Ex-UK assistant basketball coach ‘on cloud nine’ after marrying his ‘Kentucky sweetheart’

In relation to memorable Memorial Day weekends, it might be laborious to beat the one skilled by former Kentucky basketball assistant coach Joel Justus this yr.

Justus married Hannah Brown on Saturday of final weekend.

Or as he put it in a textual content message, “Married my Kentucky (Corbin) sweetheart this weekend. So on Cloud 9.”

On Friday of final weekend, Joel and Hannah had their marriage ceremony rehearsal dinner at a . . . rodeo.

No, he mentioned, the soon-to-be bride and groom didn’t journey bulls or bucking broncos. “We have been in a VIP part,” mentioned Joel, who famous that Hannah’s household sits courtside at UK house basketball video games and has a field at Kroger Subject.

Hannah’s father is a lawyer with workplaces in Corbin and Colorado. Her mom was on the UK Board of Trustees when John Calipari was employed as coach, Joel mentioned.

What Joel described as a “very intimate” marriage ceremony (10 company) was at Mountain Shadows Resort, which is in Paradise Valley, Ariz., which is 8 miles north of Tempe. In April 2021, Justus left the UK program to affix the Arizona State teaching workers.

“It was a vacation spot marriage ceremony for everyone however us,” Joel mentioned.

Joel’s father, John Justus, officiated the marriage, which started at 9 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time. “As a result of proper now, it’s most likely 100 levels outdoors,” Joel mentioned in the course of the late afternoon EDT name.

“It’s similar to profitable the midday sport on a Saturday,” Joel mentioned. “You’ve got the remainder of the day to be ok with your self.”

Joel and Hannah are planning an August honeymoon in both Hawaii or Cabo (a resort metropolis on the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula.)

The newlyweds first met whereas Joel was on the Kentucky workers. Hannah labored on the Lululemon clothes retailer in Lexington. Joel was a noticeably frequent buyer.

Love at first sight?

“It was for me,” Joel mentioned. “I don’t find out about her.”

Mentioned Hannah: “I assumed he was cute from Day One. However I didn’t understand how he was.

“After which I noticed him at a basketball sport. And I used to be sitting throughout the ground. And I used to be, like, that’s the man that retains coming within the retailer.”

Joel instructed that his coaching as a basketball assistant coach got here in useful in his wooing of Hannah.

“I used to be persistent in my pursuit,” he mentioned. “Similar as I used to be after I recruited Shai (Gilgeous-) Alexander.”

Congratulations and greatest needs.

Kudos to BBN

Mates of UK basketball radio analyst Mike Pratt have appealed to the Large Blue Nation to donate to a fund-raiser set as much as assist with most cancers therapy not paid for by way of insurance coverage and journey bills.

Dan Issel, Pratt’s UK teammate (1967-68 by way of 1969-70) and co-host of a sports activities speak present broadcast on Louisville’s ESPN station, lauded how the BBN responded.

“The UK followers actually stepped up,” Issel mentioned. “I can’t let you know how many individuals have reached out to me and mentioned what a great man Mike is, they usually’re praying for him.”

Pratt, who additionally does colour commentary on radio broadcasts of Kentucky video games, might be searching for holistic therapies, Issel mentioned. He’s scheduled to fly to Southern California on June 16. Pratt might be there for 3 weeks, after which the plan is to return each three months for checkups and extra therapy, Issel mentioned.

Pratt has been off the radio present for about three weeks.

“The plan is he’ll come again and do some (reveals),” Issel mentioned. “Hopefully, by November, he’ll really feel adequate to return again and do the Cats, too.”

When requested to share a reminiscence of Pratt as a UK teammate, Issel mentioned, “If he didn’t cross it to me sufficient, Coach (Adolph) Rupp would get on him.” Then Issel laughed.

‘Particular relationship’

To assist the fund-raising effort on Mike Pratt’s behalf, UK Coach John Calipari tweeted that he and his spouse, Ellen, would match the primary $50,000 donated.

