It is an article of faith for many Kentuckians that being an ex-University of Kentucky men’s basketball player opens vocational doors.
In the world of folk art that LaVon Williams wanted to enter after his playing days, doors were not opening due to his Wildcats hoops past.
“(Basketball) just doesn’t apply in that world,” Williams said. “Those guys, they don’t sit around and talk about sports. They just don’t. And the ladies that buy the work, they are not sports people at all.”
For my money, there is no ex-UK basketball player who has had a more interesting post-hoops professional life than Williams, a contributing sophomore reserve on Kentucky’s 1978 NCAA championship team and then a two-year starter for Coach Joe B.