The life of a walk-on basketball player isn’t fair.
There are no promises made, nothing guaranteed besides a spot on the bench and in practice. Maybe the kid will play at the end of a blowout against a directional state school university. Maybe they’ll just stay on the bench for four years, a practice hero if we ever saw one.
But most of the time, that walk-on is just living his dream, especially if he is an Eastern Kentucky-raised, Big Blue-loving kid that has been wearing the jersey with “Kentucky†on the front since he was 5 years old.
Former basketball walk-on Landon Slone is still at UK after almost transferring to Morehead. Photo by Allie Garza | Staff
So what do you expect that kid to do when a new coach doesn’t even watch you play, doesn’t allow you to tryout for his squad, your dreams be damned?
You do what former UK walk-on Landon Slone did. You try to transfer to the first opponent on UK’s schedule, fueling a vengeance that screams, “I’ll show you, fancy new coach.â€
But what if that school isn’t really a fit? You’re promised things that aren’t true. And slowly, that vengeance wanes?
Then, just like Slone, you end up back at UK. Out of basketball, but still in class.
“My desire of wearing that UK jersey was the reason I played basketball,†Slone said. “And when I couldn’t wear that jersey anymore, it took my love of the game away.â€
To Slone, playing for anyone else but the Cats felt like he was cheating on his first girlfriend. But the sad thing was, that girlfriend had already said her last goodbyes. Without one last kiss or hug.
“I think I didn’t even get a chance to play,†Slone said. “Maybe it doesn’t make a difference, but it would help comfort me as a person.
“I don’t think (Calipari) understands the true heart of a Kentucky kid playing for Kentucky.â€
To watch Slone speak about UK basketball is like watching a man who runs into his ex-girlfriend at the movies. It’s awkward. He misses her. And her sleazy new boyfriend won’t take his filthy hands off of her.
In Slone is the epitome of every Appalachian Mountain-raised kid who grew up with the Cats. He grew up on stories of Richie Farmer and John Pelphrey. Heck, he went to same school as Pelphrey in Paintsville, Ky. He idolized Walter McCarty, Jeff Sheppard and Cameron Mills.
In essence, Landon Slone was living his dream last year, a freshman walk-on for the Cats who saw action in 15 games, scoring eight points off the bench against Mississippi Valley State and Central Michigan.
“It was surreal, indescribable,†Slone said of his time in a UK uniform. “I’ve had a strong feeling about playing in front of the Rupp Arena crowds since I was little. Since I was 5 years old, I’ve come to two-to-three games a year.â€
In a season full of turmoil, Slone was thriving. He could have been the next homegrown walk-on to fill the hearts of the faithful. Maybe he could have landed a scholarship before he graduated.
It didn’t matter that Billy Gillispie had basically “snapped†(Slone’s description) mid-season and the team “couldn’t catch a break.†Slone was playing as a freshman. For his dream team.
Until he was told there wasn’t a spot for him. No thanks, kid, I can’t even meet with you or spell your name correctly on my Twitter page, is basically what Calipari conveyed. So Slone left before the hammer came down like it did on everyone else.
“I’m not stupid,†Slone said. “I had a feeling. Gillispie was one-of-a-kind, carrying so many walk-ons. I wasn’t told I was going to be cut; I just left because I knew it was going to happen. I even got a text later from one of the other walk-ons saying ‘looks like you were the only smart one.’ â€
But turns out, Morehead State University was just a rebound. Promised by the coach to have a roster no bigger than 15 players, Slone was greeted by a team of 20. Having already lived that life, Slone passed.
He didn’t know anyone, didn’t like the school and he wasn’t even sure of his eligibility. So he came back to UK, after talking with his high school coach and UK Athletics’ compliance staff.
But don’t count Landon Slone out just yet. He still holds hope that his old girlfriend will call, apologizing for her awful mistake and begging to be taken back.
And Slone would take UK basketball back in a heartbeat. But he’s starting to move on. Ask and Slone will name off the Division 1 schools he hopes to play at next year — Louisville, Western Kentucky, maybe even Eastern Kentucky.
“I see myself playing somewhere next year,†Slone said. “I don’t know where myself, if it’s here, it’s here. If not I have to move on.â€
So in a year, maybe Landon Slone will be sitting in Monday, Wednesday, Friday class at 11 a.m. in White Hall Classroom Building. Or he could be at cross-state rival Louisville, practicing daily to get his vengeance on his old girlfriend.
But in reality, the Landon Slone story is far from finished. Even he knows it.
“My career … to be continued I guess.â€
Kenny Colston is a journalism senior. E-mail kcolston@kykernel.com.
RUDY! RUDY! RUDY!….. should we start at big blue madness?
