Kentucky Basketball once again posts perfect APR score

Last week, the men’s basketball program was one of six Kentucky teams to be recognized by the NCAA for their high Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores; turns out that score was a perfect 1,000. This is the fifth consecutive year UK Basketball has posted a perfect single-year score and the third straight year the four-year composite has been perfect as well.

The NCAA just released the APR scores for all sports and 18 of the 20 UK team scores exceeded the national average and, for the first time in school history, every team scored at least 971. The APR marks are a four-year composite, covering the 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16  and 2016-17 school years, measuring academic eligibility, retention and graduation. The 2016-17 school year’s scores were the ones just released, meaning De’Aaron Fox, Bam Adebayo, and Malik Monk’s squad helped the basketball program keep it 1,000.

“Our whole mindset is preparing our kids for the rest of their lives,” John Calipari said via press release last week. “It’s about taking that next step to what they are going to do once they leave Kentucky. For some kids that’s playing professional basketball. For others it’s outside of basketball. Whatever they decide to do – whatever their ‘genius’ is in – it’s our job to make sure they’re prepared when they leave here. With 18 players who have graduated over the last nine years, I believe we’ve done that. Our kids are committed to learning and take care of business in the classroom. We teach growth in all areas. It’s well documented what our players learn about giving back that they carry with them for the rest of their lives. If they decide to pursue their genius and play professional basketball, they know they have lifetime scholarships so they can come back and finish their degree. Whether they leave early or stay here, they’re in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate. Michael Stone and the CATS staff do a wonderful job of making sure our kids are lifelong learners.”

Remember, Calipari will collect a $50,000 bonus for his program’s high APR score, the only bonus in his current contract.

Meanwhile, the 2016 football team scored a 971, its highest mark in the 14 years the APR has been around, and a significant increase from the 2015 team’s score of 958.

Well done, everyone.

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