The death of UK’s 3-time All-American basketball star Cotton Nash is hitting Big Blue fans – and Nash’s teammates – hard. Larry Pursiful was a senior guard and All-SEC pick when Nash was a sophomore and eligible to suit up for the varsity squad for the first time. Nash led the team in scoring; Pursiful was second.
“They had to guard one of us, and when they when they focused on Cotton, you know , then I was open. And then they I focused on me, we got the ball to Cotton. And it really, really was a good combination that year.”
Nash is one of a handful of people who played in the N-B-A and major league baseball. He also played briefly for the ABA’s Kentucky Colonels. Pursiful, a man of faith, said he and Nash remained friends after their playing days were over.
“He was a dear friend and an outstanding teammate. And I loved him dearly and I’m just really sad that, that this has taken place, but we'll meet again, you know?”
U-K only lost three games the year “Mr. Outside” Pursiful and “Mr. Everything” Nash played together.
** WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, fact-based journalism. Monthly sustaining donors are the top source of funding for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation.
