Karl-Anthony Towns hangs out with Tim Couch, UK MBB and VB ahead of HOF ceremony
Kentucky officially has the tallest middle blocker in college volleyball, but his availability will be limited once October rolls around. Getting back and forth from Madison Square Garden to Historic Memorial Coliseum will be problematic, but if anyone can do it, it’s probably Karl-Anthony Towns.
The one and only KAT is in town for his UK Athletics’ 2025 Hall of Fame induction as one of six legends joining the prestigious group of greats to come through Lexington. Towns joins Abbey Cheek-Ramsey (softball), Makayla Epps (women’s basketball), Doug Flynn (baseball/men’s basketball/broadcaster), Sonia Hahn (women’s tennis) and Josh Hines-Allen (football) in the latest class honored during Hall of Fame Weekend.
It was an emotional moment for the former Wildcat, who led the men’s basketball team to a 38-1 record and Final Four in 2014-15.
“I’m in shock,” Towns told Mitch Barnhart. “I’m literally sweating. … Hopefully one day, my kids can see that their dad was something special in college at Kentucky.”
Among his first stops upon returning to his Old Kentucky Home? Hanging out with the women’s volleyball team, ranked No. 3 in the country and — like his own team back in the day — a serious contender to hang a banner.
The team shared a photo from practice on Friday, thanking the five-time NBA All-Star for checking in at HMC.
“Our newest middle blocker?!?! Thanks for stopping by, KAT.”
He also hung out with fellow former No. 1 draft pick Tim Couch, also a UK Hall of Fame inductee and Wildcat legend in his own right, albeit on the gridiron.
Top 10
- 1
Dwight Perry
Wofford fires former Cat after NCAA Tournament run
- 2Hot
KAT's Here!
It's Hall of Fame weekend for Karl-Anthony Towns.
- 3New
Staff Predictions
KSR crew picks UK vs. Eastern Michigan
- 4Hot
Fit Check
See the uniform combos coming to Kroger Field.
- 5
Arafan Diane
Top-ranked center visiting Kentucky this weekend
Get the Daily On3 Newsletter in your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
He couldn’t check out his old stomping grounds without checking out his actual stomping grounds in the Joe Craft Center with the men’s basketball team.
Different head coach now, obviously, with Mark Pope leading the charge and John Calipari in Fayetteville, but he looked like he never left in the practice gym where he developed into the No. 1 draft pick.
There, Towns watched practice and spoke with the team that looks to head back to the program’s first Final Four since he left in 2015.
Of course he had to sign his name on the La Familia wall outside the Joe Craft Center, a great joining fellow greats to wear the blue and white:
Later tonight, he will be officially inducted into the UK Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 Class — right where he belongs.
Go get ‘em, KAT.
Discuss This Article
Comments have moved.
Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board.
KSBoard