Kahlil Whitney embracing TBT experience: "I feel like a Kentucky Wildcat again"

The Basketball Tournament (TBT) doesn’t tip off until Friday, but the Kahlil Whitney and Big Blue Nation reunion is already well underway. After sharing his story with reporters on Monday, the former Cat sat down with Ryan Lemond on today’s Kentucky Sports Radio and said he’s been amazed by the reception he’s received from Kentucky fans since arriving in Lexington late last week, his first trip back since leaving during the middle of the 2019-20 season.

“I was anxious and a little nervous at the same time,” Whitney said of returning to Lexington. “Just coming back to UK after me leaving, not really knowing how the fans or the city were going to react. So like I said, they embraced me, and I’m glad to be here.”

Whitney left the team in January 2020 after 18 games to start preparing for his pro career. He’s been playing in the G League and overseas since then, a far cry from his dreams when he arrived on campus as a five-star freshman in 2019. In late May, Whitney opened up about his mental health journey on TikTok, sharing a picture of his time at Kentucky with the caption, “I probably just needed a hug.” Since then, Kentucky fans have reached out to the former Cat to offer their support, which helped pave the way for him to join La Familia for TBT 2025.

“Just the short time I spent here, I don’t feel like I got the full experience of just the fans and the full program, unfortunately, but ever since I’ve been back, since I posted the TikTok and it blew up, the fans have been very supportive, and it’s been very motivational for me, so I really appreciate it.”

On Monday, Whitney told Jack Pilgrim about the last five years of his life, which he plans to detail in his own words in a forthcoming YouTube video. He said his biggest moments of growth came when he was injured and working as a security guard at a nightclub in New Jersey. Being away from the game and working a normal job like that taught him consistency and hard work, lessons he told Lemond he is passing on to his younger siblings back in Chicago, where he lives with his grandmother.

“Just dealing with everyday life. Throughout the whole process, I had to work a regular job as security at this nightclub in Jersey. So just knowing that the opportunity may not be there at the time, but you’ve got to keep pressing and pressing every day and building something every day, whether that’s basketball or just real life. And it helped me with my siblings, just trying to instill in them that consistency wins the game. I’ve got two little brothers and a little sister. I’m really close with them. And I speak that to them every day, like just being consistent, hard work is going to get you where you need to go.”

That’s why this week has meant so much to Whitney, even though the games haven’t even started. Yesterday, La Familia practiced against Kentucky’s team at the Joe Craft Center. At the end of the session, the current Cats gave the former Cats bags with new UK gear, which Whitney proudly wore into KSBar today for his interview.

“I feel like I’m a Kentucky Wildcat again. I’m embracing everything. Actually, some of the guys gave us some gear yesterday at the little event, so it was dope, man. I get to rock my Kentucky blue again.”

La Familia opens TBT play Friday night vs. Stroh’s Squad (9 p.m. ET, FS1), but Whitney got a small taste of what it was like to play in front of Kentucky fans again when he participated in the La Familia Charity All-Star Game last weekend. He said he felt the love then and can’t wait to put on his Kentucky blue for BBN at Memorial Coliseum.

“It feels awesome. I kind of agree that I feel like the fans do have a little soft spot for me. Ever since I came here, just ‘The Dragon,’ the whole Dragon movement, everybody loved that. And then I feel like, ever since I stepped on campus, the fans were treating me great. And I feel like this time around will be even better.”

You can hear the entire interview at the end of Hour 1 and the start of Hour 2 on today’s podcast, and see more from Whitney on the KSR YouTube Channel.