Travis Perry was recognized by UK coach Mark Pope at his introductory press conference. (Vicky Graff Photo)
CRESTVIEW HILLS — Lyon County coach Ryan Perry took his son, Mr. Basketball Travis Perry, along with a few of his teammates and some Lyon coaches on a golf outing over spring break as a way to help relax after Lyon’s historic run to its first state championship in March.
However, when the group got home, Ryan Perry’s phone started “blowing up” because Kentucky coach John Calipari was reportedly ready to leave for Arkansas, a move the Perry family did not anticipate when Travis signed to play for UK.
“People were asking about the news. So for the next week everything was kind of turned upside down just because of the uncertainty (of who would be the Kentucky coach after Calipari did leave for Arkansas),” the Lyon coach said. “So it has been a hectic, hectic couple of weeks.”
Travis and Ryan Perry are both here for the Kentucky-Ohio All-Star Game. Ryan is the team’s coach and Travis, Kentucky’s all-time leading scorer, is one of the team members. Travis won the 3-point contest 18-15 Friday night over McCracken County star Claire Johnson in the finals.
While there has been some speculation about what Travis Perry might do about his commitment to UK, he was wearing a Kentucky T-shirt Friday night and so was his father. New Kentucky coach Mark Pope also gave Travis a public shout out during his introductory press conference at Rupp Arena that attracted over 20,000 fans.
“We haven’t been able to have a sit down meeting with the coach Pope yet. We met with him after the press conference up there and Travis has talked to him several times and everything’s very positive and all that kind of stuff,” Ryan Perry said. “I mean, Travis is still committed to Kentucky. He’s not asking for any kind of getting out of that at all.
“He’s a Kentucky kid. He wants to play for Kentucky. Loves Kentucky. He wants to play for the fans and the university. So I think it’s just a formality that he needs to sit down with coach Pope. Just find out what the expectations are and make sure everybody’s on the same page.
“I can’t imagine any scenario where he doesn’t have the blue and white on. I don’t wanna speak for him, but I’m gonna say that.”
Ryan Perry said Pope has been “very, very positive” with his son in their talks even though the Lyon coach understands he probably doesn’t know a lot about Travis’ game yet.
“I think it’d be nice to sit down and see what he knows about it. We’ve watched quite a bit of film on coach and BYU’s offense. It’s really crazy how their team plays exactly like our high school team plays. I mean, it’s uncanny. It’s really interesting. I think all that checks all the boxes.
“Coach Pope’s got a lot of energy for the Kentucky program. I know he made the statements that he understands the assignment and we believe he does understand the assignment. I think he’s gonna do a really good job and Travis really wants to be a part of that and he wants to play in front of those fans and make those fans happy and all that kind of stuff. So we’re excited about what’s coming.”
They were excited about Calipari, too. They felt Calipari had been “invested” in Travis and knew the story of him and his team’s state title run.
“He got on Travis early enough that he was able to see about two years of that journey, which is pretty special. So he had a realization of where they came from and what they did,” Ryan Perry said.
The BSN Sports Ohio-Kentucky All-Star Game will be tonight at Thomas More College in northern Kentucky. The girls play at 5 and the boys’ game will follow at 7 — or 20 minutes after the girls’ game ends.
“He’s very, very competitive,” Ryan Perry said about his son. “If you’re playing paper, rock scissors, he wants to cut your throat to win. He’s one of the most competitive people you will ever meet.”
Normally Travis Perry plays an entire game or almost the entire game. All-star rules require rotating lineups until the final 10 minutes of play.
“Somebody asked him the other day, have you ever not started a half before? It’ll be interesting. We didn’t know it was like that when we came up here,” Ryan Perry said. “I think it’s kind of a neat concept. It’s good for everybody to get to play. Those last 10 minutes we will obviously be playing to win.
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For information on a live stream of tonight’s games visit this link.
22 Responses
Excited to have Travis Perry wearing the UK jersey next season! He is going to be another special/ favorite player like Reed. He may not fill as many stat boxes but with Mark Pope coaching the BBN is going to see Perry starting and averaging 20+ points!
UK will play 40 minutes of BB at both ends of the floor!
Travis Perry is a special player
He’ll look you straight in the eyes and say yes sir and no sir.
He also has a shooting range that few have.
Absolutely! All-time leading scorer in KY HS history is amazing & he is a team leader!
Will he end up staying at KY Larry.
I do not see any reason he would not Paul
So true
he is blue
thru
& thru
Your right and you have seen a few…a little smaller version of Jimmy Dan Conner..probably two inches smaller..Has a strong move to the basket and a great outside shooter…He had a great King of The Bluegrass last year..haven’t seen him play since…hadn’t lost a step..His Dad is a dead ringer for my late brother..No relation…know of.
There has never been an NCAA champion Kentucky team without at least one Kentucky HS player in the rotation. Darius Miller in 2012 was the latest.
Was hoping Reed was going to change that. Now maybe Travis can
I thought the same thing Larry!
I look forward to seeing Travis Perry play in a UK jersey. Travis was very exciting to watch when I attended his games in high school. I carry a sign to every game I attend to watch UK that says (look at my veins I bleed UK blue).lookin forward to watching this team and new coach Pope and his staff put together a exciting year. We want banners and protect our home court at Rupp and also keep our record of most wins in division one
With you Richard and know you do bleed blue
Hope the vaca was lots of fun. Do we have to pay the 9.00 to watch Travis play this evening?
I thought it was free but I could be wrong
I’m ky blue through and through. Win or lose. Personally I hope he can get a competitive team this year but I don’t see it happ. Every player from this year’s team left, every recruit withdrew expect Travis. No transfers in a hurry to commit. If pope doesn’t start winning big in two years fans will turn on him.
just give him some time
He stays and mark has a good transfer portal snatch(lol) we will be fine next yr men. He gets some of the good bigs that are avail and pairs em with some of these good scoring guards,,we will be fine. Prob not world beaters next yr? But we ll hold our own.
with you Anthony
Hearken back, o ye faithless BBN. You would have rolled out the red carpet for the Pope, the Dahlia Llama, heck, even Kenneth Copeland the night Ole Caliphony walked off the floor, chin on his chest after a 24 year old journeyman gun slinger lit up The Mighty Wildcats for 10 3 pointers, all the while rubbing it in and showing up Caliphony masquerading as a coach while only being a ruthless recruiter. Just remember this; Ole Caliphony, the one who called Ky the ‘Gold Standard" stole everything inside the house of any value while burning it down on his way out to the Hog pen called Arkansas.The master arsonist narcissist is who Caliphony is and always was. Good riddance to that phony windage. It’s worth it all to see his egregious mug out of Lexington. You guys missed it if you didn’t see how he and his wife both did " please feel sorry for us BBN and beg us to stay videos", BEFORE he had even signed the contract with Hogansas. Caliphony couldn’t believe the fans wanted him OUR, GONE, GOODBYE. What an egomaniac we are now free of. Not saying that other Dummy made the right hire, because Pitino was the answer at the moment. Caliphony and Bumhart should have been a package deal when shown the door.
Really glad we have Travis in the fold! Think he will do great in Popes style of play! Don’t understand why more players aren’t showing interest in us with all the available playing time we can offer them! We are KY and will be on TV all the time! They can get alot exposure with are program and fan base! Kind of baffling!
Well, Coach Pope appears to be getting a good bunch of assistant coaches assembled and now we’re getting commitments from some talented players.
So I think things are progressing at a pretty good clip. I know it will take time for everything to fall into place but can’t ask for much more. I do think we need to get a better non con sched for this first season, but I’ll trust Coach Pope. GO CATS!!!!!