Walter “Walt” Hirsch, a three-time men’s basketball national champion at the University of Kentucky, passed away Tuesday at the age of 92.
Hirsch (1948-51) was a multi-sport athlete, also participating in baseball, and played basketball under legendary head coach Adolph Rupp. Hirsch is the only player in Kentucky Wildcats basketball history to be a member of three national title squads.
A 6-foot-4 forward, Hirsch played in 13 games for the 1948 champions, scoring 37 total points. He averaged 4.6 points in 34 appearances for the 1949 title winners and then played in 30 games during the 1951 season, averaging 9.