As speculation continued to spread about Kentucky coach Mark Stoops being a possible candidate at several major schools with job openings, Valerie Wade could not help worrying a bit.
     Her twin sons — linebacker/running back Keaten and quarterback Destin Wade of Summit High School outside Nashville — were both UK commits. The two Tennessee stars both had numerous offers, including Tennessee, but were sold on Stoops’ program.
     Valerie Wade decided to ask Stoops directly what was happening well before UK’s season ended and news broke that Stoops had agreed to a new contract.
     “I just reached out to him and told him, ‘The boys really need you as their coach.’ He quickly assured me he was going to be there. He said not to worry about it because he needed them to,” she said.
     “He just came right out and told me. I was absolutely surprised with how honest he was and was really impressed with him getting back to this mom so quickly to reassure me he would be at Kentucky. It spoke highly of his character and his commitment to the program.
     “He could have danced around it. He could have minced words and not be so definitive. Not every coach would put himself on the line like that.”
     She said her sons never worried a lot about Stoops leaving because they were more focused on playing in the Tennessee Class 6A state championship game.
     “I was more tuned to social media and message boards than them to see all the speculation and rumors,” Valerie Wade said. “People were coming up to me every day asking if Mark Stoops was leaving. It was really stressful for me because the boys were in the playoffs and I just didn’t need any of that extra stress. When I would hear the speculation, my heart would skip a beat.
     “But I am a direct person. I thought I was just going to put it out there to remind him how much we needed him and he more than reassured me he was staying.”
     Once Kentucky announced Stoops had agreed to an amended contract, Valerie Wade felt even better about her sons going to Kentucky. She’s seen the upheaval in the college football coaching ranks with coaches leaving on their own, other coaches being fired or some programs going the wrong direction.
     “All of that chaos just absolutely solidified that we made the right decision about Kentucky. We always felt that way, but this just validated that even more,” she said. “I understand using the leverage he had to get more for the program and his staff. I really think Kentucky is poised to explode to national prominence.”
     Stoops had impressed her in September when they visited for the Florida game. Valerie Wade was surprised not only UK assistant coaches but even Stoops met with them before the game.
     “We stopped at the hotel where they were at. They were preparing for what at

Valerie Wade needed assurances from coach Mark Stoops that he would be at UK to coach her twins Destin, left, and Keaten Wade and got it. (Twitter Photo)

that point was the biggest game of the season and yet coach Stoops and his staff took time to chit-chat with a couple of recruits,” Valerie Wade said. “They did not have to do that. Stoops did not have to do that. He could just have hid and got in the zone for the game and not made small talk with us. But he did and that really impressed this mother a lot.”
     Her sons certainly both had memorable seasons. They are two of the three finalists for Mr. Football in Class 6A, Tennessee’s largest classification.
     “I was blown away that they were both semifinalists and to have them both as finalists, what a blessing that is,” she said. “If either one wins, it will be so special.”
     Keaten Wade has been invited to the All-American Bowl Jan. 9 in San Antonio.
     “It just seems like when one gets something big, then the other one gets something. It just works out. But they are not jealous or envious. They are happy for each other,” she said.
     Summit lost 43-26 to Oakland in the state title game. Destin Wade ran 27 times for 165 yards and two scores and was 8-for-19 passing for 137 yards and one score. Keaten Wade had nine runs for 71 yards and one score.
     Destin Wade finished the year with has rushed for 2,309 yards and 31 scores and completed 79 of 136 passes for 1,436 yards and 18 scores. Keaten Wade has rushed for 618 yards and seven scores and had nine catches for 152 yards and three scores.

     Kentucky junior offensive guard Kenneth Horsey not only has developed into a starter and reliable member of the Big Blue Wall, but he’s also been extraordinary with his community service. He’s been named to the Southeastern Conference Community Service Team as well as the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. He was also a nominee for the Wuerffel Trophy presented to the top community servant in college football.
     However, Horsey insists describing him as proud of what he’s done is not the right perspective.
     “It is more blessed to be completely honest with you,” Horsey, who had open heart surgery at the end of his high school senior season before coming to UK, said. “All glory to God for the path he has taken me on. It has been a wild ride and it is not over.”
     Horsey never let his heart surgery impact his faith.
     “So many nights I was praying for God to reveal the purpose of why this

happened to me,” the UK junior said. “It was great to see things come to light.
     “I know this sounds weird but I feel blessed to have gone through this experience. It made me a better man. It brought my relationship with God closer. The boy that was going to that (operating) table is not the same man I am now. I am just blessed God gave me this platform (for community service) and I am not trying to let anyone down.”
     Horsey knows his parents have worried a lot about him but they have also inspired him.
     “I am a mama’s boy. That is my favorite lady,” the UK junior said. “You would think she grew up watching football but she wouldn’t even sit down and watch a football game until I started getting (college) offers. Now she is a football fanatic.
     “Both my parents have been there with me every step of the way. Anything I wanted to do or try to do they supported me and gave me guidance. I love them for that.”