I really enjoyed watching Landon play for UK. He has great hustle and the heart to match. I hope to watch him play again.
Seems to me the writer of this doesn’t like Calipari, I mean what is to hate a bout him, college sports is a business not an everybody gets a trophy league. Sure we all have dreams to play for our favorite teams but in reality it won’t happen and Slone got to play one year, which is more then most people can say.
louisville…really? landon, anywhere but louisville (although if your are looking for that ex-girlfriend i’ve heard Porcini’s has a great after hours crowd) and if you’ll wait till my probation is over i’ll promise you a walk-on spot for the Houston Recovery’s of the Texas Penal League.
Dwayne Peevey types Cal’s tweets.
nicely done, kenny
Kentucky is considered to be the best program of all time. Do you know why they havent been playing like the greatest lately? Because people like michael porter started last year. This year we are back to the talent level that has made kentucky such an amazing tradition. Landon himself said “I wasn’t told I was going to be cut; I just left because I knew it was going to happen”. He Quit. Now he wants vengeance? Leave Landon, true players dont have such bad attitudes, and if he think he can help somewhere else, great. But dont whine about Coach Calipari, he did what was best for his team and Kentucky. Show some respect and move on!
Why can’t we have walk-ons!? Who is it hurting!? We need a 5’2” kid from Pine Gap Knot!
No, we don’t.
Contrary to the “what’s it hurt?” mentality, it hurts recruiting and can hurt the team psyche. A guy like Cal is going to burn through those 13 slots quickly, especially taking into consideration guys who may or may not leave early every spring. If he has that four-year walk-on who’s killed himself for the team, it would always be tempting (and always a pr move) to give that kid or kids a free last year as a career achievement award and thank you. Krebs got his, but only because Cal had no magic left for the year. Cal doesn’t HAVE to give the fourth year scholarship, but he never wants to risk bad publicity (even if minor) or team unhappiness over a well-liked kid. I don’t agree with the above comment slamming Slone, however, leave the guy alone. He deserves respect for playing his ass off and truly caring about UK. Finally, to think John Calipari cares about UK as much as Landon Slone is a sign of senility, losing touch with reality, or both.
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Someone needs to quit crying all the time!
Great story. Good reporting, although I would have liked to have read Calipari’s take on the situation. I am rooting for the kid to get another chance. I doubt it will happen, but Calipari seems to be a man of the people so you never know. Don’t forget to check all names and facts while editing the story. Jeff Sheppard’s name is spelled wrong.
I was once a Landon Slone admirer, but I a mno longer. Landon was an inspiration as far as busting his tail and getting the most of his limited athletic ability. But let’s be honest. Being a Kentucky native does not make you quick, does not make you athletic, does not make you talented enough to play at the level necessary to put Kentucky back where it is now headed in the college basketball world. Landon was exposed against even the Mississippi Valley States and Central Michigans of the basketball world. We went to the NIT with Landon Slone playing for Billy Clyde Gillispie. Nothing against Landon, but has he ever considered that he was simply a tool used by Gillispie to play his stupid little mind games with the more talented, NBA caliber players? Gillispie was the real problem, not Landon. Does Landon really think that by going to the media he can shame Coach Cal into begging him to come back? That’s a little like thinking he can get his ex-girlfriend back by calling her a slut for dumping him in favor a better boyfriend. Let’s be honest, Landon left Morehead because he could quickly see that they already have more talented players than he. Did you see the guards they have perform last year? He was not going to play at Morehead State either. Landon is right about one thing, Gillispie was one-of-a-kind. And I’m soooo glad he’s taken his pathetic road show back to Texas. Landon should be thankful for the opportunity he was given, and we’ll be thankful for the heart and hustle he showed. But no one owes him anything. I’m going to enjoy watching this new, personable, emotionably stable coach take the talented players from last year and the new players he’s brough in, and see him put Kentucky basketball back into the NCAA tourney, possibly even a Final Four. Thanks for your efforts Landon, but you should just be a REAL fan and root them on. No one likes a whiner.
I go to Morehead State and Slone would of been a bench player this year, and he might not of been the first player off the bench. Morehead has better players and better athletes than Slone. I do wish him the best but Morehead State is going to be just fine with out him.
Every Kentucky boy dreams to play basketball at UK. Landon had his opportunity and should cherrish it. D1 basketball is a business. Coach Cal made a decision not to keep Landon on the team. Coach Cal’s goal is to lead us back to championship level. Landon should quit crying and realize that he accomplished what every Kentucky boy freams about. Oneday Landon can tell his kids and grankids about his opportunity to wear the blue and white for one year. Quit crying and enjoy, you lived out your dream for one year.
