Kentucky basketball legend Vernon Hatton passes away

Kentucky basketball legend Vernon Hatton passed away on Friday. He was 89 years old. The UK basketball team just went to visit him before they left for the NCAA Tournament, according to Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio.

UK head coach Mark Pope announced his passing before the Wildcats’ NCAA Tourney matchup with Troy. “So you think about tough things. The great Vernon Hatton, he’s a legend, all-time legend at the University of Kentucky. He passed away just before the game. I just heard that after the game.”

Hatton played under Wildcat head coach Adolph Rupp. He is considered a legend mostly because of a half-court shot he hit to force a third overtime in a victory over Temple. He earned honorable mention All-American honors his senior year and tallied 30 points to lead UK over Seattle in winning the 1958 NCAA men’s basketball title.

Hatton was named a member of the NCAA All-Tournament Team in 1958 along with Johnny Cox, Guy Rodgers, and Elgin Baylor, who played for Seattle. Throughout his college career, he scored 1,153 career points. He was drafted 9th overall in the 1958 NBA Draft by the Cincinnati Royals.

In high school, Hatton helped guide the Lafayette Generals to the state championship in 1953. In addition to being named to the All-Tournament team, Hatton also earned high school All-American honors. He earned all-state honors in 1953 and 1954. He also was named the first Mr. Basketball in the state of Kentucky in 1954.

No. 3 seed Kentucky throttled No. 14 Troy 76-57 in their first-round NCAA Tournament matchup on Friday. The Wildcats got a balanced scoring effort, with four players in double figures. UK star Otega Oweh led all scorers with 20 points, dished out six assists, and grabbed six rebounds in the win. The Wildcats got a big day on the glass from Amari Williams, who had 13 rebounds.