Don Mills, Fiddlin' Five Sixth Man and All-SEC member, has passed away

A Kentucky basketball all-timer has died at the age of 86. Don Mills, a crucial member of the 1958 national championship team, passed away on Friday, Dec. 1 in Lexington.

He was the sixth man on the Fiddlin’ Five, one of Adolph Rupp’s historic teams during his time at Kentucky. The 6-6, 185-pound center played in 71 games across four years as a Wildcat — lettering in three. He totaled 664 points and 669 rebounds over his career, earning All-SEC honors in 1959-60.

His most notable moment came in the ’58 title game, coming off the bench to score nine points with starting center Ed Beck dealing with foul trouble. He drilled a sky hook over Seattle’s Elgin Baylor to give Kentucky a lead in the final minutes, the Cats holding on to win 84-72.

Mills was drafted No. 92 overall by the Syracuse Nationals in the 1960 NBA Draft.

Some shots of the former Wildcat in action over the course of his three-year career:

Following his basketball career, Mills managed Maroon Lanes Bowling Alley in Richmond before serving as a State Farm insurance agent, along with raising and racing thoroughbred horses — his passion for over 40 years. He is survived by two daughters, three sisters, one brother, one sister-in-law and three grandchildren.

The Wildcat legend is being laid to rest today, Friday, Dec. 8, in the Berea Cemetary. You can find Mills’ complete obituary here.

Rest in peace, No. 54.