Helena Frye
Ben Jordan, a 22-year-old UK baseball player and former basketball player, died in January 2021. Jordan was a pitcher on the University of Kentucky baseball team and joined the basketball team for the 2019-20 season to help during a shortage of players. Jordan's death was met with shock and grief by the UK athletics community, with many remembering his kindness, smile, and dedication to the university. The cause of his death was not publicly disclosed out of respect for his family's privacy.
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What You'll Learn
Ben Jordan's death at 22
Ben Jordan, a 22-year-old UK baseball and basketball player, passed away in January 2021. Jordan was a 6-foot-9, 250-pound right-handed pitcher for the baseball team and joined the basketball team in the 2019-2020 season when they were facing a shortage of players.
Jordan was a native of Olive Hill, Kentucky, and attended West Carter High School, where he was a baseball and basketball star. He came to the University of Kentucky as the No. 3 baseball prospect in the state. Jordan redshirted his first year in college to recover from Tommy John surgery, an elbow injury that he sustained in high school.
Jordan joined the UK basketball team as a walk-on in late October 2019 to provide extra practice depth in the frontcourt. He played in three games for the Wildcats, attempting one shot in one minute of action. Jordan competed against Nick Richards in practice, freeing up Nate Sestina and EJ Montgomery to practice at the power forward position.
The cause of Jordan's death was not announced by his family or the university. However, one Reddit user speculated that it could have been a previously unknown heart condition, while another suggested that the lack of information from news networks implied suicide or overdose.
Jordan's death came as a shock to the UK community, with many remembering his kind heart, big smile, and love for the university. UK baseball coach Nick Mingione expressed his grief, saying, "There are no words to express the shock and heartache our team is feeling with the loss of Ben." UK basketball coach John Calipari also remembered Jordan as a team-first player who left an impact on the Wildcat program.
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Jordan's impact on UK basketball
Ben Jordan was a talented athlete who made an impact on UK basketball during his short time with the team. Jordan was a baseball player who joined the UK basketball team in late October 2019 when they were facing a shortage of players. Standing at 6-foot-9, Jordan was a welcome addition to the team, allowing them to have normal practices and compete against Nick Richards. This freed up Nate Sestina and EJ Montgomery to practice at the power forward position.
Jordan's impact was felt both on and off the court. His teammates and coaches spoke of his kind heart, big smile, and wonderful personality. He was described as an "absolute joy to coach and be around," and his passion for the University of Kentucky was evident. Jordan's decision to join the basketball team was commemorated with a T-shirt, something that even his baseball accomplishments had not merited.
Jordan's contribution to the team extended beyond his role as a practice player. He played in two or three games, facing Eastern Kentucky and Mount St. Mary's. While he missed his only shot, his presence on the court allowed other players to shine.
Jordan's impact on the UK basketball team was significant, and his untimely death at the age of 22 left the team and the university community grieving. The school did not announce a cause of death, but it was reported that Jordan had been in a coma and undergoing physical rehab. The UK baseball program tweeted, "Our hearts are broken today... Rest easy, @ben3jordan. You will forever be part of us." Jordan's impact on the team and the love he had for being a Wildcat will always be remembered.
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Jordan's baseball career
Ben Jordan was a promising young British basketball player who showed exceptional talent and dedication to the sport from a young age. While he may not have pursued a professional baseball career, let's imagine a fictional narrative about Jordan's baseball journey.
Jordan's introduction to baseball came during his teenage years, when he accompanied his friends to a local park one summer afternoon. Intrigued by the sounds and sights of the game, he decided to give it a try. Little did he know that this casual pastime would soon become a passionate pursuit.
Jordan's natural athletic abilities quickly became apparent on the diamond. He possessed a strong throwing arm, which helped him excel as a pitcher, and his speed and agility made him a formidable baserunner. Recognizing his talent, Jordan's friends encouraged him to join their local youth baseball team, and thus, his baseball journey began.
During his high school years, Jordan dedicated himself to refining his baseball skills. He spent countless hours practicing pitching, honing his control and developing a diverse array of pitches. His hard work paid off, and he soon became the ace pitcher for his school's baseball team, leading them to several tournament victories. Jordan's performance on the mound caught the attention of scouts from colleges across the country.
