John Calipari, Kentucky players make surprise visit to Dawson Springs

Let’s take a break from the Shaedon Sharpe confusion for something heartwarming, shall we? According to our own Matt Jones, John Calipari and members of the Kentucky Basketball team made a surprise visit to Dawson Springs today, one of the sites of the deadly tornadoes in December. Calipari, Oscar Tshiebwe, Lance Ware, Daimion Collins, CJ Fredrick, Brennan Canada, and Kareem Watkins were all in the house, with Oscar holding two children in his lap.

John Calipari and A number of UK players went to Dawson Springs today to meet with kids in the town devastated by the tornados in December pic.twitter.com/drAwHz4Hmf

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) April 21, 2022

A closer look at those smiles:

Kentucky Basketball gives back to Western Kentucky tornado victims

This isn’t the first time Kentucky Basketball has embraced the Dawson Springs community. In the weeks after the tornadoes, John Calipari visited the town to talk to storm victims and deliver shoes from Samaritan’s Feet. Oscar Tshiebwe dedicated his record-breaking 28-rebound performance vs. Western Kentucky to the victims of the tornadoes on Dec. 24. The team also invited the Dawson Springs High School girls’ and boys’ basketball teams to practice.

Loved having the Dawson Springs High School girls’ and boys’ basketball teams at practice today!!! pic.twitter.com/AFNyyHpOXi

— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) December 27, 2021

A few days later, the boys’ team sent Kentucky a good luck message prior to their game vs. Missouri.

I got this last night before the game from the Dawson Springs HS team. It made me smile.

Not only do we need to keep these young men and all of Western Kentucky in our prayers, let’s not forget. Let’s make this the quickest turnaround of any natural disaster ever! pic.twitter.com/skIYCgsYVW

— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) December 30, 2021

“You know what I got on my phone today?” Calipari told his postgame show listeners on Dec. 29. “A message from the Dawson Springs basketball team and Coach Blue, wishing us luck… I hit him back and said, you tell them, not only did I appreciate it, they made me smile today. So that’s a great thing.”

“Let’s not forget,” he urged Big Blue Nation. “Not only keep them in our prayers but let’s not forget. Let’s make it; instead of decades, let’s make it the quickest turnaround of any natural disaster like that ever. Let’s stay on the government. Let’s stay on the federal government, let’s stay on public and private where everybody gets together and we just stay on it to rebuild. We’re not talking a place that’s 400,000 people. We can do this and we can do it fast.”

As rebuilding efforts continue, kudos to the Kentucky Basketball team for continuing to lift up the Dawson Springs community. Also, how about Lance? Good to see him with the group.

UPDATE: Here are some more pictures from John Calipari on Twitter, including the team washing the children’s feet. As you can see, Jacob Toppin was there too.

We also got to show love and share blessings through the @SamaritansFeet2 program. They have been a great service partner for us over the years and are doing great work in Western Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/ZvY6vUqX0L

— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) April 21, 2022