Another Blast from the Past

Since my last Blast from the Past column was about someone who is relatively obscure in the minds of many (if not most) UK fans, I thought maybe I could so something about someone who anyone over the age of 30 and from the state of Kentucky has to know - Rex Chapman.

Ahh yes, King Rex, he of feathered bangs, which were all the rage in the mid-80's. King Rex, the man that was named ALL-SEC in both his Freshman and Sophomore seasons with the Cats. King Rex, the man who scored over 1000 points (1073 to be exact) in only two years with the Big Blue. King Rex, he who got the heck out of dodge just before Eddie Sutton wrecked the UK basketball program into the purgatory of NCAA probation.

In Rex's last game with the Wildcats, he posted 30 points in the 1988 NCAA Elite 8 versus Villanova. After that loss, Rex entered the draft, where he became the first player selected in the history of the now defunct Charlotte Hornets. Chapman bounced around a bit in the League... going from Charlotte to the Washington Bullets to the Miami Heat, and finally ending with the Phoenix Suns.

Along the way, Rex lost his sexy hair, but he never lost his shot. Rex amassed totals of 9,731 points (14.6), 1,788 assists (2.7), and 1,645 rebounds (2.5).

These might not be the totals and averages that most UK fans envisioned when he first entered the league, but in my opinion, they were more than respectable for a kid out of Owensboro, KY.


NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: "Blast from the Past" columns are just random, but fun moments for us to take a look back at former UK players. If you would like us to catch up with one of your favorite UK players from the past, send us an email at bigbluenation@wk.net and let us know. We'll certainly do our best.