Kentucky basketball player wants Rupp Arena name changed

Keion Brooks Jr. expressed desire for name change to Rupp Arena. 

As many colleges and their sports teams, including college basketball, are looking at renaming various stadiums and buildings that are named after figures with a bad reputation on racial equality, players themselves have taken a stand.

One of these players is Kentucky basketball star Keion Brooks Jr.

Back in July, members of the University of Kentucky faculty wrote a letter to the University president asking him to rename the Wildcats’ basketball arena.

It currently holds the name Rupp Arena, named after long-time Kentucky basketball head coach Adolph Rupp who coached the Wildcats from 1930-1972. During his tenure, Rupp led Kentucky to four national championships and 27 SEC regular season titles.

But Rupp has now come under fire for his teams that did not include African-American players and for the fact that he did not have any African-American players until 1969.

The University has not made an official decision on a name change

In response to the request for a name change back in July, Kentucky said that they are having senior officials meet with those who want a renaming to address their concerns. But no decision has been made on the issue.

But when Brooks was asked about this situation he said, “I would like to see a name change.”

Players generally do hold a great deal of power in these situations since they can boycott from playing if they are not content, which would greatly hurt the program, especially if a player with Brooks’ talent decided to do so.

Brooks came to the Wildcats last year as a true freshman and was a 5-star high school prospect, according to 247 Sports. He then saw limited playing time last season and averaged 15.1 minutes per game along with 4.5 points per game. 

Brooks ultimately doesn’t have the power to make a final decision on a potential name change, but he has every right to make his opinion heard.