HARRODSBURG — Considering it was a rainy, stormy Monday afternoon, Josh Harrellson was not expecting a big turnout of University of Kentucky fans to come see him on his visit here.
However, between his enormous popularity, Kentucky’s Final Four run and the passion UK fans have for the Wildcats, it was no surprise to fans that an estimated 700 fans of all ages lined up at Harrodsburg Mailing & Shipping Center for two hours to see Harrellson. He signed autographs of everything from shirts to hats to pictures to posters and posed for a picture almost every time he signed an autograph, too.
“It definitely surprised me. I really didn’t expect all the people to come out down here, but they came out and showed a lot of love and support for me and put a smile on my face,” said Harrellson, who once again stopped by Mercer County Elementary School to visit with friend Danon Camic’s class before he started the autograph signings.
Harrellson says the UK fan support helps ease the pain of the Final Four loss to Connecticut in Houston that denied Kentucky a chance to win its eighth national championship.
“It has been a little over a week (since the loss), but thinking about it still hurts. We had a great run (29-9) and I can’t look back too much and dwell on it. Everybody coming out and still showing me love and support today has helped me a lot, though,” Harrellson said.
The senior center went from a seldom-used reserve on last year’s Elite Eight team to a high-profile player who now could possibly be picked in the June NBA draft. This week’s Sporting News lists Harrellson as one player who helped his draft status during tournament play.
Harrellson averaged 7.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game this season and blocked 57 shots, had 35 steals and dished out 30 assists in 38 games. He shot 61.1 percent (127 of 208) from the field and was 33-for-56 at foul line.
Statistics, though, didn’t bring Shana Stacey from Lancaster to Harrodsburg along with her husband, 7-year-old daughter, her aunt and her aunt’s two children.
“We are here to meet a UK star and it just makes it even better with it being him (Harrellson),” Stacey said. “We only had to wait about a half hour, which wasn’t too bad. My daughter is so excited that we would have come to see any of the players, but we are really glad it is Josh. She brought her basketball. She is so ready for this.”
Brothers Levi and Leighton Combs, both 16 and sophomores at Mercer County, also had to wait about 30 minutes to get their chance to meet Harrellson.
“I am a huge fan of Kentucky basketball and just thought it would be cool to meet Josh,” Levi said. “I was waiting all day for this.”
“He’s a good player and I wanted to get his autograph,” Leighton said.
Holly and David Young brought their 5-year-old triplets to the store to have their pictures made with the UK senior.
“When they play basketball at home, they play like they are Josh,” Holly Young said. “They fight over which one is Josh. We have all the games on DVR so they can watch. They know all his plays and when he’ll get fouled or scored.”
No one came dressed for the occasion better than 4-year-old Ashton Drakeford of Harrodsburg. He had own his Jorts (jean shorts) and Harrellson jersey. He even had his own Harrellson name tag.
“We are all Kentucky fans, and Harrellson fans for sure,” said Ashton’s grandfather, Jimmy Drakeford.
Harrellson was in no hurry to see the fans disappear, as he took time to talk with everyone and often held younger children in his arms to make for a better picture.
“I am definitely going to plan as many of these as I can because I like coming out and signing autographs for the people who show support for me. I like giving back,” Harrellson said. “I never thought there would ever be a time I would ever get a turnout like this just for me. I am thankful for what everybody did for me.”
The playful side of Harrellson that sometimes frustrated Calipari before the senior center re-dedicated himself after his infamous preseason Twitter message irritated the UK coach and resulted in extra conditioning certainly was on display the 2 /12 hours he was at Harrodsburg Mailing & Shipping Center.
“On the court I have grown up. Off the court, I am never going to grow up,” Harrellson laughed and said. “I will be 50 and doing the same things I always do. It’s on the court I have grown up. Off the court, there is no chance ever. No chance.”
However, between his enormous popularity, Kentucky’s Final Four run and the passion UK fans have for the Wildcats, it was no surprise to fans that an estimated 700 fans of all ages lined up at Harrodsburg Mailing & Shipping Center for two hours to see Harrellson. He signed autographs of everything from shirts to hats to pictures to posters and posed for a picture almost every time he signed an autograph, too.
“It definitely surprised me. I really didn’t expect all the people to come out down here, but they came out and showed a lot of love and support for me and put a smile on my face,” said Harrellson, who once again stopped by Mercer County Elementary School to visit with friend Danon Camic’s class before he started the autograph signings.
Harrellson says the UK fan support helps ease the pain of the Final Four loss to Connecticut in Houston that denied Kentucky a chance to win its eighth national championship.
“It has been a little over a week (since the loss), but thinking about it still hurts. We had a great run (29-9) and I can’t look back too much and dwell on it. Everybody coming out and still showing me love and support today has helped me a lot, though,” Harrellson said.
The senior center went from a seldom-used reserve on last year’s Elite Eight team to a high-profile player who now could possibly be picked in the June NBA draft. This week’s Sporting News lists Harrellson as one player who helped his draft status during tournament play.
Harrellson averaged 7.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game this season and blocked 57 shots, had 35 steals and dished out 30 assists in 38 games. He shot 61.1 percent (127 of 208) from the field and was 33-for-56 at foul line.
Statistics, though, didn’t bring Shana Stacey from Lancaster to Harrodsburg along with her husband, 7-year-old daughter, her aunt and her aunt’s two children.
“We are here to meet a UK star and it just makes it even better with it being him (Harrellson),” Stacey said. “We only had to wait about a half hour, which wasn’t too bad. My daughter is so excited that we would have come to see any of the players, but we are really glad it is Josh. She brought her basketball. She is so ready for this.”
Brothers Levi and Leighton Combs, both 16 and sophomores at Mercer County, also had to wait about 30 minutes to get their chance to meet Harrellson.
“I am a huge fan of Kentucky basketball and just thought it would be cool to meet Josh,” Levi said. “I was waiting all day for this.”
“He’s a good player and I wanted to get his autograph,” Leighton said.
Holly and David Young brought their 5-year-old triplets to the store to have their pictures made with the UK senior.
“When they play basketball at home, they play like they are Josh,” Holly Young said. “They fight over which one is Josh. We have all the games on DVR so they can watch. They know all his plays and when he’ll get fouled or scored.”
No one came dressed for the occasion better than 4-year-old Ashton Drakeford of Harrodsburg. He had own his Jorts (jean shorts) and Harrellson jersey. He even had his own Harrellson name tag.
“We are all Kentucky fans, and Harrellson fans for sure,” said Ashton’s grandfather, Jimmy Drakeford.
Harrellson was in no hurry to see the fans disappear, as he took time to talk with everyone and often held younger children in his arms to make for a better picture.
“I am definitely going to plan as many of these as I can because I like coming out and signing autographs for the people who show support for me. I like giving back,” Harrellson said. “I never thought there would ever be a time I would ever get a turnout like this just for me. I am thankful for what everybody did for me.”
The playful side of Harrellson that sometimes frustrated Calipari before the senior center re-dedicated himself after his infamous preseason Twitter message irritated the UK coach and resulted in extra conditioning certainly was on display the 2 /12 hours he was at Harrodsburg Mailing & Shipping Center.
“On the court I have grown up. Off the court, I am never going to grow up,” Harrellson laughed and said. “I will be 50 and doing the same things I always do. It’s on the court I have grown up. Off the court, there is no chance ever. No chance.”
