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I posted this in the game thread but wanted to break it out; maybe others can list some of their favorite memories/moments about the departing seniors. At times this team has been so tantalizing, so frustrating, so wonderfully flawed and beautifully Blazer. I have enjoyed this group as much as any that ever wore green and gold.


Jelly, your love for UAB is forever reciprocated. Thank you for embracing us as much as we embraced you. Thank you for some of the most spectacular moments I have ever seen from a Blazer. Thank you for repping us like you rep Long Island. Thank you for being you.

Brewer Brothers — thank you for coming here and sacrificing opportunities for bigger individual roles to be part of chasing greatness here together. Thank you for always playing hard and always repping UAB with pride. thank you for pineapple, pancakes and water.

KJ, I have come to appreciate you as much as any Blazer who ever wore green and gold. you are a WARRIOR. You have a beer at my tailgate anytime you want to stop by, and I hope you will be part of our family when you are old and gray. I know how hard you worked, and I know what this place means to you. Blazer for Life.

Richard, I believe your best is to come in life and I believe someday when we are old men you will be seen as one of the greatest Blazers ever not for what you did in basketball but for what you did in life using basketball to do it. Build your network and always keep learning and leading, when you are ready, others will follow you.

Tavin, you are one of my top 5 favorite Blazers. unselfish, always ready for whatever was asked of you, no complaining always working. thank you for sticking it out and driving hard all the way to the finish.

List some of your favorite things about these seniors….

The most wins in program history

Records made by Jelly, Lovan, and Trey

Jelly will get his number retired in the future

Leaving C-USA in a good way despite the loss to North Texas

I’ll always remember Senior Night when Buffen didn’t have any family to celebrate with him. So most of the team joined him as he walked out to center court. It made this old man cry.

Tavin went from a double-digit scorer his sophomore year, to a role player under HCAK his final three years. He was a consummate team player. He didn’t transfer. He remained a Blazer. A Blazer for life! On Senior Night, Tavin left his family on center court to accompany Buffen and his teammates.

Can there really be a better UAB ambassador than Trey Jemison? The giant of a man is nothing but class. He embodies all the good things of humanity, and gives me hope for a better future.

The two Brewer brothers gave it there all. Ledarrius fought through injuries and still had a great game at Rice. Ty came on strong after a disciplinary issue. It takes maturity to come back and be a better person. He had some incredible games during the second half of the season. They represented Meridian well.

Jelly! Wow! What an incredible run of two seasons at UAB. He played his heart out each and every game. Nobody put on as many miles as he did running around trying to get open, and dribbling by opponents for incredible reverse layups. His burst of speed was off the chart. He made shots from everywhere on the court. He was the one you wanted shooting free throws to secure the win at the end of the game. Some of his assists were just as spectacular as his shots. I’ll always remember the three in the corner when the defender flew by, and Jelly did a 360 and then drained the shot! He took criticism for his defense, but it wasn’t from a lack of trying. He worked his ass off on defense.

These comments are just based on observations from my seat in Bartow Arena and in front of my TV. I did get to shake hands with all of them at an autograph session before one of the football games last fall. My grandson got autographs as I shook hands and thanked them for being Blazers.

As a fan you can’t help but feel a connection with these young men. I can’t begin to comprehend the hours of work they put in to make this a successful and memorable season. UAB was blessed to have them. We were blessed to watched them play the game we enjoy.

I’d like to thank KJ Buffen as being one of the most important players on this team and often overlooked. Played with a chip on his shoulder, didn’t back down from anyone, fought, scrapped, clawed and jawed for all of us.

(03-31-2023 05:38 PM)Blazing Saddles Wrote:  I’d like to thank KJ Buffen as being one of the most important players on this team and often overlooked. Played with a chip on his shoulder, didn’t back down from anyone, fought, scrapped, clawed and jawed for all of us.

This 100%

The last two games if there was a body on the floor or someone flying over the baseline after a loose ball, there was a good chance it was KJ.

(03-31-2023 05:38 PM)Blazing Saddles Wrote:  I’d like to thank KJ Buffen as being one of the most important players on this team and often overlooked. Played with a chip on his shoulder, didn’t back down from anyone, fought, scrapped, clawed and jawed for all of us.

Every team needs a Draymond. I'll miss KJ yelling in the opposing teams faces after every dunk. Blazer legend

Jelly is probably the hardest working Blazer we have ever seen. He’s regularly in the gym all hours of the night. Nothing that went wrong this year had anything to do with time Jelly put into prepping for the season. He was the face of the team for two years, and probably the most recognizable Blazer since Squeaky.(I still have random basketball fans ask about Squeaky when I’m in Blazer gear). He was also one of the most exciting players I’ve ever watched in person. I’m glad Jelly made his way to Birmingham

The Brewer brothers- I wish Ty asserted himself more this season, especially when Jelly was out. We lose none of those games if we got 50% of what Ty showed he was capable of. Ledarrius was just unfortunately hurt all year. Those two guys were the prices that ultimately were going to make or break our ceiling this year, and we just fell short.

KJ and Trey- we knew what both of them were going to bring every day. These guys were vital pieces to our success and did whatever was asked of them. Trey became an absolute force on the defensive end, and KJ just did what was needed on any given night. Replacing these two has me much more worried than replacing Jelly next year.

Lovan was that dude for 5 years. He had every role imaginable for UAB, and his attitude never once appeared to be negative. At one point this year he was barely in the rotation, and he kept working and played a big part in the winning we did at the end of the season. It takes an incredibly special person to be willing to do what he did in this era of college ball. Most guys would bolt at the first sign of trouble, we probably had 5-10 do that in his time here alone.

This was a special class and a special team. It may have fallen short of the ultimate goal, but it was still a very good season. I hope we continue to see all of these guys around UAB for the rest of their lives.