With four different teams adding to Kentucky’s tally, UK Athletics is fast closing in on Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart’s benchmark of 15 conference or national championships by the year 2015. With the work of all UK’s varsity teams, the Wildcats are also on the cusp of Barnhart’s goals in the classroom.For the second consecutive semester, UK student-athletes narrowly fell short of the 3.0 department-wide grade point average set forth by Barnhart. All UK student-athletes combined for 2.97 GPA and the GPA for scholarship athletes was a slightly higher 2.98 GPA. The average team GPA for the spring semester was 3.07.”I am very proud of the effort our student-athletes logged in the classroom this semester,” Barnhart said. “We fell just shy of our GPA goal and will work tirelessly to reach it, but I am happy with the academic culture we have fostered at UK. I appreciate everything our student-athletes, coaches and support staff have done to make that happen.”Among all teams, women’s tennis had the highest GPA at 3.55, while men’s cross country had the highest GPA among men’s teams at 3.29. Of UK’s 20 Division I teams, 12 had a GPA of over 3.0, including the championship-winning men’s basketball, rifle and men’s tennis teams.***See below for complete grade information for each sport***The work of the men’s basketball team was particularly impressive. The Wildcats brought home the program’s eighth national championship, spending essentially the entire month of March away from campus for tournament play, yet still excelling academically.Five players off this year’s championship team opted to turn professional early – all projected first-round picks and three in the lottery – but also demonstrated their commitment to both UK and eventually graduating by finishing the semester strong as full-time students. Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Marquis Teague – three so-called “one and dones” – combined for a spring GPA well above 3.0. Additionally, the lone seniors on the team, Darius Miller and Eloy Vargas, each received their diplomas at May commencement.”All these kids are good kids,” John Calipari said. “We had a (3.12) GPA as a team for this term with five players who are leaving early, so all this stuff bitter old men say that they don’t go to class, it’s not true.”The men’s basketball team is just the most high-profile example in a department full of student-athletes committed to excelling both on and off the field. With spring sports yet to be recognized, 90 Wildcats have already been named to the Southeastern Conference Fall and Winter Honor Rolls. UK student-athletes have also volunteered over 4,000 total hours to various charitable causes.”I am excited about all the great things our student-athletes are doing,” Barnhart said. “They do so much to enrich our athletic department, our University and the Lexington community. We are blessed to be a part of their development and take that responsibility seriously.”Team GPA’s Spring 2012 – Cover sheet.pdf