Shelby County's and UK's Charles Hurt passed away tonight after a battle with cancer. Our heart goes out to the Hurt family. Charles was 55 and retired from our military.

So sad to hear.

He was a super nice guy. Rest In Peace Charles.

I played against him once. He was a couple years out of college. A bunch of UK grads traveled around playing smaller college teams in our preseason. Both Charles Hurt and Derrick Hord could still play. They were physical specimens. Hurt was really an impressive athlete. Really quick of the floor and once he touched the ball you were not getting it. He really played the game hard. You did not want him to set a pick on you.

I used to have a picture with him after the game. Seemed like a heck of a nice guy.

He served our country well in the Army. One of the most respected Wildcats in the history of our program.

Very sad. What a great player and person he was. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

Unbelievable. So sad to see. Always appeared to be be a very upstanding person.

Sorry to hear this, so young.

Sad to hear this news.

I remember his muscular body in his UK uniform. I was at a game at Rupp when they were playing Auburn and other teammates had to separate him and Charles Barkley after a hard play. He was a competitor.

From all reports a great guy, too.

And his military service is appreciated!

The world needs more Charles Hurt's... Great person, had a way of making everyone feel important and special. Gave back to his country, his community, and his school, simple put a giver of love, rest with the man upstairs Charles and know we miss you

One of my early favorites at UK. Great career at Shelby County before moving to Lexington. Sad to hear of his loss.

I knew him a little bit at UK, seemed like a good guy and was obviously a fierce competitor. To Holmes fans he was the hurdle that separated them from the 1978 state championship, first by sinking a turnaround jump shot that rattled in as time expired to tie the game in regulation (basically the Christian Laettner play 13 years before 1992) then in overtime he had perhaps the most famous/infamous block in sweet sixteen history when he swatted Doug Schloemer's finger roll away ... With his hand in the cylinder! No call, Shelby County wins by two, Charles becomes a legend at Shelby County AND Covington.

 

He was also part of what I recall being the first "number 1 rated recruiting class"... They may have existed before then, but 1979 was the first time I ever saw that term applied to the UK class that included Charles, Dirk Minnifield, Derrick Hord, Sam Bowie and, I think, Tom Heitz.

Morton - Beckley Funeral Directors

 

Thought I would share