Anybody remember Roger Harden?

[delkbestalltime00]

I have a class with this guy and he recently told me he play basketball at UK, and he holds the single season assists record. I am too young to remember him, just wanted to see if anyone could tell me more about him, thanks

[MercerTitans]

I was around 13 or so when he graduated, so my memoriesjust a little vague.The thing that stands out most to me, as for a lot of people, is the half-court shot in the Maravich Center he hit to beat LSU. Seems like he may have hit another long range bomb to beat Alabama later that year.

That aside, I remember him being a smart and steady player, very good passer and ballhandler.

[RaleighCat]

Tell Harden he was one of the unsung players of the 80's. Very steady, smart and reliable. Better shooter than given credit for. Played with some amazing talent. See if he'll share any good Skywalker stories with you? Give him my best as a fan who liked his game.

[Madiblue]

one of the best playmakers to play at UK, those lobs to Walker, behind the back passes, he was tough!

[delkbestalltime00]

ok thanks guys, i can't wait to ask him about stories he had at uk...he is a very nice guy needing only one class to finish up college

[The Old School JPS]

I remember him and I was a huge fan of his. I sometimes think he didn't get the credit he deserved because everyone sort of held him up to his predecessor Kyle Macy. He was a very solid point guard for UK and added a lot to some very talented teams.

I would say his role on those loaded rosters was similar to that of Anthony Epps. Both were very solid and consistent point guards and often the glue that held the team together but both were somewhat deprived of attention and credit because they played with some bona fide superstars.

[boomdaddy]

He was a very good point guard. He had a deadly jump shot his senior season. His alley oop lobs to Walker were the high light of every game.

[CARDSRTOAST]

He was Mr.Basketball in Indiana at Valpariso..His Dad Al Harden was a longtime VP at Converse...Roger is a nice guy..Tell him Grover said Hello.

[Katfan74]

Madiblue wrote: one of the best playmakers to play at UK, those lobs to Walker, behind the back passes, he was tough!

Yeah, to me he and Walker were the best guard/forward combination of thier time. I loved watching those guysplay.

I also remember the last second shot he hit to beat LSU as well.

I was around 12 or 13 when graduated from UK.

[BamaCat86]

I was at UK when Roger was there. My room mate had several classes with Roger and I got to meet he and James Blackmon on several occassions.

[lribookend]

Katfan74 wrote: Madiblue wrote: one of the best playmakers to play at UK, those lobs to Walker, behind the back passes, he was tough!

Yeah, to me he and Walker were the best guard/forward combination of thier time. I loved watching those guysplay.

I also remember the last second shot he hit to beat LSU as well.

I was around 12 or 13 when graduated from UK.

What I remember most is "Walker get's the rebound, passes it to Harden....they run the floor, Harden pulls up at the top of the key, lobs it in to Walker, he scores and is fouled". Must have happened hundreds of times. Those two helped UK make an unexpected run to the sweet 16, (or was it the elite 8?) in a year when many thought UK shouldn't have gotten a bid. Very exciting to watch that team. And Harden was as humble and respectful a player as ever played.

[Katfan74]

lribookend wrote: Katfan74 wrote: Madiblue wrote: one of the best playmakers to play at UK, those lobs to Walker, behind the back passes, he was tough!

Yeah, to me he and Walker were the best guard/forward combination of thier time. I loved watching those guysplay.

I also remember the last second shot he hit to beat LSU as well.

I was around 12 or 13 when graduated from UK.

What I remember most is "Walker get's the rebound, passes it to Harden....they run the floor, Harden pulls up at the top of the key, lobs it in to Walker, he scores and is fouled". Must have happened hundreds of times. Those two helped UK make an unexpected run to the sweet 16, (or was it the elite 8?) in a year when many thought UK shouldn't have gotten a bid. Very exciting to watch that team. And Harden was as humble and respectful a player as ever played.
That was a while ago, but I think it may have been the Sweet 16.

[Terry L. Wildcat]

:cool:I remember his long jumper at the buzzer in Baton Rogue to beat LSU his senior year.

[cumberlandredskin]

lribookend wrote: Katfan74 wrote: Madiblue wrote: one of the best playmakers to play at UK, those lobs to Walker, behind the back passes, he was tough!

Yeah, to me he and Walker were the best guard/forward combination of thier time. I loved watching those guysplay.

I also remember the last second shot he hit to beat LSU as well.

I was around 12 or 13 when graduated from UK.

What I remember most is "Walker get's the rebound, passes it to Harden....they run the floor, Harden pulls up at the top of the key, lobs it in to Walker, he scores and is fouled". Must have happened hundreds of times. Those two helped UK make an unexpected run to the sweet 16, (or was it the elite 8?) in a year when many thought UK shouldn't have gotten a bid. Very exciting to watch that team. And Harden was as humble and respectful a player as ever played.
It was elite eight. That was Sutton's first year and if the NCAA hadn't made the Cats play the SEC tournament over they may have won the whole thing. BTW the Cats lost to LSU in that regional final. Harden didn't really blossom until his senior season but the wait was worth it. He was a fine pg who's shot came a long way.

[cumberlandredskin]

Terry L. Wildcat wrote: :cool:I remember his long jumper at the buzzer in Baton Rogue to beat LSU his senior year.
I think he also beat Alabama with a last second shot in Tuscaloosa.

[bigblue830]

harden was a gutsy player in the mid to late 80's. good shooter and solid player under hall and sutton. he also played in the backcourt with ed davender another good player back then.

[Tom Blevins]

I remember when he announced his college choice. He picked Kentucky over Florida. Florida basketball fans (both of them) thought he was a lock for Florida because his brother played basketball for the Gators. He passed for 232 assists in the 1986 season to set the single season record at Kentucky that still stands over 20 years later. His 498 career assists total is third in the Wildcat record books, trailing only Dirk Minniefield (646) and Anthony Epps. (544)