John Calipari returned to Lexington to celebrate Karl-Anthony Towns' Hall of Fame induction

The Caliparis are back in Lexington — and for good reason. They may not be Kentucky Wildcats anymore, but Karl-Anthony Towns certainly is (now maybe more than ever as a member of the UK Athletics Hall of Fame) and they wanted to be there for his big moment.

Ellen and Brad Calipari were right there in attendance at Central Bank Center, catching up with old friends and familiar faces before the No. 1 pick of the 2015 NBA Draft talked about his time at UK and what it meant to wear the blue and white at the podium.

No sign of Coach Cal yet, though.

Then came confirmation of John Calipari‘s return to Lexington, the Arkansas coach sharing photos with Towns and his father, Karl Towns Sr., along with Kenny Payne, Rock Oliver and Ellen and Brad Calipari.

It wasn’t at Rupp Arena, but the gang was all back together right where they started in Lexington — only with the Hall of Fame coach now wearing red for his Hall of Fame player in blue.

“So happy for Karl and his family on his Hall of Fame induction!” Calipari tweeted. “Ellen and Brad got to attend the induction and I just made it up with Kenny to celebrate with them after! Proud of you Karl and so glad we could be here to support and celebrate with you!”

Towns talked about both Ellen and Brad Calipari during his Hall of Fame speech, highlighting the former’s impact on his life as a mother away from home when he couldn’t be with his own in Lexington. He also discussed how Coach Cal’s wife stepped in to fill that role as best she could when Jackie Cruz-Towns tragically passed away back in 2020.

“My mom, obviously, couldn’t make it here today. She’s preparing my next home (in heaven),” Towns said of Ellen. “She held it down for me here in Kentucky when my mom was back in (New) Jersey. I never felt like I didn’t have a mom here — she filled that. It’s a super crucial spot and job that every boy needs. You’ve never heard of anything but a mama’s boy. I’ve always been close to my mom, so I appreciate her filling that job when I was here and giving me that love and attention and hugs that only a mother could do. I’m really appreciative of you for that.”

“And my young brother over there, Brad. You know I’ve got nothing but love for you,” he added of Brad. “Thank you for holding it down for me when I was here in college and being a brother for me when I needed a brother the most.”

Towns was one of six total former Wildcats inducted into the UK Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025 on Friday, joined by Abbey Cheek-Ramsey (Softball), Makayla Epps (Women’s Basketball, Doug Flynn (Basketball, Baseball), Sonia Hahn (Women’s Tennis) and Josh Hines-Allen (Football).

It’s a talented group in a prestigious club, now including Karl-Anthony Towns’ name. And the Caliparis overcame the awkwardness of returning to Lexington in a non-basketball setting for their guy.

Have no fear, though, Big Blue Nation. The new guy hung out with the five-time NBA All-Star, too, Mark Pope inviting him to practice earlier in the day before showing up to support him in person at the Hall of Fame celebration.

Huge congratulations to @karltowns on going into the @ukathletics Hall of Fame!

Amazing to have him at practice today to share wisdom, experience and what it means to wear Kentucky across your chest with our team. pic.twitter.com/D5tDl6ZH3r

— Mark Pope (@CoachMarkPope) September 13, 2025