Kentucky
Central Kentucky Heart Walk raises $360k
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) -The American Heart Association hosted a heart walk at Keeneland Saturday morning where $360,000 was raised for the annual Central Kentucky Heart Walk.
Executive Director of the American Heart Association in Central Kentucky, Andrea Ooten says the funds are going straight back into research.
“Over 100 years, we have been working tirelessly to find different solutions to heart disease and strokes,” she said. “Whether that’s in funding research for treatment plans or prevention, so people can survive if they have a heart attack or a stroke.”
Ooten says around 2,000 people participated in the walk for different reasons. Many of the participants were walking to support their loved ones or are a survivor themselves, like Richard Green.
“I had five bypasses in 1999, 25 years ago so I’m celebrating,” Green said.
Green says that at 80 years old, it is nice to see people of all ages supporting this cause.
“It’s nice to be among others that have heart surgery and heart procedures,” he said.
Among the other survivors was Dan Zuber, who had an aortic dissection when he was coaching a middle school basketball game in Clarke County. A year later, his wife Wendy could relate.
“Last fall after a series of unusual symptoms, that began with a prescient cough and chest congestion, I found out I had severe mitral valve prolapse and regurgitation requiring surgery,” Wendy Zuber said.
Not too many people can say that a middle school girls’ basketball game saved their life, but the Zuber’s can. Wendy says she hopes stories like her family’s will encourage other people to be lifesavers instead of bystanders.
The American Heart Association will host another Heart Walk to raise awareness and funds on May 18 at Clarke Regional Medical Center.
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Kentucky
Kentucky is poised to land either Donnie Freeman or Sebastian Rancik this weekend, per report
Jones posted on Twitter that “Kentucky will have (absent a major change) either Freeman or Rancik by tomorrow,” while also noting the Wildcats still need to add another shooter and another big to round out the roster.
One of the top targets is Donnie Freeman, a 6-foot-9, 205-pound sophomore forward transferring from Syracuse. Freeman arrived in Lexington on Tuesday night and began his visit on Wednesday before leaving without a commitment. While there was concern he could land at UConn, that visit has since been canceled, leaving Kentucky and St. John’s as the top teams.
Freeman averaged 16.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game last season, while adding nearly a block and a steal per contest. He shot 47.4% from the field but 30.2% from 3-point range across 23 games.
The other option is Sebastian Rancik, a 6-foot-11, 220-pound sophomore forward transferring from Colorado. Rancik visited Kentucky starting Wednesday through Thursday and brings a versatile skill set, averaging 12.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game while shooting 33.1% from 3.
Either Freeman or Rancik would provide a significant boost at the power forward position for head coach Mark Pope. Kentucky has already added guards Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins in the portal.
Kentucky football coach Will Stein reflects on new position
Will Stein was officially introduced to fans and media as the head coach for the Kentucky Wildcats, replacing Mark Stoops.
LEXINGTON — Kentucky football had its first spring game under new coach Will Stein at Kroger Field on Saturday.
The offense, in blue jerseys, had its moments. So too the defense, donning white uniforms.
Ultimately, the blue squad earned a 23-18 victory in a game called just after noon because of inclement weather.
Stein admitted he “got emotional” as he charged onto the field prior to kickoff.
“I know it wasn’t a real game, but when I ran on the field, I definitely — man, I felt it,” he said. “It was like a wave running over me. And very, very, just cool.”
While it doesn’t count in the standings, Stein walked away pleased.
“I think we got a lot of really good work,” he said. “That’s the goal of spring is to improve with fundamentals and technique, learn how to practice, learn what winning edges that we need throughout spring to go into summer and fall and prepare the team for play. And we came out of the scrimmage clean. There (were) no injuries, which to me, that’s the biggest win of the day. I could (not) care less about the score.
“If we come out clean, that’s good. The Wildcats won.”
New starting QB Kenny Minchey looked about as expected, with sharp passes evened out by moments of inconsistency. Martels Carter Jr., a defensive back who is lining up at running back this spring, scored a touchdown and had several nice runs.
And the defense forced multiple three-and-outs and also picked off one Minchey pass on a two-point conversion.
This story will be updated.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
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