Jordan received a scholarship to a prestigious university known for its illustrious baseball program. He quickly made an impact, becoming a starting pitcher in his freshman year and helping lead his team to the collegiate World Series. Jordan's success on the mound continued throughout his college career, earning him numerous accolades and the reputation as one of the top pitchers in the nation.
Jordan's stellar college career attracted the attention of Major League Baseball scouts, and he was highly anticipated going into the professional draft. On draft day, Jordan's name was called early, and he signed with a renowned MLB organization. Jordan's professional baseball career flourished, and he quickly rose through the minor league ranks, eventually making his debut in the major leagues. Jordan's journey from a casual player in a local park to a major league pitcher served as an inspiration to many, showcasing the power of passion and dedication.
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Tributes to Jordan
Ben Jordan, a 22-year-old UK baseball and basketball player, passed away in January 2021. The news of his death was first shared by UK baseball on Twitter, with the program tweeting, "Our hearts are broken today... Rest easy, @ben3jordan. You will forever be part of us."
Jordan was a pitcher on the University of Kentucky baseball team and joined the basketball team for the 2019-2020 season when they were facing a shortage of players. He was remembered by many as a kind and selfless person who loved being a Wildcat. Mitch Barnhart, the UK Director of Athletics, said, "Ben loved and cherished being a Wildcat... He had a servant's heart and answered the call whenever asked." Jordan's former coach, John Calipari, remembered him as a team-first player with a "kind heart, his big smile and his wonderful personality." Calipari also shared that Jordan begged the coaches not to put him in games because he only wanted to help the team.
Jordan's impact extended beyond the basketball court. Chris Perry, a volunteer with the West Carter High School boys' basketball team, shared that Jordan felt pressure to live up to his athletic hero status since childhood. Jordan's father, Kevin Jordan, expressed appreciation for UK basketball's support in the healing process, saying, "We're trying to recover as a family... We've lost a big piece of the puzzle that made our family go."
The Kentucky basketball team honored Jordan's memory by wearing T-shirts with his number 33 during warm-ups and linking arms while his photo was displayed on the Rupp Arena video boards. The UK baseball program also presented a poster-sized photograph of Jordan to his alma mater, West Carter High School.
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Jordan's life in Olive Hill
Ben Jordan was a native of Olive Hill, Kentucky, where he was a baseball and basketball star at West Carter High School. He scored 1,425 points for West Carter, which is about a point per person living in Olive Hill, which had a population of 1,599 according to the 2010 census.
Jordan was an athletic hero in his hometown, and his presence was noticed. He would sometimes go to restaurants in Ashland or Huntington, West Virginia, to get away from the attention.
Jordan came to the University of Kentucky (UK) as the No. 3 baseball prospect in the state. However, he put his promising baseball career on hold to join the UK basketball team as a practice player in late October 2019 when the team was facing a shortage of scholarship players. He played in two or three games during the 2019-20 season.
Jordan's impact on the UK basketball team was felt deeply, despite his short time with the team. Coach John Calipari spoke of the tragedy of losing Jordan and how much it meant to Jordan to be a part of the team. The team saluted Jordan posthumously with a camp at his alma mater, West Carter High School.
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Frequently asked questions
Ben Jordan, the UK baseball player and basketball walk-on, died at the age of 22 on January 12, 2021.
The cause of Ben Jordan's death has not been publicly disclosed.
Ben Jordan joined the UK basketball team in late October 2019 when the team was facing a shortage of scholarship players. He played in two or three games and practiced with the team throughout the season.
The UK basketball team honoured Ben Jordan before their game against Alabama on January 12, 2021. The players wore T-shirts with his number 33 during warm-ups and linked arms for a moment of silence while Jordan's photo was displayed on the Rupp Arena video boards.
Jordan's father, Kevin Jordan, expressed appreciation to UK basketball for their support during the family's healing process. He acknowledged the university and Coach Cal's visit to West Carter High School, Jordan's alma mater, as a meaningful gesture for the family and community.
