Kentucky’s summer work took a turn away from the gym this week, as the Wildcats headed to Eastern Kentucky for their annual retreat and spent part of Friday helping out in Hazard.
The trip began with a community service project at the ARH Cancer Center, where players and staff helped build a gazebo. The work came in hot, humid conditions, but Kentucky stayed busy with construction and landscaping while pitching in for the local community.
Ray Combs, a fan who watched the effort unfold, posted praise for the team on social media: “I just want to take a moment to brag on the @KentuckyMBB team and the hard work they have done today building a gazebo for the UK Cancer Center here at Hazard ARH. It’s hot, it’s humid, and these fellas haven’t stopped, neither has @CoachMarkPope.”
Mark Pope also went live on Instagram during the project, though he eventually handed the phone to an ARH Cancer Center staff member. That staff member spoke with several Kentucky players, including Milan Momcilovic, who was working on his Kentucky accent, and Franck “The Tank” Kepnang, who was happy to have volunteers helping out.
“They’re the GOATs,” Kepnang said. “I’m just listening to what they’re telling me. They just tell me what to do, and I just do it.”
The livestream had one more memorable moment before it ended: Pope looked unsure about how to shut it off and had to call on assistant coach Mikhail McLean for help.
Once the gazebo project wrapped up, the Wildcats moved on to Red River Gorge for a kayaking tour.
The Eastern Kentucky retreat has become a yearly part of life under Pope. In his first season, Kentucky spent time in Hazard helping build homes for people affected by flooding, along with a community cookout and time at the lake. Last year’s trip included visits to Red River Gorge and Natural Bridge, where the players went hiking, ziplining and rode the skylift.
Now, with another summer retreat in the books, Kentucky gets the chance to keep building chemistry while leaving a mark in the region.
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