Now a graduate, Ansley Almonor reflects on time at Kentucky: "I'm so grateful for this one year."

Ansley Almonor graduates from the University of Kentucky — Photo via UK Athletics

Ansley Almonor spent his first three seasons of college basketball at Fairleigh Dickinson, and after one portal jump from the Northeast Conference to the SEC, he’s now a University of Kentucky graduate following a dream-come-true senior campaign in Lexington.

His one-and-done season as a Wildcat wrapped up in late March, but the closure finally came in early May, walking across the stage at graduation inside Rupp Arena with his family and loved ones in attendance. They were there for all of his basketball success, and now, they were waiting for him at the student-athlete finish line as he earned his diploma wearing a Kentucky blue cap and gown.

“It was a tough journey, I guess you could say. A lot of late nights and early mornings with a lot of studying,” Almonor told the UK Sports Network at graduation. “… My parents always wanted to instill that mindset in me, school first, they wanted me to get this degree. A lot of this is really for them. As a kid, they always made sure school was an important thing in my life. I always took it seriously. … I always say my parents, they made sure I got this degree. I’m happy that I got this for them so they can put it up in the house.”

“We always emphasize education is the key to success. You need to be educated so you can be successful,” his mother, Anne Sherley, added. “… We always said, ‘We know you love basketball, we know you can be good at it, but the key to your success is your education. You need to have a degree.”

Getting a degree is one thing, but how about getting it as a member of the Kentucky men’s basketball team — the winningest tradition in the sport’s history? That takes it to another level, an opportunity and privilege Almonor will cherish for the rest of his life.

Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning

By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.

“Just being able to go out there and achieve what we achieved this season for BBN, it was a great experience. I’m so grateful for this one year, grateful for the opportunity,” the former Kentucky forward said. “I’m grateful for everything that God has given me this past year at the University of Kentucky. I’m just thankful for everything.”

“It’s very emotional. It was just the other day he was graduating from kindergarten,” his mother continued. “I remember taking him to school, taking him to practice, driving him around. It’s just overwhelming, it’s my dream to see my son graduating college. And from Kentucky? That is just so nice.”

He only got one run in the uniform as a player, but the memories he made and the diploma he’s bringing home with him are permanent. For those things, he is grateful.

“Being able to put that jersey on was always a dream of mine,” Almonor said. “Being able to go out there and represent them every single night for these last nine, ten months, is something I’ll never take for granted. I just want you guys to know that I’m very grateful for BBN and it’s been everything I hoped for.”