Calipari, Barnhart to deliver 10,000 pairs of shoes to Western Kentucky

It was going to be a surprise, but John Calipari revealed his plans once Kentucky Basketball returns to the Bluegrass. On Sunday, Calipari and Mitch Barnhart will travel to Western Kentucky to deliver a shoe donation on behalf of UK Athletics. Former UK greats Jack Givens and Darius Miller will accompany Kentucky’s head coach and athletic director, as will 10,000 pairs of shoes for the communities devastated by the tornados.

Calipari concluded his post-CBS Sports Classic press conference with the announcement of Sunday’s trip across the state.

“I probably shouldn’t do this,” he said, “but I’ll tell you tomorrow morning Mitch, myself, Darius Miller, and Jack Givens are going to go to West Kentucky in the morning as these shoes are being delivered.”

Calipari and company are going “just to be there,” as he put it. “We just want people to know we care and we know and it’s not going away.”

Murray State athletic director Kevin Saal, a former associate AD at UK under Barnhart, is also expected to join.

Calipari would like for his current Kentucky players to tag along too, but they will stay home out of caution with the sudden rise in COVID cancelations around college basketball.

“I want my kids to feel it, but with all that’s going on, I just don’t want to take my kids there,” Calipari explained.

The shoe delivery is part of UK Athletics’ fundraiser for the relief efforts throughout Western Kentucky. A live telethon raised over $3 million earlier this week.