John Calipari has added a pair of walk-ons to his 2022-23 roster as the program announced the signings of guards Grant Darbyshire and Walker Horn.
“Both Grant and Walker will be great additions to our team,” Calipari said in a press release. “They both come from terrific families, and they’ve been impactful both on the court and in the classroom. I love that they’ve both been around the game their entire lives because you have to love this, and I’m confident they’re ready to embrace all that goes with being a Kentucky basketball player.”
Darbyshire, a 6-foot-2 guard, is a native of Cincinnati who played his high school hoops at Sycamore High School. He was a 43% three-point shooter as a junior.
“I wanted to go somewhere that would make me uncomfortable and help me grow as a person both on and off the court,” Darbyshire said. “Kentucky is the definition of development and culture. I wanted to go to a place where I could develop life-long friendships with teammates, while helping contribute to the greatest tradition in college basketball. I most look forward to the relationships I will develop with the guys and the camaraderie that comes with this program.”
Horn is an Austin, Texas, native who played at Westlake High School, the same school attended by NFL stars Drew Brees, Nick Foles and Justin Tucker.
The 6-foot-3 guard is the son of Northern Kentucky men’s basketball head coach Darrin Horn.
He helped Westlake become state semifinalists during his senior season. He captured a region title as he averaged 9.3 points, 5.2 assists and 2.4 rebounds.
Horn graduated from Westlake cum laude and was a recipient of a Kentucky Provost Academic Scholarship.
“I have family roots in the state of Kentucky, so I understand the magnitude of Kentucky basketball,” Horn said. “Being a part of the program was a dream of mine and an opportunity I am incredibly excited to make the most of. It doesn’t get any better in college basketball. Coach Calipari and his program are the best in the country. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it and learn from the players and coaches every day.”
With the additions of Darbyshire and Horn, Kentucky now has four walk-ons on the roster as the duo will join Brennan Canada and Kareem Watkins.
In total, the Wildcats have added six new players this offseason, including the two new walk-ons as it signed four-star prospect Adou Thiero, five-star prospects Chris Livingston and Cason Wallace and Illinois State transfer Antonio Reeves.
The six new players help replace Bryce Hopkins (Providence), Keion Brooks (Washington) and Dontaie Allen (Western Kentucky), who all transferred elsewhere; Tyty Washington and Shaedon Sharpe, who entered the NBA Draft; Davion Mintz and Kellan Grady, who played their final years of eligibility last season; and walk-on Zan Payne who remains in the transfer portal.
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