Zach Tow made his college basketball debut for Kentucky on Tuesday. It was an emotional moment at Rupp Arena as the local walk-on checked into the game on Senior Night for the first (and only) time.
Head coach Mark Pope could not take credit for the gesture, which came from fifth-year graduate transfer Lamont Butler.
Tow, a native of Madisonville, grew up approximately 200 miles from Lexington. He was a diehard member of Big Blue Nation since birth and always knew he wanted to attend the University of Kentucky. As a former all-region player during his senior year of high school, the 6-foot-5 senior joined the men’s basketball program through an open tryout back in October. His role on the scout team is in addition to his title of President at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Casual.
Kentucky’s newest roster addition: Zachary Tow
— Tres Terrell (@TerrellTres) October 8, 2024
Former player for the North Hopkins High School (Madisonville, KY) basketball program and graduate in 2022, now currently a student at UK.
He’s expected to wear #20 this season after making the roster during open tryouts. pic.twitter.com/A00US8EkUw
Although Tow goes head-to-head with the No. 19-ranked team in college basketball during practice, he is not listed on the official roster and he did not even have a jersey for most of the season. Admittedly, I don’t really know why he didn’t have a jersey, but that was the case until very recently.
Butler went to Pope about a month ago with an idea. The fifth-year guard suggested to his head coach that Tow should get to dress on Senior Night. The 52-year-old, who won a national championship at Kentucky in 1996, agreed because “you spend one day in this jersey and Big Blue Nation embraces you for life.” They presented him with a jersey prior to his final home game on Tuesday.
Mark Pope shared a cool story about walk-on Zach Tow.
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) March 5, 2025
Says Lamont Butler came to him a month ago and said that Tow deserves a jersey. They presented it to him before the game tonight, and he got to check in.
"You spend one day in this jersey and BBN embraces you for life." pic.twitter.com/vHRAoaXHOY
Not only did Zach Tow get to suit up, the Wildcats were up so big against the LSU Tigers that he and his fellow walk-ons were able to check into the game. The crowd at Rupp Arena went wild.
Everyone in the student section including me went wild when Kentucky subbed in the walk ons. 🔥
— Mario A Maitland (@MarioMaitland_3) March 5, 2025
Zach Tow, Grant Darbyshire, and Walker Horn. pic.twitter.com/rp8Bl57svm
Tow, Grant Darbyshire and Walker Horn received a raucous ovation.
Rare Grant Darbyshire, Zach Tow, and Walker Horn sighting pic.twitter.com/WNi64t0qO8
— Conner Scott (@connerscott2020) March 5, 2025
Tow’s sister, Kaylee, was emotional.
He even got to touch the ball!
F*ck it Zach Tow career highlights pic.twitter.com/CHoV8WjDdg
— Jordan Cooley (@jcooley112891) March 5, 2025
This kind of thing is what college basketball, and college sports in general, are all about. A local kid who grew up a fan of Kentucky got his shine on the biggest stage after a year of thankless hard work. Awesome stuff, Lamont Butler.