The confetti rained down.
“One Shining Moment” played loud.
And Kentucky cut down the nets for its eighth national championship in 2012 — a team stacked with NBA talent, unforgettable moments, and Big Blue glory.
But more than a decade later, where are those Wildcats now?
From NBA All-Stars to entrepreneurs, from foreign leagues to full-time coaches — here’s where the 2012 Kentucky National Championship Team ended up:
Anthony Davis (#23)
The biggest star of the group, Davis was drafted No. 1 in 2012 and has remained a dominant NBA force. An 8-time All-Star and 2020 NBA Champion with the Lakers, Davis is also making an impact off the court through his charity, which promotes youth fitness and academics. He even donated $350K to Eastern Kentucky flood victims.
Doron Lamb (#20)
Drafted 42nd overall by the Bucks, Lamb had a short NBA stint before launching a global career. He currently plays in Italy’s top pro league (Lega Basket Serie A) for Scafati Basket. He’s suited up for over a dozen teams worldwide.
Terrence Jones (#3)
Once a first-round NBA pick (18th overall), Jones spent six seasons in the league, mostly with the Rockets. Today, he’s still hooping — now with Cariduros de Fajardo in Puerto Rico’s BSN League.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (#14)
Selected 2nd overall in 2012, MKG lasted 8 seasons in the NBA before pivoting to advocacy. A passionate supporter of those who stutter, he launched Change & Impact Inc. and works to improve access to speech therapy. In 2022, he returned to UK to speak with health sciences students.
Marquis Teague (#25)
Drafted 29th, Teague bounced between the NBA, G-League, and international squads. Most recently, he signed with Kolossos Rodou B.C. in Greece. His pro journey includes over a dozen teams.
Darius Miller (#1)
A second-round NBA pick, Miller played for the Pelicans and Thunder, with a stint in Germany’s Brose Bamberg in between. He quietly exited pro basketball following his final season in OKC.
Kyle Wiltjer (#33)
After transferring to Gonzaga post-2012, Wiltjer went undrafted but carved out an impressive overseas career — from Spain, Turkey, and Greece to China, Wiltjer is still ballin’. His motto: “Another year, another culture.”
Eloy Vargas (#30)
Though undrafted, Vargas has played everywhere — from Argentina to Iran. He’s also a mainstay on the Dominican Republic national team, repping his roots with pride.
Jon Hood (#4)
After earning two degrees at UK, Hood went into coaching, eventually landing as an assistant at Missouri Western. He also worked in orthopedics and high school hoops.
Sam Malone (#13)
Now a tech CEO, Malone co-founded Guru Club, a platform for social media-driven marketing, and is launching a new esports-based rewards startup called 3V.
Brian Long (#32)
A walk-on turned pro in the business world, Long graduated with a communications degree and now works as a recruiter for Amazon, per his LinkedIn.
Jarrod Polson (#5)
Polson turned his BBN fame into a successful career in financial planning — and currently sells engagement and wedding rings in Lexington.
Twany Beckham (#10)
A published author and motivational speaker, Beckham has worked in player development at Kentucky State and now helps guide young players as an NBA agent.
Ryan Harrow (#12, Redshirt)
Though he redshirted in 2012, Harrow later played a season at UK before transferring to Georgia State. He’s now a pro in France’s Pro B League, after stops in Spain, Italy, Poland, and Greece.
And the Coaches?
John Calipari is still coaching the Cats — more than a decade later.
Orlando Antigua briefly left for other coaching jobs but returned in 2021.
John Robic transitioned to an administrative role in 2021 and later left the program entirely
From NBA rings to recruiting jobs, from world tours to tech startups, the 2012 Kentucky Wildcats wrote their own post-championship chapters — some legendary, others surprising.
BBN, one thing’s for sure: that 2012 squad will forever be a part of Kentucky history.
