Expect more Kentucky basketball tour events in the future

TJ Beisner, left, listened as coach John Calipari told fans in London that he appreciated them being there to see him and his players. (Larry Vaught Photo)

Just how successful was last week’s five-city Kentucky basketball tour that had coach John Calipari and players interacting with fans?

“Not that I had low expectations, but I was thinking a really good crowd will be 500 (fans) and the smallest crowd we had was bigger than that. Everything was very positive and encouraging,” said TJ Beisner, the director of player development for the Kentucky men’s basketball program.

Beisner’s job is to oversee the players’ off-court experience and help educate them about what being part of the Kentucky basketball program means to help “create a lifetime bond” with the players and the program.

The tour was so successful that John Calipari stayed longer than scheduled in Louisville, London, Georgetown, Somerset and Morehead even though it meant he was late getting to practice.

“We had practice scheduled after every event. The events were all scheduled for 90 minutes but Cal stayed at least an extra hour in every city,” Beisner said on WLAP Sunday Morning Sports Talk. “The guys went ahead and left for practice. The first day I went to Cal and asked if we needed to cut the line (of fans) off. He said, ‘I will stay until every last person gets a signature (autograph).’”

Beisner said the “next time” the basketball program organizes events like this more time will be allocated for each stop because of the large fan turnout this time.

Calipari even suggested to Beisner that they “keep doing this” now but Beisner reminded him about the upcoming four-game exhibition trip to the Bahamas in August.

“We talked about a couple of (tour events) after we got back from the Bahamas,” Beisner said. “Cal told  me he loves getting out in the summer and doing what he can to help and bring encouragement to communities.”

Last summer Kentucky basketball visited 10 communities with its satellite basketball camps. That changed this year when NIL deals allowed the players to have their own camps.

“We tried to get creative. I would say without question every summer I expect we will be out there doing things like this,” Beisner said. “The original plan was to show up in five towns, go to a park and just tweet out we are here and come play kickball with us because the guys love doing that.”

“But I am certain we will have some sort of community engagement as long as coach Cal is here and I am in this role. Cal loves doing this.”