The University of Kentucky has announced that it will retire the jersey of former basketball player Mike Pratt in his honor. Pratt, who earned All-America and Academic All-America honors while playing for the Wildcats and later served as an analyst on UK radio broadcasts for 21 seasons, passed away on June 16th. The ceremony to honor Pratt, who will be represented by his wife Marcia and other members of his family, will take place on February 4th during a home game against Florida.
Pratt, a native of Dayton, Ohio, played for Kentucky from 1966-1967 to 1969-1970. He was a three-year starter for the Wildcats and scored 1,359 points and 718 rebounds, averaging 16.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. In 1970, he was named a second-team All-America and a two-time first-team All-Southeastern Conference player by the league’s coaches. He also earned Academic All-America honors as a senior.
Pratt was part of a successful trio at Kentucky under coach Adolph Rupp, along with Dan Issel and Mike Casey. The team won three SEC championships and made two Elite Eight appearances in the NCAA Tournament. During those three years, Kentucky had a 71-12 overall record, including 48-6 in league action.
After his time at Kentucky, Pratt played two seasons with the Kentucky Colonels of the American Basketball Association and later became an assistant coach on the UNC Charlotte team that reached the Final Four in 1977. He went on to become head coach of the 49ers in 1978 and later worked as a professional scout. In 1985, he entered broadcasting and worked for the Charlotte Hornets Television Network, ESPN, and Fox Sports South.
Pratt returned to Kentucky in 2001-2002 as the analyst on UK Sports Network radio broadcasts of the Wildcats’ men’s basketball games. He held this role until the 2021-2022 season, calling games for coaches Tubby Smith, Billy Gillispie, and John Calipari. During his time as an analyst, Kentucky won 558 games, including Calipari’s 2012 National Championship victory. The team also won eight SEC regular-season titles, eight SEC Tournament crowns, and made four Final Four and nine Elite Eight appearances.
Pratt has already been inducted into the UK Athletics Hall of Fame, the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame, and the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame. His will be the 45th retired jersey to hang in the rafters of Rupp Arena. The Retired Jersey Subcommittee of the UK Athletics Hall of Fame Committee made the decision to honor Pratt. The UK Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 2005 to recognize and honor those who have contributed to the university’s athletics program. Candidates are eligible for induction five years after leaving the university.
