Willie Cauley-Stein eager to play in front of the BBN again: 'They're diehards'

Willie Cauley-Stein was the first player to inform general manager Twany Beckham that he was locked in to play on Kentucky’s alumni team, La Familia, for this summer’s The Basketball Tournament. So in a way, the roster has been built around the former All-American center.

He’s got quite the squad surrounding him, too.

In a little over a week, Cauley-Stein will once again play alongside a few of his former Wildcat teammates in James Young and the Harrisons twins, among other great Kentucky players from the last 15 years. It’s been a while since the seven-footer has been in Lexington after playing three seasons (2012-15) under John Calipari, so when this opportunity was presented, he jumped on it. With it also being the summer, the timing couldn’t have worked out better in regard to his professional basketball career.

“After talking to Twany and seeing how he was buzzing about it and his plans towards the whole week, I was like man I think I need that kind of energy right now,” Cauley-Stein told a group of reporters on Wednesday. “It’s been a rough few years, so coming back and soaking up all of that love out there, I’m excited to feel that and I think it’ll be refreshing.”

Now 30 years old, it’s been nearly a decade since WCS last played for the blue and white. He enjoyed a good NBA career for roughly seven seasons before embarking on his journey overseas. Most recently, he played in Varese, Italy alongside — oddly enough — Young, and the two have already talked about playing again at Rupp Arena.

Currently, Cauley-Stein is in between basketball jobs, weighing options overseas and in Puerto Rico. By signing up to play in The Basketball Tournament, where 64 teams will compete in a single-elimination bracket for a shot at the $1 million winner-takes-all grand prize, he’s giving himself another platform to showcase his game. In the world of professional basketball, he says it’s all about staying busy and staying ready — too much time away from the game limits a player’s opportunities.

“Hopefully something comes out of it,” he added.

But not only that, Cauley-Stein is eager to see how Lexington has changed since he left. He’s excited to see the passionate fanbase that still lives and breathes Kentucky basketball the same way it did when he was on campus. On a lighter note, WCS cited Indi’s (a popular chicken restaurant near downtown Lexington) as a spot he plans to hit up once he makes his way to the city.

“There’s no place like that fanbase,” he said. “Seeing how much they love that sport for one, but athletics period. They’re diehards. And I’ve been away for a while, so just seeing how this city has been built up over the last few years. I’m excited about taking trips down memory lane. That was my home for a few years.”

With La Familia, he’s especially excited to play with Young again and specifically named Andrew and Aaron Harrison as reasons why he’s champing at the bit to get this event rolling. Those lob dunks should bring back some good memories for everyone involved.

“After the twins (joined), I was like ‘Damn, okay this going to be really fun.’“

Cauley-Stein mentioned that he never thought he’d have the chance to play in front of the Big Blue Nation again. Or to play in Rupp Arena again. But come next Friday, he’ll get to do exactly that with La Familia. Fans who come out to watch the show will still see the same ole Willie they grew to know and love.

“I’m still him, just older,” he said. “Just older, a little more wise. Three kids, that’ll get you. That’ll make you a lot wiser. I’m still the same kid, man. Same dude. Just got a beard now.”

La Familia begins its TBT run on Friday, July 19 at 8:00 p.m. EST inside Rupp Arena against the 305 Ballers. Tickets for the Lexington Regional are on sale at thetournament.com/tbt/tickets.