Patrick Towles runs point guard for Kentucky Wildcats
Patrick Towles might be the quarterback of the Kentucky Wildcats, but his success on the gridiron can be traced to two other sports.
That could be why the Wildcats are in the position they are in at the moment. UK has already won two division games, two more than many thought it would, but looking at Towles’ history, it is not much of a stretch.
As a high school football player at Fort Thomas (Ken.) Highlands High School, he was able to receive instruction from former Florida Gators and Cincinnati Bengals star Cris Collinsworth. Collinsworth volunteered at the school as the quarterback coach while his children were enrolled there.
Apart from football, Towles did not have to look far for instruction of how to compete on the field. His grandfather is Jim Bunning, former pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies and now a U.S. Congressman from Kentucky.
But Towles was born and raised in Kentucky, which makes him predisposed to playing basketball. And he did it well. His coach, Steve Hunt, remembers seeing the attributes Towles is showing on the football field he once showed on the prep hardwood.
“(His leadership) was always a major strong point for him,” Hunt said. “And size and accountability.”
Hunt has an eye for talent because he had it himself. In college, he played basketball at Troy State (Ala.) and was the point guard for a record-setting Trojans team.
A graduate of Highlands himself, Hunt is a part of basketball history. In his two years at the then-Division II Alabama school, the Trojans led the nation in scoring. But even more impressive, TSU set the all-time record in any level of basketball in scoring points in a game.
In January 1992, Troy defeated DeVry Institute, 258-141. That is not a misprint. Troy 258, DeVry 141.
Halfway through the second half, a kid hit a 3-pointer to become the only player to ever score his team’s 200th point in a game. It was Hunt.
That kind of poise and demeanor was translated to Towles.
Now, when Hunt sees his former pupil on TV, he is confident on Towles’ performance, especially after two division wins this year over South Carolina and Missouri.
“That does not surprise me at all,” Hunt said. “Mark Stoops has brought a new level of athlete as well as attitude to the program. It’s great to watch.”
Hunt is not the only one to watch Towles. His grandfather, who threw a no-hitter for the Phillies sees his grandson as much as possible.
“(Towles) has a great relationship with him,” Hunt said. “Mr. Bunning comes to most his games, if there is an opportunity for them to see each other they do. Mr. Bunning is a great guy.”
Towles has had great baseball advice from his grandfather. He has been well coached by Stoops on the football field. So could Towles possibly get onto the floor at Rupp Arena for John Calipari?
“No!” Hunt said.
That doesn’t matter. The Wildcats prefer to see Towles in Commonweath Stadium.