Looking Back At Why We Love Kyle Wiltjer

Tomorrow morning, former Kentucky Wildcat Kyle Wiltjer will be in studio with Matt and Drew to recap his career at UK and Gonzaga and discuss what's next. To get you ready for all the WBA/Goonies nostalgia, I thought I'd give everyone a refresher course on why Kyle may be the most beloved player to ever transfer from Kentucky.

July 2010: Young Kyle Wiltjer comes on the radar

Wiltjer first popped up on our radars back in July 2010 when he was considered the #4 player in the 2011 class. We posted this picture of him on the site, and here are some of the comments:

• "Is it just me or does he have Duke written all over him"
• "This kid is a Dukie through and through! Coach K is feeling nervous just picking up the phone to call him (While the song from Disney’s Enchanted “True Loves Kiss” is echoing in his head)"

Look how young he was.

August 28, 2010: Wiltjer commits to Kentucky

Wiltjer committed to Kentucky over Wake Forest, Cal, Gonzaga, and Texas during halftime of the Boost Mobile 24 game. At the time, he hadn't even visited campus yet, but said he wanted to surround himself with the best players possible, which makes a lot of sense when you consider Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and Marquis Teague were also in the 2011 class. Even though Kyle had never been to Kentucky, part of Kentucky came to his announcement. John Wall, Eric Bledsoe, and UK superfan Josh Hopkins went to the Boost Mobile 24 game just in case Wiltjer committed:

November 10, 2010: Wiltjer signs with Kentucky

Wiltjer made if official with the Cats on November 10, 2010.

March 2011: Wiltjer and others talk trash at the McDonald's All-American Game

This video of the 2011 class talking trash with Louisville commits at the McDonald's All-American Game became famous for Anthony Davis' "You all lost to Morehead State" zinger, but it also showed us that Kyle needs to work on his trash talk. Props to him for refusing to slap hands with Chane Behanan and Wayne Blackshear at the end, though. (I can't embed it, so click on the pic to watch.)

November 2011: The White Boy Academy is born

https://youtu.be/2CLI4H1j8eQ On November 1, 2011, Kyle uploaded a YouTube video entitled "White Boy Academy," in which he and his friends explain what it takes to be a white kid on the UK basketball team: throwing lobs to Anthony Davis, dribbling, white boy dunking, etc. It's really just Kyle and his friends goofing off, but was the start of a BBN viral sensation. A week later, they showed off "WBA Trick Shots": https://youtu.be/LqRFLfkS5ug They took fans on a behind-the-scenes tour of the team's trip to New York for the Kansas game: https://youtu.be/jDv16drHIlM They even made Anthony Davis dunk over poor Brian Long: https://youtu.be/gcd_7Db7q_4

December 2011: The WBA Christmas Special

https://youtu.be/do7WrbYNbjk The WBA Christmas Special was possibly the best WBA video ever, and one millions of girls across the Bluegrass grew up giggling over. Watching Jarrod and Kyle lip sync Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas" is now considered a BBN holiday tradition.

February 2012: Kentucky Cribs with Kyle and Jarrod Polson

Kentucky capitalized on the WBA's success by having Wiltjer and Jarrod Polson host "Kentucky Cribs: The Joe Craft Center" for CoachCal.com.

March 2012: The Geek Squad dances into the postseason

https://youtu.be/x_4KkT8J9WQ How loose was the 2012 group? Check out "The Geek Squad" breaking it down on a random night before the SEC Tournament.

April 2, 2012: Kyle and the Cats win the title

Wiltjer averaged 5 points a game and hit 35 three-pointers in his freshman season. He scored a season-high 24 points vs. Loyola on December 22, 2011, one of five double-figure outings that year. He was seventh on the team in scoring and hit a three-pointer in four straight games in the NCAA Tournament to help Kentucky get #8.

April 8, 2012: WBA Celebrates the Title

https://youtu.be/NDIp6H8-SgM The WBA made a triumphant return with an original song to celebrate Kentucky's 8th National Championship entitled "Final Four Winners." You haven't lived until you've heard Jarrod Polson spit out this verse:

"Forgive us, Kansas, I know we didn't treat you right / Gotta feed the fans, they got a Championship appetite."

