messenger_inquirer
Looks like former Daviess County standout Jonathan Moss will have a trip to Rupp Arena in his freshman season at Appalachian State.
Appalachian State was added to the University of Kentucky basketball schedule for 2026-27.
UK announced season ticket renewals starting, and it put out the home non-conference schedule as it stands now on Friday also.
Moss is on the official roster for Appalachian State.
Moss was formerly going to Chattanooga but he asked for a release, which was granted, and reopened his recruitment back in January.
Moss recently completed a stellar career as point guard at Daviess County High School.
Moss was the Messenger-Inquirer 3rd Region Player of the Year and was named All-State by The Courier-Journal and the Lexington Herald-Leader.
Moss having the chance to return to Rupp was recognized by DCHS boys basketball social media on Friday.
Moss played in Rupp when Daviess County won the 3rd Region championship in 2025.
Kentuckys current slate includes non-conference matchups with Louisville, Manhattan, James Madison, Northern Arizona, Grambling State, Appalachian State, Bryant, Sacred Heart and Gardner Webb.
The Southeastern Conference home slate will see the Wildcats take on Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt inside Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.
Were excited to get back to Rupp Arena and play in front of the best fans in college basketball, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope said.
Our team has put in a great deal of work this offseason, and were continuing to come together every day.
We cant wait for the opportunity to represent the University of Kentucky and Big Blue Nation when the season tips off in a few months.
The Wildcats are also set to take on Little Rock, coached by Kentucky mens basketball alumni, Travis Ford, in an exhibition contest at Rupp Arena on Oct.
16.
Additional exhibition games will be announced.
While the contest wont count in the standings, it will mark Fords debut on the Little Rock sidelines and a homecoming to Kentucky, where his playing career was led by Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino.
Ford was a standout at Kentucky from 1991-94.
I am extremely excited to bring our team to Rupp Arena and play in such a historic venue, Ford said in a Little Rock release.
The University of Kentucky has such a special place in my heart.
I have so many great memories and relationships from my time there.
Kentucky will always be home, and I look forward to seeing a lot of familiar faces while giving our team the opportunity to experience what a special place Kentucky is.
Ford enjoyed a decorated career at Kentucky, earning first team All-SEC honors in 1993 and second team All-SEC recognition in 1994.
He was a two-time SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player (1993, 1994) and was named the 1993 NCAA Southeast Regional Most Outstanding Player after helping lead the Wildcats to the Final Four.
His return to Lexington also reunites him with Pope, who was Fords teammate during Kentuckys 1993-94 season.
I have a great amount of respect for my former teammate Mark Pope, Ford said.
He is a tremendous coach and an even better person.
I know hes going to bring Kentucky basketball a lot of success.
Ford, a Madisonville native, has been head coach at Campbellsville, Eastern Kentucky, UMass, Oklahoma State and Saint Louis.