Marcus Camby reunites with Calipari at UMass graduation
Marcus Camby graduated from UMass 24 years after he first set foot on campus as a basketball prodigy, and his old coach was there to see it.
John Calipari, whose ascension up the college basketball ladder began at UMass in 1988, reunited with his former 6-foot-11 star at Camby's graduation ceremony Friday, more than two decades after he last coached him.
Love how happy and proud Marcus is! This is what it's all about. And love that tie! pic.twitter.com/JcZdO5MIDf
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) May 12, 2017
"It meant a lot to him," Camby said to Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette, adding that Calipari was among the first people he invited to the event. "He's excited. He said he wouldn't miss it for the world. We share a lifelong bond and I wanted him to be part of it."
Camby and Calipari led the Minutemen to the Final Four in 1996, though that accomplishment was later wiped out due to NCAA violations involving Camby.
Camby, now 43, was selected second overall in the NBA draft by the Toronto Raptors after the 1995-96 season. Calipari left UMass around the same time to become the head coach of the New Jersey Nets.