July 2012: Willie Cauley-Stein ushers in "The Goonies"

https://youtu.be/M_9_9Ax7N3M During the summer of 2012, the 2012 recruiting class arrived on campus, including a big man from Kansas named Willie Cauley-Stein. At the time, we didn't know much about Willie other than he liked to draw on the sidewalk with chalk, but Kyle helped introduced him to the Big Blue Nation. Willie and Kyle made up raps and danced in a parking lot in downtown Lexington in the middle of the night and the duo known as The Goonies was born. Later that month, The Goonies tried to go sing karaoke at Saddle Ridge but the doorman wouldn't let them in. So, they did what do best: sang in the car and danced with random people off the street: https://youtu.be/372qkeeorxA 2012 was the summer of Turtleman, and Willie and Kyle channeled the "Call of the Wildman" star when they "rescued" a small turtle at the lake: https://youtu.be/lwu390xJy2E In August, The Goonies went to Los Angeles: https://youtu.be/Hj-zJugOGm8 Sadly, that was the last we heard from them that season.

November 11, 2012: Wiltjer named SEC Player of the Week

Wiltjer opened his sophomore season with 19 points, six rebounds, and three blocks in Kentucky's win over Maryland in the Barclays Center Classic, a performance good enough to earn him SEC Player of the Week honors.

January 29, 2013: Career-high 26 points at Ole Miss

Even early on, it was clear the 2012-2013 team was a shadow of its National Champion self, and the team constantly struggled to find an offensive identity; however, there were glimmers of hope. In late January, Kentucky beat Marshall Henderson and #16 Ole Miss behind a then career-high 26 points from Kyle Wiltjer. For just a moment, it seemed like there was hope for this squad, but sadly, four games later, Nerlens Noel tore his ACL. Try as he might, Wiltjer wasn't enough to fill the gaping hole in Kentucky's post.

April 2013: Kyle voted SEC Sixth Man of the Year

Nothing could soften the blow of losing to Robert Morris in the first round of the NIT, but in April 2013, Kyle Wiltjer received his trophy for SEC Sixth Man of the Year. In his sophomore season, he averaged 10.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in 23.8 minutes.

Early June 2013: Kyle plays for Team Canada in the World University Games

In the summer of 2013, Wiltjer trained with the Canadian Development Men's National Team alongside Gonzaga players Kevin Pangos and Kelly Olynyk. I think you know where this is headed.

Late June: Kyle decides to transfer

In a letter to fans, Kyle said he was looking for a situation that would allow him to play a more significant role, which was very understandable given the 2013 super class that was on its way to Lexington; however, he stressed how difficult the decision was to make, as well as how great Calipari was about it.

"Coach Cal has been everything I expected him to be, as I have felt very comfortable talking with him about my situation. I cannot stress enough how supportive Coach has been during this period. He is more than a coach to me, and for that I am forever grateful," Kyle wrote. "Even though I might physically leave Lexington, I will never forget the support and kindness that everyone has shown my family and me. It is difficult to put into words how hard it is to possibly leave BBN, yet I am confident that whatever I choose, I will give it my all. Regardless, I will always bleed blue and will never forget these amazing last two years at Kentucky."

July 19, 2013: Kyle announces he's transferring to Gonzaga

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Kyle is probably still mistaken for Kelly Olynyk because of Drew's photoshop[/caption] Once his tour with Team Canada was over, Kyle decided on Gonzaga and moved out of the Wildcat Lodge. In his goodbye letter to fans, he wrote that transferring was "one of the toughest decisions of my life," and that he chose Gonzaga because "they have a proven plan in place to help develop players similar to me, which has seen great results." He ended by thanking Calipari and fans, saying, "my heart will always be in Lex." Cal immediately tweeted his support for Kyle:

I’m saddened that (Kyle Wiltjer) is leaving the program, but if he thinks it’s in his best interest to go somewhere else, I support his decision.  Here is what I sent Kyle after he told me of his final decision: “All’s good. Mrs. Cal & I are sad and disappointed but accept your decision. Thank you for helping us win a national title and working so hard for me the last two years. Go prove me right! You can play!! I will be here for you if you need me. Love you, kid.” (Kyle Wiltjer) will always be a part of the #BBN.

