Kentucky Basketball gives back with $40K tornado relief donation

The Wildcats combine community service with youth camps to support Southern Kentucky towns devastated by recent tornadoes.

In a powerful display of compassion and community support, the Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball program presented a $40,000 check to Southern Kentucky Tornado Relief on Friday — an initiative fully backed by players, coaches, and staff following the devastating storms that struck the region last month.

The donation comes after deadly tornadoes tore through parts of southern Kentucky, with London and Somerset among the hardest-hit areas. In response, the program made it a priority to be present and lend a helping hand.

Before the check presentation, Kentucky hosted the first of two youth satellite basketball camps — giving local kids a chance to play, learn, and interact with Wildcats players. The second camp is scheduled for Saturday morning at Russell County High School.

Head coach Mark Pope spoke passionately after the camp wrapped up.

“The morning after the tornadoes hit, I reached out to Shep (Jeff Sheppard) with none of this in mind,” Pope said. “And we had long conversations about what the community needed. And our guys, as we started to present a bunch of ideas, they’re like This is the one, let’s go do a camp down there, and let’s go be there. And they just kept building it and building it until they were like, hey, we want to actually make a real financial contribution.”

The camp and donation represent more than just a day of service — it’s a heartfelt commitment by Kentucky basketball to support and uplift Kentuckians in their time of need.