Kentucky transfer guard Kerr Kriisa apparently made a bold claim during a recent photoshoot as a new Wildcat, according to head coach Mark Pope. And it all revolves around a jersey number.
Pope, joining a local radio show, shared that Kriisa asked for the No. 77 — which he intends to wear as a Wildcat — during a recent photoshoot. Someone asked if Kriisa was a big fan of Luka Doncic, who has donned the number during his ascent to NBA superstardom.
As far as Kriisa is concerned, things might be the other way around.
“We did a photoshoot and we gave him a jersey, and in this conversation, he said he was gonna be No. 77. My GA actually made the comment, said, ‘Oh, you’re a huge Luka Doncic fan?’ And he was like, ‘No! I had this number way before Luka started wearing it! He took it from me!’” Pope said. “Honest to goodness, that just happened not too long ago, with no hesitation. ‘No, Luka took my number, man. What are you talking about?’”
While Doncic never played American college basketball, he and Kriisa both came up playing basketball in Eastern Europe. Doncic, who is nearly two years older than Kriisa, was born and raised in Slovenia, while Kriisa hails from Estonia.
And despite the age difference, their paths crossing in the world of basketball wasn’t out of the question. And apparently somewhere along the line Doncic took the idea to wear No. 77 from Kriisa — at least, that’s what Kriisa claims.
A Kentucky jersey recently made it back to Europe
There wasn’t any white smoke, but the arrival of Mark Pope as the new Kentucky head coach was met with a similar fervor by Wildcat fans as the elevation of a new pope is by Catholics around the world. And now, there’s been a crossover.
Pope Francis, meet Pope, Mark. Or at least a jersey.
His Holiness was presented a gleaming No. 23 Kentucky jersey — Pope played on the for the Wildcats in the 1990s, but wore No. 41 — adorned with “Pope” on the back. The gift was presented by Father Jim Sichko, from the Archdiocese of Lexington.
Sichko spoke with On3’s KSR, sharing more on his brief interaction with Pope Francis and that the two discussed Kentucky hoops and football. Sichko said that it was the Kentucky football program that helped him procure a Kentucky basketball jersey bearing “Pope” on the back.
“I had no way of getting in touch with Coach Pope,” Sichko said to KSR. “It’s beautiful that both teams work together.”
And of the jersey itself, Sichko said it was well received.
“He loved it,” Sichko said. He also got His Holiness to sign a bottle of Willett bourbon.
It’s not Sichko’s first interaction with Pope Francis, either.
Sichko, in 2015, was appointed a missionary of mercy by the Pope, according to Sichko’s website.
“Since his appointment, Fr. Jim has made it his life’s mission to bring God’s love to all people—no matter where they are on life’s journey,” a section of the website reads.
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