#1 Sean Kilpatrick (Shooting Guard 2010-2014)
Who knew the man Cronin affectionately dubbed S.K. would go onto finish his career at UC as the second leading scorer all-time in school history only trailing the “Big O” Oscar Robertson? Not many especially after redshirting his freshman year, with expectation of not seeing much playing time behind fellow incoming freshman and New Yorker Lance Stephenson. Kilpatrick kept working and improved his scoring average every season he wore a Bearcats uniform. As a freshman he averaged 9.7 points, sophomore 14.3 points, junior 17.0 points, and 20.6 points per game as a senior.
Kilpatrick led the Cats’ to a 27-7 record during his final season in 2013-14, and the team was ranked as high as 7th in the nation. Along the way Kilpatrick earned first team All-American honors by the Associated Press, becoming the first Bearcat to do so since Steve Logan garnered those honors during the 2001-02 season. S.K. and the Cats’ suffered a first round upset in the NCAA Tournament later that season versus Harvard bringing his UC career to a close. He went undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft, but has spent various stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, and Chicago Bulls since graduating from UC. Kilpatrick currently plays for Buducnost of the Adriatic League in the EuroCup.
When a school possesses as rich a basketball tradition as UC does, putting together any kind of list ranking student-athletes in any era can be challenging. More importantly because of the talent that has come through campus over the years at UC, there are no wrong answers when doing so. Meaning a plausible argument can be made for Troy Caupain, Jarron Cumberland and other players who sported the red and black during the Mick Cronin era at UC. However this is my list for the top 5 players who helped Cronin bring the Cats back to respectability, and I’m sticking with it!
