UK Hoops Book To Be Re-Introduced During March Madness Due To Pandemic

Author Jamie H. Vaught of Middlesboro recently checked his new book, “Chasing the Cats: A Kentucky Basketball Journey,” at a major bookstore in Lexington, Ky. The new 256-page paperback is being re-introduced to the general public with the expected easing of the pandemic in the coming months. (It should be pointed out the author wore a face mask as required but took it off very briefly for this photo when there were no customers nearby.)

A recently-published UK basketball book by Kentucky sportswriter Jamie H. Vaught – which first came out in late February 2020 (approximately three weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic hit) – is being re-introduced to the public via future book signings and other events with the expected easing of the COVID-19 pandemic in the next several months.

Vaught’s new 256-page paperback is titled Chasing the Cats: A Kentucky Basketball Journey. Other than three successful book signings in Middlesboro, Lexington (Rupp Arena) and Somerset that were held in February and early March in 2020, the author has had no signings as several events had to be postponed due to COVID-19 crises.

Despite the pandemic, the new volume, however, has done reasonably well with the help of social media and several outstanding media stories or reviews in Kentucky, including Hazard’s WYMT-TV (CBS) and BBN Tonight, a television show spotlighting UK Athletics which appears on Lexington’s WLEX-TV (NBC).

“We are very pleased with Jamie’s book,” said publisher Doug Sikes of Missouri-based Acclaim Press. “We thought it would be a good idea to re-introduce Chasing the Cats during the March Madness. The book already has had good reviews and you can google to find out. Even the book has a 4.5 rating (out of 5) in nine reviews on Amazon.”

It is Vaught’s first book in 16 years after writing four books about UK hoops during the 1990s and 2000s. Like his previous books, the new paperback features interesting profiles of individuals – mostly former players and student managers -- who have strong ties with the Wildcat men’s program. Coach John Calipari, broadcaster Dick Vitale, LSU coaching legend Dale Brown, ex-Wildcats Kevin Grevey, Jack Givens, Kenny Walker and Jeff Sheppard, among others, are featured in separate chapters.

Wrote Paul Finebaum of the SEC Network and ESPN on the back cover of the book, “This is an absolutely wonderful book and a must read for any Kentucky fan. Jamie Vaught displays in ‘Chasing the Cats’ a brilliant insight to UK basketball and a beautiful writing style sure to please basketball fans everywhere. I don’t remember a book I have enjoyed more. Just a rich and riveting read.”

Like Finebaum, UK personalities Mike Pratt and Matt Jones also wrote blurbs for the book.

A longtime credentialed sports columnist in Kentucky, including a 13-year stint with The Cats’ Pause, Vaught is also a professor at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College in Middlesboro where he has taught since 1991. The Somerset High School graduate has two degrees from UK, including a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

The book is available at major bookstores in Kentucky and surrounding states. It is also available online at AcclaimPress.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million and other outlets.

“I can’t wait to meet the Wildcat fans again face-to-face,” said Vaught of the future book signings as COVID-19 pandemic eases in the coming months.