Tshiebwe, Toppin, Fredrick among those participating in Senior Day: "It'll be emotional"

John Calipari has very rarely had eventful Senior Day celebrations during his time at Kentucky, at least in terms of quantity. Key players just haven’t needed to stick around four years — the vast majority are five-star newcomers ready to make the jump after a season or two.

Since the UK head coach has been in Lexington, he’s never had more than four total players honored (once) and no more than three scholarship players. We haven’t seen the latter scenario since Derek Willis, Dominique Hawkins and Mychal Mulder burst through the paper hoop prior to the team’s 73-67 home win vs. Vanderbilt back on Feb. 28, 2017.

Hell, there wasn’t even a senior on the roster in 2018 to host a Senior Day. Not even a walk-on.

The list of players honored throughout Calipari’s 13 years in Lexington is, well, interesting. A few top-end starters, several rotation contributors, some end-of-bench guys and walk-ons.

• 2022 – Kellan Grady, Davion Mintz
• 2021 – Olivier Sarr, Davion Mintz, Riley Welch
• 2020 – Nate Sestina
• 2019 – Reid Travis, Jonny David
• 2018 – N/A
• 2017 – Derek Willis, Dominique Hawkins, Mychal Mulder
• 2016 – Alex Poythress
• 2015 – Tod Lanter, Sam Malone, Brian Long
• 2014 – Jon Hood, Jarrod Polson
• 2013 – Julius Mays, Twany Beckham
• 2012 – Darius Miller, Eloy Vargas
• 2011 – Josh Harrellson
• 2010 – Patrick Patterson, Perry Stevenson, Ramon Harris, Mark Krebs

“I think it’ll be really emotional for Jacob and Oscar”

This time around, Kentucky is expected to set a Senior Day record in 2023 with the most total players honored and scholarship contributors overall.

The big one? None other than Oscar Tshiebwe, college basketball’s reigning national player of the year and one of the most beloved Wildcats to come through the program in recent memory. He’ll be honored prior to Kentucky’s home matchup vs. Vanderbilt on Wednesday, March 1 at 7 p.m. ET.

Junior forward Lance Ware believes it’ll be an emotional night for Tshiebwe, along with the other seniors who have given the UK basketball program everything they had during their respective careers in Lexington.

“I think Jacob (Toppin), Oscar (Tshiebwe), CJ (Fredrick), it’ll be emotional,” Ware said Friday. “I think it’ll be really emotional for Jacob and Oscar. Obviously, Oscar loves this place and I can’t wait to see what the crowd is like when he gets called. It’s going to be crazy. But the same with Jacob. They poured their heart and soul into this program.”

Six scholarship seniors

Six different seniors have started for the Wildcats at various points this season, three earning starts last year, as well. Tshiebwe has played 60 total games for UK with 58 starts, Sahvir Wheeler with 51 and 43, respectively. Toppin has them both beat in total games played at 80 with 31 starts, 25 this year. CJ Fredrick has been around two years, but has played just 21 games with 13 starts, while Antonio Reeves has suited up in all 28 games for Kentucky this year with nine starts.

The longest-tenured Wildcat of the bunch? Senior forward Brennan Canada — now on scholarship — who has played in 18 games at UK.

Calipari’s most experienced roster since he’s been in Lexington, it should be an eventful Senior Day next week when the ‘Cats take on the ‘Dores in Rupp Arena.

“For them to be recognized for a few minutes, it’s going to be special,” Ware said of the senior class.