'We are all born with greatness, and the ones who can get that out of others has a special gift that makes them great leaders.' His character makes others want to find the natural leader within themselves.' A great leader makes those around him want to do their best. 'A leader cannot be defined, only followed. Although, as we've seen with John Wall and Patrick Patterson, college athletic experience isn't always a prerequisite for strong leadership. In college athletics, where so many of the performers are teenagers, this leadership tenet is possibly the most difficult to fulfill, and also promotes the idea that a great leader needs experience.

But, I think the most thought-provoking idea coach Pratt puts forward is not allowing oneself to get too high or too low. Pratt, and I think an excellent beginning in our search for a rudder for the current crop of 'Cats. Don't let the highs along the way to the goal be too high, or the lows too low. 'Some thoughts on being a leader: 1. Be goal oriented. The panel includes UK All-America and former head coach of UNC-Charlotte, Mike Pratt, former UK football player, and current Denver Bronco wide receiver, Dicky Lyons Jr., long-time UK baseball head coach Keith Madison, UK All-America and former Morehead State basketball coach Kyle Macy, the ultra-successful coach of the Elizabethtown High School girls basketball team, Tim Mudd, former UK great Jeff Sheppard, and the great cross country coach, now retired, from Central Hardin and John Hardin High Schools, Bruce Seymour.Īll are uniquely qualified to offer opinions with merit. To help answer those questions, I asked a number of athletes and coaches their thoughts on what it takes to make a great leader. With only one senior on the roster, little-used Josh Harrellson, and juniors DeAndre Liggins, Darius Miller and Darnell Dodson, to go along with a plethora of freshmen, a major question mark for John Calipari and staff is who will lead this talented but very young squad?īut, perhaps a more appropriate question is what qualities must one possess in order to be a leader? What made Chuck Hayes, Patrick Patterson, and John Pelphrey great leaders? Why were they followed, and not led? With the University of Kentucky Wildcat basketball team being nearly eviscerated by early defections to the NBA and graduation, the 2010-2011 'Cats, while certainly lining up to be a talented bunch, seem to have a gaping leadership vacuum.

Uk basketball roster 2010 2011