Dreams of playing in the NBA may be common for Kentucky Wildcats, but those dreams don’t always come true. Sometimes, life finds a different path. New dreams arise. For Joe Crawford, a Wildcat star from 2004 to 2008, his dreams have shifted from a starlit life in the NBA to a journey across the world, playing in China and Israel, and now promoting basketball worldwide.

When Tony Delk walked to the center of Rupp Arena to receive his 1996 national championship ring last Wednesday night, the roar of the crowd made it clear just how important he still is to the Big Blue Nation.

Raised in the most difficult environment imaginable, Anderson brought the toughness and focus he used as a survival mechanism as a youngster to the hardwood. The result of the marriage of his skill with his attitude was two titles – a 1996 national championship with Kentucky and the 2006 NBA title he helped the Miami Heat earn. But the most long lasting footprint Anderson will leave has nothing to do with basketball and everything to do with his service to others.

While Ramsey’s amazing career with the Celtics may seem to overshadow his years at UK to fans outside Kentucky, he said his time in college prepared him for life. Ramsey, who currently lives in Madisonville, Ky., said that the structure and coaching he received at UK, as well as the tradition within the school, helped shape his life and career and will continue to do so for Wildcat players to come.

In 1948, Wallace “Wah Wah” Jones helped lead UK to its first national championship and later led the US to Olympic Gold in London. Today, he’s still bleeding blue for UK.