Not all coaches do this.

June 2014: Kyle makes his first appearance on KSR

With Matt on vacation, Josh Hopkins filled in as a guest host and brought on Wiltjer, whom he first watched play almost four years earlier at the Boost Mobile 24 game. Wiltjer said he was still in touch with Calipari, who occasionally called Gonzaga's Mark Few to check on his former player.

Most of 2014: Kyle's journey to transform himself

In order to make it to the NBA, Kyle knew he had to transform his body, which became his sole focus during his redshirt year. Yahoo's Jeff Eisenberg wrote a whole story about Kyle's training regime, which included repeatedly taking a 20 lbs. medicine ball to the chest to toughen him up. And yes, he could still shoot: https://youtu.be/_Iifs2VwUFE

January 2015: Kyle opens up about his decision

After a solid start to his junior year at Gonzaga, Wiltjer did an interview with SportsNet's Dave Zarum in which he discussed his decision to leave Kentucky and how supportive Calipari was:

“He was awesome through all of that, a big help,” Wiltjer said. “And that’s rare because a lot of coaches, if you asked to leave, they’d turn the other cheek and the decision would be on you. But he wanted me to be successful and wanted me to find the right fit as well.”

Later that month, he got a SportsCenter Top 10 play: https://www.instagram.com/p/yMG6Bxgkq5/

February 2015: Kyle on the cover of "Sports Illustrated"

Wiltjer averaged 16.8 points and 6.2 rebounds during his junior season at Gonzaga, which was good enough to land the cover of "Sports Illustrated" five days after he scored a career-high 45 points vs. Pacific. That cover's nice and all, but I prefer this picture of Kyle and a young Kentucky fan from late February:

March 2015: Gonzaga makes a run to the Elite Eight

After beating Iowa to advance to the Sweet 16, Wiltjer shot this video of head coach Mark Few dancing:

This is how we're feeling right now!!! Not done yet!!! #Sweet16 #ZagUp pic.twitter.com/wehf6gMHWg

– Kyle Wiltjer (@kwiltj) March 23, 2015

Wiltjer and Gonzaga's season ended in the Elite Eight vs. eventual National Champion Duke (grumble grumble). Wiltjer was named Third Team All-American by the Associated Press.

Summer 2015: Wiltjer plays alongside Jamal Murray in the Pan-Am Games

Right after Jamal Murray announced he was coming to Kentucky, he represented Tam Canada in the Pan American games alongside former Cat and fellow Canadian Kyle Wiltjer. The Pan-Am Games was Murray's breakout party, so hopefully Matt and Drew ask Kyle about playing with him tomorrow morning.

January 2016: Kyle is part of an HBO miniseries

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87saNs0-lsc HBO followed Gonzaga during part of the season for a five-part miniseries entitled "Gonzaga: The March To Madness." It debuted back in February, so if you're looking for something to binge on HBOGO tonight, have at it.

March 2016: Gonzaga loses in the Sweet 16

After Kentucky's loss to Indiana, the entire Big Blue Nation jumped on the Gonzaga bandwagon, but the Bulldogs fell to Syracuse in the Sweet 16. Wiltjer finished his senior year averaging 20.4 points and 6.3 rebounds. He scored 736 points, the fourth-highest single-season point total in Gonzaga history. He made the AP All-American Honorable Mention list, and also earned All-WCC First Team and NABC All-District First Team honors. After the loss, Kyle was overwhelmed by the support he received from Kentucky fans: https://www.instagram.com/p/BDaeIdZAkgG/?taken-by=kwiltj

April 2016: Kyle returns to the Bluegrass

Kyle loves the BBN so much he decided to come back to Kentucky to do an autograph tour. He landed in Lexington earlier today and kicked things off at Barelycorn's in Cold Spring, and tomorrow morning, he'll be on the morning show before heading out to Elizabethtown. Check out his tour stops above. From the sound of it, a WBA reunion special is in the works as well: https://twitter.com/kwiltj/status/714150812256079872 Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat.