Kentucky MBB heads to Hazard for community service and a cookout

The Kentucky men’s basketball team is back on campus after a few weeks off for summer break, practice set to begin the same day as the start of classes for the fall semester on Monday, August 26. How are the Wildcats spending their last weekend off before chaos returns next week?

By heading to Hazard, of course.

We already knew the team had a Community Cookout at Perry County Park scheduled from 5-7 p.m. ET in partnership with Club Blue, the program’s NIL partner. That features food, games, and interaction between the locals and Mark Pope’s debut roster.

Perry County! We’re excited to hang out with you and @KentuckyMBB this friday from 5-7pm/et at Perry County Park!

Come join us for the community cookout for some great food, fun games, and more. We’ll see you then!

(via littleredridinghood146/TT) pic.twitter.com/stDMwbbYKc

— CLUB BLUE (@ClubBlueNIL) August 22, 2024

What we didn’t know was that the trip included some community service, the Wildcats coming together to help build a wall for some type of construction project — maybe a house? Looks like a house, so let’s call it a house. Not totally relevant.

The Cats got out their hammers and nails while carrying lumber to frame up a wall to perfection, raising the wall together as a team once complete.

“This is sweat equity on my noise right now,” Mark Pope said in the video released on social media. “Woo!”

The best part of the video? Kerr Kriisa pretending to hammer a nail into Alvin Brooks III.

Take a look:

Putting in work 🔨 pic.twitter.com/NYs2NqBQiz

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) August 23, 2024

KSR has learned that the team is using this weekend as a team-bonding retreat to get the fall semester started. What does that look like for Pope and the Cats? Will they roast marshmallows by the campfire at a cabin in the woods? Who is the team’s grillmaster? Maybe a rope swing at the lake?

The possibilities are truly endless knowing the Kentucky head coach’s personality. I’m sure we’ll find out more once the weekend wraps up and the fall semester begins Monday. Until then, stay safe and have fun, Cats. We’ll see you on the hardwood here in a couple of months.