     All-American Rhyne Howard is expected to do a lot for Kentucky and so far this season has delivered. In UK’s most impressive win against West Virginia, she had 27 points (she was 5-for-7 from 3-point range), seven rebounds and four assists.
     For Howard, it was nothing special.
     “Not to be cocky, I can do that day in and day out. That's honestly like a normal night for me I would say,” Howard said.
     Kentucky coach Kyra Elzy wants Howard's confidence to rub off on teammates.
     “We have asked her to step up and be a leader vocally and also lead by example,” Elzy said. “We want her to still be aggressive offensively. Want her to hunt shots and take good shots.
     “We have really challenged her to sprint in transition and make plays in the open court where people do not have time to double team her.”
     Howard is averaging 20.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.0 steals per game while shooting 49 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range.
     Elzy has complete trust in her senior star and her basketball IQ.
     “She knows what a good shot is for her and she does have the green light to take shots in our offense,” Elzy said. “I want her to play downhill and make the defense grind and not just take good shots, but great shots.
     Howard scored 21 points and moved into fourth place on Kentucky's career scoring list Sunday in a 90-56 win over Merrimack with 1,799 points. She passed Makayla Epps (1,790) and Leslie Nichols (1,797).

     Kentucky volleyball’s defense of the national championship it won in April ended sooner than many expected when the Wildcats lost 3-1 to Illinois in the second round. However, coach Craig Skinner is not worried about the program’s future despite losing All-American Alli Stumler off this team.
     “There’s a lot of great pieces. When you look at the starting lineup and it’s freshman, sophomore, sophomore, freshman, junior in your starting group, it speaks highly of their future,” Skinner said.
     “Now it’s: Can we duplicate what senior leadership does? Can we duplicate what they’ve provided to this program? What a great group to learn from going forward in that area. There’s a great group returning, one coming in so far, and possibly others, to help us go to the next level.”
     Kentucky finished 25-5 this season and seniors Lauren Tharp, Cameron Scheitzach and Stumler — who do have the option to return for a fifth year —

won 100 matches, four SEC championships and a national championship the last four seasons.
     Stumler said after the loss that there were no words to describe what UK volleyball has meant to her. She still remembers being on campus in high school when she made her decision to commit to UK.
     “I had no idea it would end like this and be like this. Competing for national championships, winning SECs four times in my career, and never did I dream of playing with girls like (freshman setter) Emma [Grome] and the crew that we have here, and just playing for the staff,” Stumler said.
     “It has been an unbelievable ride, and really stinking fun. It makes it a lot better when you have cool people and just people who really care, really care about others, and really care about the sport. Nothing I could have dreamed of. It couldn't have gone any better, despite what happened tonight. I couldn't have asked for it to be any better.”

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     Offensive tackle Darian Kinnard turned down a chance to start his NFL career to return to UK for his senior season. Just like he did last year, he’s had a dominant season for the Wildcats going into the Jan. 1 Citrus Bowl against Iowa.
     He is one of six semifinalists for the Outland Trophy given annually to the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman. The 6-5, 338-pound Kinnard is also a semifinalist for the Rotary Lombardi Award given to a lineman who combines on-field performance with the character and discipline of former NFL Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi.
     Kinnard, a two-time SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week this season, has already accepted an invitation to the Reese’s Senior Bowl where he will be able to showcase his skills to a bevy of NFL scouts.
     “When he gets his hands on you, it is over. He projects as a day one starting tackle (in the NFL) and there will be some thought about moving him to guard,” Jim Nagy, executive director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl, said.
     “He will play tackle and probably move inside and play some guard (at the Senior Bowl). I think he will be in that small group of lineman we talk about at the top of this year’s draft.”
     Kinnard has consistently graded high in both run and pass blocking — something he’s had a chance to show that he can do well this season because of UK’s more balanced offense under new coordinator Liam Coen.

  Quotes of the Week

Quote of the Week 1:

     “They’re just as physically imposing as Gonzaga all across the floor. They’re on Gonzaga’s level. They’ve got a fantastic team. They will do a lot of damage this year,” Central Michigan coach Tony Barbee after an 85-57 loss at Kentucky.

Quote of the Week 2:

     “I had to go see my mentor and my friend on his birthday! Sounds like I am far from the only one to come by too. Bunch of friends, family and former players! Thank you to everyone who has sent cards & letters. He has really appreciated them,” UK coach John Calipari on former UK coach Joe B. Hall’s 93rd birthday.

Quote of the Week 3:

     “We’ve done that before we knew anything about this thing called the (transfer) portal. That’s just the way we’ve built our relationships. We’re that way, give them a handshake, and wish them the best,” Mark Stoops on maintaining relationships with recruits who do not pick UK.