Where Are They Now: Scott Padgett

  Scott Padgett was the star power forward that led the 1998 team to Kentucky's seventh national title. Padgett arrived at Kentucky in 1994 and had himself quite the career as a Wildcat. After limited playing time during his freshman season and having to sit out during the 1995-96 season, Padgett returned during the second half of the 1996-97 season as an essential part of the team. During Padgett's four seasons at Kentucky he was named to the All-NCAA Final Four two years in a row, All-NCAA Regional Team, All-SEC, All-SEC Tournament, Academic All-SEC and SEC Tournament MVP. In 1998, Padgett joined an elite list of Wildcats to be named as an All-American. Padgett scored a total of 1,252 points during his career at Kentucky, which puts him 33rd overall in Kentucky basketball scoring history. Following his successful career at Kentucky, Padgett was drafted by the Utah Jazz 28th overall in the 1999 NBA Draft. Padgett played for the Jazz for four seasons (1999-2003), where he averaged 4.9 points per game. In 2003, Padgett joined the Houston Rockets for the next two seasons. He was mainly used as a backup and averaged 3.8 points per game. The highlight of his NBA career came on Jan., 21, 2005 when he made a one-handed last second shot against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Uhb1de8Bfo[/embed] Padgett then signed with the New Jersey Nets for the 2005-06 season where he spent the next season and averaged 3.4 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. Padgett returned to the Houston Rockets for a season (2006-07) before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in February. The Grizzlies waived Padgett in April where his NBA career ended. Padgett spent eight years in the NBA, scoring a total of 1,874 points in 448 games. [caption id="attachment_176996" align="alignnone" width="291"] Getty Images[/caption] Padgett finished the 2006-07 season with CB Granada of the ACB of Spain before officially hanging up his basketball shoes. Padgett decided to take his talents to radio where he co-hosted The Dave and Scott Show with former University of Louisville football player Dave Ragone. The radio show was later moved to television on Louisville's CW Affiliate. Padgett began his coaching career in 2009 as an assistant coach under John Calipari's first season at Kentucky. Padgett returned to his alma mater to coach along with former teammate Tony Delk. After one season at Kentucky, Padgett left to coach under another former teammate, Steve Masiello, at Manhattan College for the next two seasons. In April of 2012, Padgett was hired by Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Padgett became the head coach in June 2014, after the former head coach, Bennie Seltzer, was dismissed. During Padgett's first season as a head coach, the Samford Bulldogs finished the season with a record of 13-19, 6-12 in conference play.

"When I left Manhattan to come here as an assistant, it was because of Martin Newton's vision," said Padgett. "We're all on board to take Samford to the same level as a Butler and Gonzaga, and we have everything that we need to be successful and to get to that point."

Padgett signed a four-year extension to his contract that will take him through the 2018-19 season.     @kbernhardKSR