Vaught's Book Signing Tour Continues in Middlesboro, Lexington & Somerset

Two book signing events in Middlesboro and Lexington have been scheduled for the weekend of December 5 and 6 for Kentucky sportswriter and seven-time author Jamie Vaught’s new book on UK basketball, Unforgettable Journey with the Cats.

Author Jamie H. Vaught is shown during a recent book signing for his latest UK hoops book at Harlan ARH Hospital. (Photo by Mark Bell)

The author will appear at the Middlesboro-Bell County Public Library on Friday evening, Dec. 5 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. ET and at Lexington’s Joseph-Beth Booksellers (near Fayette Mall) on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET. Another book signing is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 12 (4 :00 to 6:00 p.m. ET) at Toyota of Somerset.

Recently, two successful book signings took place in London, which featured former Wildcat standouts Jeff Sheppard and Paul Andrews, and Harlan.

Vaught’s latest book includes new interviews with UK basketball coaches Mark Pope and Kenny Brooks.

“It could be the best book that I have done, but I will let the readers decide,” said Vaught, who is also a longtime professor at Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College. “After separate interviews with Mark Pope and his wife, I really enjoyed writing the chapters on Coach Pope and Lee Anne Pope. Coach Brooks was good, too. The new book is probably my favorite among the seven volumes that I have written.”

Former Wildcats Paul Andrews and Jeff Sheppard with author Jamie H. Vaught at a recent book signing in London.

In addition to the Popes and Brooks, the 320-page book, which has over 60 photos, includes featured profiles of Paul Andrews, Reed Sheppard, football star Tim Couch (who wanted to play basketball at UK), Trent Noah, Georgia Amoore, and the former Wildcats who played in the now-defunct American Basketball Association, including the popular Louisville-based Kentucky Colonels. Former Cats Jeff Sheppard and Cameron Mills, and sports journalists also share memorable stories.

A current member of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) who once wrote columns for The Cats’ Pause magazine for 13 years, the author retired from SKCTC full-time in 2024 after 33 years but still teaches two online accounting courses. Vaught, who lives in Middlesboro, is a two-time UK graduate with degrees in accounting and MBA.