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Rex Chapman Joins UK Radio Network’ s Pregame Show

Rex Chapman Joins UK Radio Network’ s Pregame Show
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By UK Athletics
Oct. 25, 2016 | LEXINGTON, KY
By UK Athletics Oct. 25, 2016 | 07:18 PM | LEXINGTON, KY
Rex Chapman, the former Apollo High School star and University of Kentucky basketball legend, has been named the new co-host of the UK Radio Network's "Texas Roadhouse Countdown to Tipoff" men's basketball pregame show, JMI Sports announced Tuesday.

Chapman will make his UK Radio Network debut on Sunday for the Clarion exhibition game. Along with returning host Dave Baker, Chapman will join Tom Leach and Mike Pratt throughout the season in the live pregame coverage 90 minutes prior to tipoff to preview the upcoming matchup, discuss UK basketball news and take questions from the Big Blue Nation.

"As a kid born and raised in the western part of the state, I was incredibly lucky to play my college basketball at the University of Kentucky. It was, is and has always been a privilege," Chapman said. "My earliest basketball memories are of the legendary Cawood Ledford calling Kentucky basketball games on the UK Radio Network. When Paul (Archey, president of UK Sports & Campus Marketing) asked me to help bring Cats games to our Big Blue Nation family over those very same airwaves, it was a no-brainer. I came to Lexington in 1986 as a long and skinny kid with a mullet – as excited as could be for the opportunity. In 2016 – as an old bald dude – I'm even more pumped for this opportunity. And I'm certainly more grateful and appreciative."

"There's no one that I'd rather see in that position than Rex," UK head coach John Calipari said. "He's an icon in this program and in this state and is well-deserving of this opportunity. I couldn't be happier for him and for us. This is what families do."

Chapman was a prolific scorer during his two seasons as a Wildcat (1987-88). King Rex, as the fans liked to call him, scored 1,073 points in his two years in his college career, including 609 during his sophomore year, tied for third most in school history among sophomore players.

A native of Owensboro, Kentucky, and the 1986 Mr. Basketball winner, Chapman joined the Wildcats for the 1986-87 season among considerable fanfare and expectations, which he lived up to. In his first season at UK he was named to the All-Southeastern Conference First Team by the league's coaches and to the All-SEC Second Team by the Associated Press and United Press International.

The following season, his sophomore year, he was named a third-team All-American by both the National Association of Basketball Coaches and Basketball Times, in addition to making the All-SEC First Team (coaches, AP and UPI).

A member of the UK Athletics Hall of Fame, Chapman was drafted No. 8 overall in the 1988 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. Chapman played 12 seasons in the NBA where he averaged 14.6 points per game, including a career-high 18.2 during the 1993-94 season. He represented UK on Team USA in the 1987 Pan American Games and was also named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 1989.

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