Author Scott Brown and former UK basketball player Jack “Goose” Givens held a moving discussion about the new book, “The Reggie Warford Story: Integrating Basketball at the University of Kentucky” at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington on Feb. 7.
Brown wrote the book about Reggie Warford, the first black basketball player to have a four-season career and graduate from UK. He said he chose to write the Reggie Warford story because of the feeling of isolation he once encountered his first week at Penn State; a feeling of isolation Warford must have experienced his entire first year at the University of Kentucky as the only black player on the team.
“His story is incredible,” Brown said.
Brown said he hoped to produce more than just a biography; he wanted to create a story of inspiration, optimism and resilience.
Warford’s son, Tiger Warford, attended the discussion and book signing. He said he learned many lessons from his father.
“The biggest thing is to truly stick with the situation no matter what because I mean he was ready to quit and leave,” Tiger Warford said.
Reggie Warford didn’t quit. Not only was he the first black player at UK, but he was also a part of the first all-black starting lineup.
Givens, who wrote the foreword for the book, played with Warford during his time at the university. He recalled Texas Western’s monumental all black player staring lineup that defeated Kentucky 72-65 in 1966.
“It’s just a game, and anyone can play it,” Givens said.
Givens said Warford taught him and other players about being a black man on campus when not playing on the court.
“Yeah, he was doing his thing on the court, but he took all of us – myself and all of the guys who were younger than him – he took us under his wing and he kind of talked to us and, a lot of times, told us how we needed to act, how we needed to play and how things worked,” Givens said. “Whether we wanted to see it or not, whether we wanted to believe it or not, Reggie took that responsibility.”
Reggie Warford coached college basketball for many years after he graduated from UK. He died in 2022.
