Former Christian County High School basketball star Tommy Porter joined his University of Kentucky teammates at center court Saturday at Rupp Arena during halftime of the Wildcats’ win over Mississippi State.
Porter and the 1965-66 team, nicknamed “Rupp’s Runts” due to their perceived lack of size, were honored during a halftime ceremony at the game.
The 6-foot-4 Porter earned a scholarship to Kentucky after scoring 1,221 points in 74 games for the Colonels from 1961-64. His 16.7 average is still one of the all-time leaders at CCHS.
At Kentucky, Porter could not play as a freshman due to NCAA rules at the time. His sophomore year was in 1965-66 and he helped the Wildcats reach the NCAA championship game where they fell to Texas Western.
Porter scored 18 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and handed out three assists in 14 games that season.
Key members of “Rupp’s Runts” included future hall of famers Pat Riley and Louis Dampier, Larry Conley, and Tommy Kron.
Other members of the team included Thad Jaracz, Cliff Berger, Bab Tallent, Steve Clevenger, Brad Bounds, Jim LeMaster, Gene Stewart, Tommy Porter, Bob Windsor, Gary Gamble, and Larry Lentz.
Kentucky won Saturday’s game 92-68 over Mississippi State, breaking a two-game losing streak. The Wildcats are now 10-6 on the year and 1-2 in the SEC.
UK is scheduled to play at LSU on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. Airtime is at 4:30 p.m. on 98.7 Lite FM.
Photo by Dylan Ballard/Nation of Blue