Kentucky great Michael Kidd-Gilchrist wants 'kids like me to feel appreciated'
· Yahoo Sports
LEXINGTON — Michael Kidd-Gilchrist admitted his journey to becoming a Kentucky basketball player, and how his career unfolded once he got on campus, was "different" than most. Growing up in New Jersey, Kidd-Gilchrist never received help for his stuttering.
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At UK, Kidd-Gilchrist obtained the assistance he needed in the form of Meg Shake, a speech language pathologist.
Shake was to be a primary part of Kidd-Gilchrist's speech Friday, Sept. 25, as he prepared for his induction into the UK Athletics Hall of Fame.
"She definitely will get a shoutout," Kidd-Gilchrist said, referring to Shake. "She definitely (will) be the biggest shoutout, probably."
Kidd-Gilchrist was a key member of the Wildcats' 2011-12 squad, which won the national title That season, he was a consensus second-team All-America honoree. Kidd-Gilchrist averaged 11.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game for Kentucky's most recent national championship club.
"I always felt really connected here," he said.
Kidd-Gilchrist was one of six inductees in this year's class, alongside Paul Calhoun (football), Tim Duckworth (men’s track and field), Leah Edmond (volleyball), Patty Jo Hedges-Ward (women’s basketball) and Asia Seidt (women’s swimming and diving).
After winning the national title, Kidd-Gilchrist entered the NBA draft, going No. 2 overall in 2012 — behind his UK teammate, Anthony Davis. Kidd-Gilchrist spent eight seasons in the league. All the while, he was a vocal advocate for those dealing with stuttering.
"(I'm) just trying to be a role model," Kidd-Gilchrist said. "I think back to the time here. I was a guy who stuttered.
"I want kids like me to feel appreciated."
2026 UK Athletics Hall of Fame induction class
Check out the bios of the rest of the UK Athletics Hall of Fame's 2026 class in the capsules below, provided by Kentucky's athletics department:
Paul Calhoun, Football, 1981-84
Named to the All-Time Kentucky Team, selected in 1990 for the 100th season of UK football, by the Lexington Herald-Leader and Louisville Courier Journal … Excelled as a defensive back and punter … All-America second team as a junior and All-America third team as a senior … All-SEC first team his last two seasons, as a punter in 1983 and a defensive back in 1984 … Helped lead UK to two trips to the Hall of Fame Bowl … Departed UK as the program leader for single-season and career punting average … Set single-game record of 47.2-yard average (min. eight punts) and longest punt in school history (80 yards) … Had nine career interceptions, plus a key pickoff in the 1984 Hall of Fame Bowl win over Wisconsin … A retired firefighter who lives in Louisville.
Tim Duckworth, Men’s Track and Field, 2015-18
Two-time NCAA Champion, 2018 indoor heptathlon and 2018 outdoor decathlon … Only the second man in history to win the NCAA heptathlon and decathlon in the same year … Also an NCAA silver medalist in the heptathlon as a junior … Three-time First-Team All-America, twice heptathlon, once decathlon … 2018 National Indoor Field Athlete of the Year by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association … 2018 SEC Field Athlete of the Year, indoor and outdoor … Set NCAA decathlon long jump record … 2018 USTFCCCA Southeast Region Field Athlete of the Year … Still holds the UK records for heptathlon and decathlon … Still holds the British record in the heptathlon (6,188) … Currently an assistant coach at Alabama.
Leah Edmond, Volleyball, 2016-19
Four-year All-American as selected by the American Volleyball Coaches Association … Named to the AVCA All-Region team four years … Two-time SEC Player of the Year … Four-time All-SEC … 2016 SEC Freshman of the Year … An aggressive attacker and finisher, she is the school record holder for kills (1,978) in the rally-scoring era … During her four years, team posted a record of 103-24, three SEC championships and a highest finish of Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament … Has continued her career in professional volleyball … Most Valuable Player of Major League Volleyball in the league’s inaugural season in 2024 … Only player named to the All-MLV team in the three years of the league’s existence.
Patty Jo Hedges-Ward, Women’s Basketball, 1980-83
Known as Patty Jo Hedges during her playing days, she is the UK all-time assist leader, a member of the (state of) Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame, the KHSAA Hall of Fame and the Louisville Metro Area Athletic Directors Hall of Fame … First-Team All-SEC as a senior and was a gold medalist for the United States at the 1983 Pan American Games … Helped lead UK to 1982 SEC Tournament championship and named to the All-Tournament Team … Led UK in assists and steals all four seasons … Holds UK career record for assists (731, also fifth in SEC history) and single-game record (16) … Third in single-season assists (209) … A capable scorer who tallied 1,176 career points … Sixth in UK history in steals (272) … Helped lead team to four-year record of 85-33 and four tournament appearances, including NCAA Elite Eight in 1982 … Played several years of pro basketball in the United States and internationally … Currently, the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches presents the “Patty Jo Hedges Ultimate Teammate Award” each year to the girl who exemplifies her selfless style of play … Patty Jo is a retired teacher.
Asia Seidt, Women’s Swimming & Diving, 2017-20
2020 NCAA Woman of the Year — covering all female athletes in all sports in all three NCAA divisions — for her remarkable combination of athletic and academic achievements … Qualified for the NCAA Championships all four years at UK and totaled 21 All-America honors, including eight first-team honors … 2020 Olympic Trials qualifier … Swam for the United States for two years at the World University Games … 15-time SEC medalist, including four gold medals, five silver and six bronze … Still holds UK records in five events … 2019 Arthur Ashe Female Sports Scholar of the Year … Two years on the official Academic All-America team … SEC H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete of the Year for all sports … Currently works as a physical therapist.
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Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky great Michael Kidd-Gilchrist wants 'kids like me to feel appreciated'