
Tonight, we will say goodbye to Jon Hood and Jarrod Polson, two born and bred Kentucky boys who have given their all for the Cats in the past five years. Before Sundy Best has us all looking for the Kleenex with "My Old Kentucky Home" tonight, let's look back at
the top ten eleven moments of Jon Hood's career at Kentucky:
Ballin in the LIT: Hood first popped up on our radars back in 2007, and really turned heads in January 2008 at the Louisville Invitational Tournament. His performance was good enough to get Billy Gillispie to come watch him practice in Madisonville, and in May, he committed to the Cats.
The infamous mop picture: Thomas Beisner received this picture of Hood dressed up as the Madisonville Maroon from a reader back in September 2008. Along with the picture of Jorts in jorts, it will go down in the KSR Picture Hall of Fame.
This dunk at the Derby Festival Classic: "Oooooh, two hands behind the back!"
Turning down Erin Andrews: During the 2010 Basketball Women's Clinic, Jon Hood turned down the chance to dance for emcee Erin Andrews. During the fashion show, each of the players came out to show off their clothes and dance for Erin, but Hood refused. After Erin said, "dance for me, Hood!", Jon Hood still refused, shaking his head and saying "no." Saddened, Erin moved on to the next player.
Hanging with Jay-Z: Ain't no gangsta like a Lake Barkley gangsta.
#LakeHairDontCare: There's nothing Jon Hood loves more than summer days at the lake. In the summer of 2011, Hood expressed his love for the lake via Twitter, coining his trademark phrase "Lake Hair Don't Care."
That beard: Lake beard got weird in December 2012.
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Photo by Chet White | UK Athletics[/caption]
Blocking Mike Rosario: Last year around this time, UK managed to knock off #11 Florida in Rupp Arena, and one of the highlights was Jon Hood blocking Mike Rosario's shot in the first half.
Graduation: Hood and Polson graduated back in May 2013, and both are working on additional degrees from the university this season.
LAKE LOB!: Dominique Hawkins and Jon Hood connected on this alley-oop during the Transy game this season. From one Kentucky boy to another.
Hood's big heart: Ask anyone around the program and they'll tell you how great Jon Hood is with kids, especially those with special needs. After his playing days are over, Hood wants to start an organization to help special needs children play sports in Western Kentucky. Hood's brother Mitchell has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, and Hood's family used to have to drive 40 miles to take him to his special needs little league games in Henderson. Hood uses his position as a Kentucky basketball player to help bring joy to others, like the time he took young Gaige Osborne into the Joe Craft Center to play some basketball. That's special, folks.
We'll miss you, Hoody Hood.
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