There were 2 other Ky boys released 3 weeks before school started. Delph and Scherbenske. Scherbenske had been rehabing a knee injury from microfracture surgery. These boys bleed blue too, but how come everyone raves about Slone all the time. Slone was out for himself. Look back at last years games and see if he was cheering the team on when he wasn’t playing. He was sulking on the bench. He was never the first guy up cheering and yelling. He even got an off campus apt last year and moved out of the lodge without the coaches’ knowledge because he didn’t like living there. I’m sick of hearing about Slone, he wasn’t a team player. Enough is enough.
MSU’s roster is at 16 players. Author needs to get facts straight instead of trying to squeeze the every bit of sympathy for this kid who is barely a sub at the OVC level.
I would like to comment on two of the messages that were posted: TheTruth and Kevin!
First off, Landon does NOT have a bad attitude, do you even know him? I didn’t think so, so before make a comment such as that one, you should definitely have some proof behind it. Landon Slone is a young man that wanted to play at Kentucky his whole life and for someone in the coach’s office to look at him and say, “It would probably be best for you if you could make arrangements elsewhere?” Now please remind me why you think the boy quit??
To be honest, TheTruth.. you are the one that needs to show some respect! As far as I’m concerned your comment is completely irrelevant since you have no idea what you are talking about. You should really consider looking into the whole story before you bad mouth someone, when in all reality it’s none of your business.
As for you Kevin, your comment is completely disgraceful. Landon is not flocking in the media, actually the reporters have been contacting him!! Just so you know, he hasn’t talked to a lot of them- basically, going to the media has never been an option for him, he’s not that kind of person. He is a mature young man, unlike you. The comment that you made about Morehead, I mean seriously? Do you have any idea about the whole situation? I’m sure you don’t, but for the record Landon DID NOT leave because of any players there, he was simply unsatisfied. If you think about it, he was there for 2 days, which is definitely not enough to determine the talent. You need to get a life and stop talking about a boy who you know nothing about.
And for those of you who are tired of hearing about the situation, then stop reading the articles and stop commenting on them when none of you know what your talking about!
UK hired Calipari because they felt he gave them the best chance to win, not to keep players that would hold the team back. Just because you love UK basketball doesn’t mean you should be on the team, and although I liked Landon Slone, he is not a high D-1 player. I really believe that Kenny wants UK basketball to lose…
Catfan10 our you Landons Mommy?
Did the author just compare Calipari to a sleezy boyfriend who can’t keep his hands off your ex girlfriend? Really? Landon was just plain lucky to ever wear the blue and white and he should just be glad that he had that opportunity. Things have changed – for the better – and his dream is over. He needs to move on as most adults do when things don’t go exactly as they want in life.
We’re not playing for the YMCA anymore; Calipari wants to get rid of the walk-on’s thats within his every right. This is a step in the right direction for Kentucky basketball, and some player’s fingers had to get stepped on to get it going.
Landon, you’re a good guy and have great hustle, but you just don’t have the skill set needed to play for Kentucky. I wish you all the luck and hope you find a happy home to continue you basketball career as long as possible.
how much good has cal’s recruits done getting these flashy players on old teams, it gets them to the final four and then gets that final four taken away, i’m not saying landon should start or even play but how could it hurt to have a kid whose coaches and teammates from last year said was the hardestworker they had, to go along with the fact that he can shoot the three and finds ways to thelp the tteam win, does everyone forget that those games he did play he recieved jpsports player of the game, sure he didn’t have much competition but still i think the kid deserves a roster spot
Hey I actually thought Landon was a better guard than Michael Porter, but that isn’t really saying a lot, Porter was slow, couldn’t defend and got lucky every now n then and hit a shot, Landon on the other hand seemed quicker and hustled more. Having said that I would like to see him on the roster but like others said above. Div. 1 college B-Ball is big business and a coach only wants the best he thinks he can get, believe me coach Cal. knows more about Landons abilities way more than we do. I am from Eastern Ky. We who live in the Appalachians live for the Royal Blue & White, I am proud of Landon and what he accomplished last year. He gave it his all, he wore that coveted UK uniform proudly but like I said, the coach knows his abilities and what he could bring to the table. I always enjoyed it when Landon stepped onto the Hallowed Court of Rupp Arena, but believe me, the coach knows. I wish Landon the best, and who knows, people can improve, only time will tell but until then, thanks for giving UK your best Landon.
C’mon really people really discussing landon slone man let’s move on only reason he got to play was because billy clyde was playing mind games he used him as a pawn no way he was better than gallowY or liggins let it go he’ll b ok lets focus on the future so we can get back to where we belong amongst nations elite n recruit the elite athlete it takes to be that dominant program again!