Three Hometown Heroes Immortalized: Wildcats Legends and Louisville Standout Headline the 2025 Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame Class

The 2025 Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame class carries the spirit of Bluegrass excellence, headlined by two of the University of Kentucky’s most beloved athletic legends and one iconic figure from their in-state rival, the University of Louisville. This year’s induction represents not just a celebration of athletic prowess, but a unifying moment for fans across the Commonwealth—an acknowledgment that greatness transcends colors, rivalries, and generations.

Kentucky Wildcats icons Randall Cobb and Tayshaun Prince lead the class, each having carved out storied careers that brought pride to Big Blue Nation. Joining them is Louisville Cardinals track and field sensation Sherry Wright-Hubbard, whose groundbreaking achievements on the track paved the way for future generations of athletes, especially women of color in Kentucky sports.

Randall Cobb’s journey from a small-town quarterback in Alcoa, Tennessee, to one of the most dynamic athletes in UK football history is a story that Wildcat fans know by heart. When Cobb committed to Kentucky, few could have predicted the impact he would make. A true Swiss Army knife on the gridiron, Cobb played quarterback, wide receiver, return specialist, and even lined up as a running back during his college career. His leadership and competitive fire turned heads and lifted the Kentucky football program to new heights during his time in Lexington.

Cobb left the Wildcats as the program’s all-time leader in touchdowns scored and all-purpose yardage, and was eventually drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Over a more-than-decade-long NFL career, Cobb has earned the respect of fans, coaches, and teammates as a clutch performer, reliable leader, and consummate professional. But in Kentucky, he will always be remembered for electrifying Saturdays at Commonwealth Stadium and for embodying everything the Big Blue faithful hold dear: toughness, humility, and heart.

Then there’s Tayshaun Prince, whose name remains synonymous with poise, precision, and quiet brilliance on the hardwood. A four-year standout for Tubby Smith’s Wildcats from 1998 to 2002, Prince developed into one of the most complete players in college basketball. His lanky frame and silky-smooth jump shot made him a nightmare for defenders, while his defensive prowess and basketball IQ elevated the play of everyone around him.

Prince’s career is perhaps best encapsulated by one unforgettable night in 2001, when he knocked down five straight three-pointers against North Carolina—each one more improbable than the last. Rupp Arena erupted with every shot, culminating in one of the loudest and most electric moments in the building’s storied history. Prince was named SEC Player of the Year in 2001 and finished his career with over 1,700 points.

His NBA career proved just as impressive. Drafted by the Detroit Pistons, Prince became a defensive anchor and a key part of their 2004 NBA Championship team. He famously chased down and blocked Reggie Miller in the Eastern Conference Finals that year, in a play that is still replayed on highlight reels as one of the most iconic defensive stops in NBA playoff history.

Prince’s career arc—from blue-chip recruit to college star to NBA champion—is a blueprint many aspire to follow. But beyond the accolades, it’s his steady presence and unselfish play that have left an enduring mark on the state he represented so proudly.

Rounding out this year’s trio of inductees is Sherry Wright-Hubbard, a name that may not echo as loudly in popular sports culture, but whose impact runs just as deep. Competing for the University of Louisville in the 1980s, Wright-Hubbard was a trailblazer in track and field—a dominant force in the 400m and 800m races who shattered records and glass ceilings along the way.

As a Black woman excelling in a sport and era that often marginalized female athletes of color, Wright-Hubbard stood tall. She not only set school and conference records but also helped raise the profile of women’s athletics at Louisville. Her tenacity on the track and grace off it earned her the respect of coaches and competitors alike. After college, she went on to coach and mentor young athletes, further extending her legacy beyond her own achievements.

Her induction into the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame is a fitting recognition not only of her athletic feats but also of her enduring role as a pioneer for equity and excellence. In an age where women’s sports continue to demand—and deserve—more visibility, Wright-Hubbard’s honor serves as both a nod to the past and a nudge toward a more inclusive future.

The 2025 class is a particularly poignant one. At a time when college sports continue to evolve under the weight of NIL deals, transfer portals, and expanded playoff structures, these three inductees remind Kentuckians of what truly endures: character, legacy, and community impact.

Cobb, Prince, and Wright-Hubbard didn’t just compete—they inspired. They didn’t just win—they elevated their programs and opened doors for others. And they did it while carrying the hopes of fans, students, and families who saw themselves reflected in their journeys.

For the University of Kentucky, having both Cobb and Prince enshrined in the same year adds another chapter to its rich athletic tradition. It’s also a moment of reflection for fans who watched these young men blossom into legends wearing blue and white. Their stories, while different in medium—one on turf, one on hardwood—intersect in values: loyalty, perseverance, and pride in representing the Commonwealth.

Meanwhile, for the University of Louisville, Wright-Hubbard’s enshrinement offers a chance to honor a figure whose legacy has often been under-celebrated. Her story is a powerful reminder that greatness doesn’t always arrive with fanfare—it often shows up in the daily grind, in early morning practices, and in quiet victories that pave the way for future generations.

Together, this trio’s induction is a celebration of Kentucky itself—of a state that lives and breathes sports, of communities that rally behind their own, and of the athletes who return that support tenfold with every stride, catch, block, and basket.

The Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame ceremony, scheduled for later this fall in Louisville, promises to be a celebration filled with emotion, nostalgia, and gratitude. Fans from both sides of the Wildcats-Cardinals rivalry will no doubt come together for the occasion—because when legends are honored, rivalries take a respectful pause.

And while each inductee has gone on to earn national recognition in their respective fields, the greatest honor for them may be this: being recognized at home. In the heart of Kentucky, where their stories began, their names will now be etched into history alongside the state’s most revered athletic figures.

So as the Commonwealth prepares to celebrate the 2025 class, it does so with pride and appreciation. For Randall Cobb, whose versatility made him unforgettable. For Tayshaun Prince, whose elegance made him iconic. And for Sherry Wright-Hubbard, whose courage made her historic.

Three athletes. Three legacies. One Commonwealth. One Hall of Fame.