Kentucky Wildcats

Kentucky Basketball: Charles Hurt Passes Away At Age 55

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Former Kentucky basketball forward Charles Hurt has passed away at age 55 after a battle with leukemia. Joe B. Hall and Jack Givens reflected.

Heartbreaking news broke on Friday, September 16. After undergoing stem cell surgery in attempt to treat his leukemia, Kentucky basketball player Charles Hurt has passed away at the age of 55.

Hurt’s former coach and close friend weighed in on his untimely passing.

Hurt played for the Wildcats from 1979 to 1983. He scored 786 points and pulled down 496 rebounds in 124 games as one of the Wildcats’ most beloved players.

According to Greg Kocher of The Herald-Leader, former Kentucky head coach Joe B. Hall spoke about how shocked he is to hear of Hurt’s passing.

Hurt’s close friend and former Kentucky star Jack “Goose” Givens, who led the Wildcats to the 1978 NCAA championship, echoed the sentiment.

This is devastating news.

During his senior season, Hurt helped the Wildcats reach the Elite Eight. He earned the respect of the masses as the energy guy who brought an unrivaled level of intensity to Kentucky’s attack on both ends of the floor.

He averaged 28.9 minutes, 8.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in 1983, when Kentucky made that deep NCAA Tournament run.

As someone who has lost multiple loved ones to cancer, this news is especially troubling. No one deserves to endure this agonizing and unforgiving disease, especially not someone as beloved as Hurt.

Hurt’s legend in Lexington will live on, however, as a wonderful person and a tenacious player.

Rest In Peace, Charles Hurt. You will be missed.

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