A Kentucky basketball icon and multi-sport legend has died.
Cotton Nash, who played for Adolph Rupp in Lexington between 1961-64, passed away Tuesday at the age of 80. His son, Patrick Nash, told the Lexington Herald-Leader the former Wildcat had been battling “significant medical issues around Thanksgiving” and was unable to bounce back.
Nash racked up 1,770 points and 962 rebounds over the course of his three-year varsity career in Lexington, leaving as the program’s all-time leading scorer before Dan Issel claimed the record six years later. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound athlete would not only go on to play in the National Basketball League, but Major League Baseball, as well.