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By Kelli Elam
In the midst of living his dream of playing in the NBA, ]amal “ Whenever I look back at my career, ofcourse, I enjoyed my
Mashburn was already looking ahead to the day when he would professional career, but I think of my college career as the purest
no longer be playing basketball. He realized early the im- time for me playing basketball. We played it the right
portance of being prepared for life’s inevitable way and had a lot of fun. I have the highest re-
transitions. gard for Kentucky. I met my wife there and I
“I always realized that I wouldn't play made some great friends.”
basketball forever? said the former He started the ]amal Mashburn
Wildcat great. “I didn’t want to. I Scholarship Award program just days
always planned for that day, so after declaring himself eligible for
when it came, I think I was pre- {_ _ _ .•·· · _ . the 1993 NBA Draft and before
pared to make the transition ` signing his Hrst professional bas-
from basketball player to for- U T ketball contract. The endow-
mer basketball player.” ment directly beneHts young
Fortunately, when retire-  I _ people in the Lexington com-
ment came, Mashburn was munity Since the program
ready for the next stage in f V  was established, more than
his life. He joined ESPN j ”  `rr -—--..... two dozen students from
and is currently working as a . y y   Fayette County high schools
studio analyst for the net- l`  gill yy _ I _.   have participated.
work’s NBA coverage.     "· _'     A l  l'`i   i ` “I am amazed at the quality
Mashburn says the transi-   . {5, _L;;  ?’*"`” students that apply for the
tion from player to analyst was .     I   ‘»;l YM scholarships. They are Hrst-rate.
smooth, much easier than he Eifljg I   ,   \ The strength ofthe applicants re-
would have anticipated.     "' I ally blew me away,” he said.
“I am actually in the process of writ-   J  " I _ Giving back has always been impor-
ing a book about transitions — willing V Y tant to Mashburn.
and forced — in life. I’m not using a ghost _ M  “Getting a scholarship was huge for me.
writer. I am writing it on my own. This process has .  [  Without basketball, Iprobably wouldn’t have been
not only helped me share my experiences with others, it able to attend college. lknow that I was very fortunate that
also has helped me through my own transitions.” athletics provided a way for me. It is very important for me to give
“Monster Mash” will always be adored by Kentucky fans. back. It is really a team effort. My mom (Helen Mashburn) is very in-
Mashburn humbly deflects cre dit to his former coach; however, volved. It’s been a very positive experience.”
his commitment to UK was a big part ofthe process of restor- He is involved in numerous business ventures, including team-
ing Kentucky’s basketball program after probation. Lexington ing with former Kentucky coach Rick Pitino and Rick Avare to
and Rupp Arena were a long way from Holcomb Rucker Me- form MAP (Mashburn, Avare and Pitino), which owns several
morial Park Playground in New York City, where he grew up businesses in Kentucky.
playing. Mashburn quickly learned that basketball in Kentucky Mashburn and his wife, along with their two children, daughter
is something special. Taylor, ll, and son ]amal]r., 6, live in Miami, Fla. He is back in
“I was a kid from inner-city New York,” he said. “It really was Kentucky a couple times a month due to his business interests.
a huge transition for me. I really didn’t know that much about A member ofthe Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame and the UK Ath-
Lexington. I had no idea how big basketball was at Kentucky. letics Hall of Fame, he hasn’t been bitten by the coaching bug so far.
Coach said, (trust me.) And I did. It was definitely a great deci- “I have never really thought about it? he said. “I can coach my son.
sion for me.” I love my son, so I have lots of patience with him. I don’t thinkI
Mashburn says he has great memories of his time at the Uni- would have the same patience with college kids or even professional
versity of Kentucky. players. I am interested in becoming an NBA owner someday.”
>} 24 Fall 2008