One of the last surviving members of Kentucky basketball‘s famous “Fiddlin’ Five” has passed away. Phil Johnson, a Lexington native, died peacefully on July 23 at the age of 87.
Johnson was a three-year letterman in basketball for the Wildcats, attending the University of Kentucky from 1955-59 and helping Adolph Rupp’s program win the 1958 NCAA championship. The 6-foot-5, 190-pound forward racked up a total of 208 points and 281 rebounds over 64 games played.
He also lettered two years in baseball at Kentucky.
Johnson was the son of Bert Johnson, a former All-SEC running back for the Wildcats back in the 1930s who went by the nickname Man O’ War during his time in Lexington.