Former Kentucky guard Kerr Kriisa was arrested by the FBI in Lexington just days after being announced as a member of La Familia, Kentucky’s alumni team for The Basketball Tournament.
The arrest, first reported by KSR, comes as an unexpected jolt in a summer where little else has been breaking through for Kentucky fans. Kriisa had been set to rejoin the Big Blue Nation in blue and white for the matchup with Louisville’s team later this month, but that plan is now off the table.
He is being extradited to West Virginia on fraud charges, with WKYT reporting further details on the case. On3 reported that the allegations stem from his time with West Virginia during the 2023-24 season, and the case is described as involving a “multimillion-dollar fraud scheme.”
La Familia quickly addressed the situation on X, making clear Kriisa will not take part in the tournament:
“We’re aware of the allegations regarding Kerr Kriisa. Kerr will not be competing with La Familia during the TBT Tournament. We will have no further comment.”
Kriisa’s pending hearing is scheduled for later this week, but his availability for the tournament is no longer in question.
For Kentucky fans, the news lands especially oddly because Kriisa had only just been lined up for another run with the program’s orbit. He spent one season with the Wildcats, arriving as a veteran spark off the bench before a fractured foot suffered in a win over Gonzaga ended his year before conference play.
Even with the injury cutting his Kentucky stint short, Kriisa stayed a familiar and lively presence around the program. He drew attention on social media for his sideline antics and fan interactions, becoming a favorite in Big Blue Nation for his personality as much as his play.
On the court, Kriisa averaged 4.4 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game for Kentucky. His value as a steady veteran voice was especially noticeable once Lamont Butler began dealing with his own setbacks later on.
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Kentucky Is Finally Getting The Kind Of Preseason Respect Fans Wanted
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