Kentucky Wildcats Kentucky-commit Reed Sheppard brings the ball up the court atop the large UK logo at the UK HealthCare Boys Sweet 16 tournament Wednesday at Rupp Arena. March 15, 2022 2022 Sweet Sixteen Boys Basketball Tournament
College BasketballBy Sean Keeley on

The Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball family was in mourning this weekend after news broke that a former player had passed away.

Cedric “Swoop” Jenkins, who played for the Wildcats between 1984 and 1998, passed away at the age of 57.

Former Kentuck star Rex Chapman shared a tweet about the news and offered some kind words about Jenkins.

“Kentucky Basketball lost a family member yesterday. Cedric Jenkins. Age 57,” wrote Chapman. “Nicknamed “Swoop” for his extraordinarily long wingspan. Heartbroken for Jamie and the family. Please never forget Ced swooping-in for the game winner against Louisville in 1987.”

He also shared a clip of Jenkins’ infamous shot to beat Louisville in 1987 that cemented his place in Lexington lore.

Jenkins played in four seasons for the Wildcats, garnering 110 total appearances. He averaged 2.5 points and 2.4 rebounds on 44.3 percent shooting from the field and shot 75 percent from the free throw line. After his college career, he went on to play in the CBS before traveling abroad to play professionally in Japan, Italy, France, and elsewhere.

Plenty of other folks from around the college basketball world also shared their condolences for the loss.

“I remember him KingRex May he RIP,” said announcer Tim Brando. “Gone too soon.”

“This makes me sad.. Ced had the kindest heart towards others. RIP Cedric,” said ESPN’s Jimmy Dykes.

“So sad. He was such a nice guy,” said former Lexington Herald-Leader reporter Gene Abell.

[Rex Chapman]

About Sean Keeley

Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Editorial Strategy Director for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.

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