Who knew Chris Stapleton had aspirations to be a basketball player?
Well it turns out college basketball legend Rick Pitino has known, for quite some time, that Stapleton tried (and failed) at an early basketball career…
Pitino shared a photo to his socials over the weekend, jokingly taking credit for Stapleton’s now illustrious music career.
@ChrisStapleton at KY Wildcat basketball camp. Didn’t like the way he played defense. Told him to go into music instead. Don’t thank me Chris, it’s ok pic.twitter.com/NRZioGzglw
— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) January 7, 2024
It turns out that while Pitino was coaching at Kentucky, he also held a “Rick Pitino Basketball Camp” each year. And lo and behold, one summer, Stapleton attended the camp.
Thank goodness someone caught the above photo of young Stapleton, pre-beard… And also, a BIG thank goodness he found out he wasn’t a hooper.