March 5, 2003

Junior guard Cliff Hawkins graces this week’s cover of Sports Illustrated entitled, “Kentucky Comes On Strong.” The national sports magazine is read by 21 million people worldwide. It’s the Wildcats’ first cover since former guard Wayne Turner earned the honor after Kentucky won the 1998 NCAA Championship. That season, UK appeared three times, including the Coach Tubby Smith cover that was featured on the magazine’s special commemorative issue to celebrate Kentucky’s title.

Heshimu Evans appeared on a regional cover the following season as part of the NCAA Tournament preview. All totaled, UK has appeared on the SI cover 19 times, including the very first cover in 1948 featuring Ralph Beard.

Click HERE to see a larger version of the cover. Click HERE to see 16 past SI covers featuring UK.