Wildcats in the Pros - March 9

Each week, Wildcats in the Pros catches up with some former Kentucky student-athletes who are doing big things in professional athletics. 

It seems to be a weekly occurrence that former Kentucky Wildcats dominate another NBA statistical category. This week is no different. 

Five of the top ten player double-doubles this season belong to former Cats. 

Sacramento Kings’ big man DeMarcus Cousins is tied for third in the league with 38 double-doubles. 

Former Wildcat star Karl-Anthony Towns has tallied 36 total double-doubles thus far in his rookie season for the Minnesota Timberwolves, ranking him at a tie for fifth in the league. Former Kentucky standout and current Washington Wizard John Wall also has 36 double-doubles this season. 

Posting 31 double-doubles, and at a tie for ninth place in the leauge, are former Cats Rajon Rondo and Anthony Davis. Rondo currently ranks at the top of the league dishing out an average of 12 assists per game for the Sacramento Kings. Davis ranks third in the league, averaging 2.16 blocks per game for the New Orleans Pelicans. 

Former Cat and current Houston Astros first baseman AJ Reed is in the midst of a battle for a starting job this spring. The Astros have four players vying to be the opening day first baseman, and Reed is firmly in that mix.

Reed helped his cause on Sunday, going 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI as the Astros beat the Pittsburgh Pirates in a spring training contest in Bradenton, Fla.

Reed has quickly risen through the Astros organization, and is now on the cusp of making it to the big leagues. The Astros have indicated that they will let the battle for the first base position play out through the spring, meaning Reed will have every chance to earn his way onto the roster.

Former Kentucky golfer Mallory Blackwelder will begin her 2016 LPGA Tour season this weekend at the JTBC Founders Cup event in Phoenix, Ariz. 

Blackwelder played for her mother, Myra, while at UK. Myra was the LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 1980 and had a successful career on tour. Mallory hopes to follow in mom’s footsteps.

The younger Blackwelder earned her tour card by finishing in the Top 10 on the Symetra Tour last season.