A Kentucky fan surprised Tyler Ulis with his old McDonald's All-American jersey in Nashville

How about some good vibes in Nashville before Kentucky tips off postseason play tonight with the SEC Tournament? Tyler Ulis is now a coaching extraordinaire on John Calipari’s bench, but before that, he was one of the best point guards this program has ever seen.

(For my money, he is the best, but that’s another argument for another day.)

Before he arrived in Lexington as a Wildcat, though, he was a blue-chip recruit — albeit underrated — and a McDonald’s All-American. That’s a lifetime achievement for all high school basketball players, certainly for a kid who overcame the odds as a 5-9, 160-pound undersized point guard turned superstar.

Somehow, some way, Ulis lost his McDonald’s All-American jersey after his playing days. Fortunately for him (and all that is good in the game of basketball), it has been found and returned to its home. And the story of how it all happened will make your day.

Ulis had a fan signing ahead of Friday’s game, a pop-up setup with Jimmy’s Kentucky Roadshow at the Hilton Nashville Downtown. With Big Blue Nation rolling in loud and proud, one particular fan showed up specifically to surprise the former Wildcat with his jersey he happened to get his hands on.

“A wonderful man somehow had ended up with (Tyler Ulis’) McDonald’s All-American Jersey from 2014! He came just to make sure he could give it back to Tyler,” Jimmy Mahan, owner of Kentucky Roadshow, wrote.

Check out the photos from today’s signing, including Ulis’ old No. 3 McDAAG jersey:

I LOVE the unexpected stuff at signings! A wonderful man somehow had ended up with @tulis3 McDonald’s All-American Jersey from 2014! He came just to make sure he could give it back to Tyler. THAT is awesome and a perfect way to spend an afternoon at the #sectournament before… pic.twitter.com/FV7Bm69L46

— KentuckyCards (@KentuckyCards) March 15, 2024

That fan immediately jumps up the BBN leaderboard ahead of tonight’s matchup vs. Texas A&M in Nashville.

Good vibes, just what the doctor ordered.