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14 Tai Wynyard

Name
Tai Wynyard
Position
Forward
Class
FR
Hometown (Last School)
Auckland, NZL (Rangitoto College)
Ht
6'10"
Wt
254
Seasons
2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18
Birthday
February 5, 1998

2015-16

Freshman: Midyear enrollee who joined the Wildcats on Dec. 17 … Became eligible for the Ohio State game on Dec. 18 … Did not play in any games in 2015-16 and ended up redshirting … Played for the New Zealand National Team in the 3-on-3 World Championships for a second straight year.

HIGH SCHOOL

Mid-year enrollee who joined the Wildcats on Dec. 17 after graduating from Rangitoto College in Auckland, New Zealand … Became the youngest player ever to make the New Zealand National Team when he was named to the team at 16 years old … Named the most valuable player of the FIBA 3-on-3 World Championships after leading New Zealand to a gold medal … Tabbed the MVP of his high school nationals in New Zealand after leading his team to the high school national championship … Member of the World Team that defeated USA Basketball in the 2015 Nike Hoop Summit … Played in the 2014 International Jordan Brand Classic.

PERSONAL

Son of Jason and Karmyn Wynyard … Born Feb. 5, 1998 … Has a brother, Tautoko, and a sister, Moananui … His father is a world-champion lumberjack who owns more than 150 individual world titles … He’s also a lumberjack and considers his axe his most prized possession … His mother played college basketball at the Division II level … His greatest fear is the dark … He chose No. 14 because No. 17, his high school number, isn’t available in college … He says his father has been the greatest influence in his life.

On This Day In UK Basketball History

On March 28, 1992, in what many called the “best NCAA Tournament game ever,” Kentucky takes defending NCAA champion Duke into overtime before losing 104-103 in the East Regional finals in Philadelphia. A last-second shot by Christian Laettner sends Duke to the Final Four, and breaks the hearts of Wildcat fans everywhere. It is Cawood Ledford’s last game as the “Voice of the Wildcats.”

 

On March 28, 1998, against Stanford, Kentucky rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit, then grabbed a 5-point overtime lead, before fending off the Cardinals to advance to the title game for the third straight season. Jeff Sheppard canned three long-range three-pointers - two in the final three minutes and one in overtime - en route to a career-high 27 points.

 

On March 28, 2014, unranked Kentucky beat No. 5 Louisville 74-69, in the 2014 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.  Aaron Harrison buried a three-pointer from the left corner with 39 seconds left that put UK ahead to stay before 41,072 in Lucas Oil Stadium.

 

On March 28, 2015, No. 1 Kentucky defeated No. 8 Notre Dame, 68-66, in the 2015 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.  With its 37-0 record on the line, Kentucky trailed Notre Dame 59-53 with 6:14 left. UK rallied in front of 19,464 fans in Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena and preserved its perfect season thanks to a crucial blocked shot by Willie Cauley-Stein and two game-deciding free throws from Andrew Harrison in the final seconds.

 

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