This didn’t shock Dan Issel.

“He has a particular relationship with Mike,” Issel mentioned of Calipari.

Pratt joined a gaggle that included Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart after which UK president Lee Todd in touring to Chicago within the spring of 2009 to supply Calipari the job as basketball coach, Issel mentioned.

Calipari accepting the job provide was a giant plus for Kentucky basketball, Issel mentioned.

“There’s not a handful of individuals that would succeed at that job,” Issel mentioned. “He’s actually bought the persona and the whole lot that goes together with it. . . .

“I feel he was the best selection for certain.”

‘He’s my man’

At a youth camp in Danville on Thursday, Sahvir Wheeler spoke of getting constructed a “actually sturdy relationship” with John Calipari. That may profit each the participant and UK coach subsequent season.

“I really feel I can speak to Coach Cal about the whole lot, whether or not it’s basketball-related or not,” Wheeler mentioned. “He’s my man. . . .

“He’s consistently pushing me to turn out to be the most effective participant I could be. I’m grateful for that.”

When future turnovers happen, Wheeler mentioned he would welcome a scolding from Calipari.

“If he wasn’t yelling at me for a turnover, to me that might present me he doesn’t care,” Wheeler mentioned. “So, so long as he’s yelling at me for making a turnover, and likewise cheering me on after I do properly, which he does, I’m all for it.”

Reggie remembered

Tom Balko, a 1975 UK graduate, shared a reminiscence of the late Reggie Warford by sending an e-mail.

“I’ve forgotten the title of the Geography professor who many felt missed his calling as an entertainer (individuals not even enrolled within the class usually stuffed the big classroom),” Balko wrote. “In these days everybody knew if a basketball participant was within the class. One Monday the classroom was already stuffed when Reggie confirmed up.

“The professor pointed at him, smiled, and began clapping. 400+ college students, together with Reggie, roared with laughter!

“At a sport the weekend earlier than, he had performed one thing I’ve by no means seen performed earlier than or since. Taking the ball out of bounds after a made basket, he threw a cross the size of the ground and straight into the ring!! After all it didn’t rely and the opponent bought possession. True story!”

Including to the historic nature of the second, Warford’s length-of-the-court non-basket is believed to have occurred in UK’s last house sport in Memorial Coliseum. UK beat Mississippi State 94-93 in extra time on March 8, 1976.

Help to Ulis

Former UK standout Tyler Ulis continues to help. He’s planning to supply basketball instruction to girls and boys in Kentucky.

Teaming with Sports activities Middle of Lexington, he’ll head the Tyler Ulis Expertise Academy in periods deliberate for June 29-July 1 and July 18-20.

In keeping with a information launch, the Academy will provide camps, clinics, semi-private instruction, leagues and tournaments.

“I’m thrilled to be again in Lexington and to accomplice with Sports activities Middle to construct the most effective youth basketball program within the nation,” Ulis mentioned within the launch.

Ulis was voted the SEC’s Participant of the 12 months and Defensive Participant of the 12 months for 2015-16. He additionally received the Bob Cousy Level Guard of the 12 months award that season.

Early congrats

To former UK huge man (circa the Seventies) Rick Robey. He’s anticipating the arrival of a grandson in early September.

“It’s thrilling,” he mentioned. “Possibly it’ll preserve me younger.”

Bear in mind him?

Adam Williams, who started his faculty basketball profession at UK, has been employed by Marshall as an assistant coach.

Williams performed in eight video games and averaged 0.5 factors in 2005-06 as a freshman for Kentucky. A local of Charleston, W.Va., he transferred to Marshall and performed for the Herd within the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons.

Joyful birthday

To referee John Hampton. He turned 54 on Thursday. . . . To former Mississippi State participant Dontae Jones. He turned 47 on Thursday. . . . To former Florida standout Al Horford. He turned 36 on Friday. . . . To former UK assistant coach Barry “Slice” Rohrssen. He turns 62 on Monday. . . . To Makayla Epps. She turns 27 on Monday.