, Kentucky head coach John Calipari encouraged fans this week to welcome some unfamiliar faces into their homes this year.
Calipari explained more following his team’s 40-point win over North Florida on Wednesday.
“I would tell everybody — if anybody’s writing this or you’re listening; reach out to somebody who you know, maybe by themselves. Invite them to your house,” Calipari said. “Maybe somebody that’s older, maybe a widow, maybe somebody’s that’s moved to town and they’re here by themselves. Invite them to the house. Bring them food and spend some time with them. It’s a great time and I think for all of us, that’s why we do stuff at Thanksgiving. I want these kids to feel it, what it is.”
Calipari’s words come after a dominant victory for his team. Kentucky enters the Thanksgiving holiday at 4-2 but does not have a Power Five win yet. The Wildcats have beaten Howard, Duquesne, South Carolina State and North Florida, but have lost games to Michigan State and Gonzaga.
On3’s Riley Gates contributed to this report.