Kentucky's 1978 title game hero — scored 41 points in the championship to deliver Rupp Arena its first title.
Jack Givens was born in Lexington, Kentucky in 1956 and attended the University of Kentucky under coach Joe B. Hall. He won the national championship in 1978, playing the most celebrated single performance in Kentucky basketball history. In the championship game against Duke he scored 41 points — then the most by any player in a championship game — as Kentucky won 94-88. He shot 18-for-27 from the field. He averaged 18.1 points per game across four seasons. He was an All-SEC selection. Atlanta Hawks selected him in the first round of the 1978 NBA Draft. His professional career was brief. His championship game performance — 41 points in the title game in his senior year — remains the defining moment of his career and one of the most celebrated individual performances in tournament history. He became a prominent television broadcaster for Kentucky basketball after his playing career ended.
National Championship (1978)
Career Honours
- National Championship (1978)
- Championship game hero (41 pts)
- All-SEC
- Tournament MOP finalist