Toyota of Somerset will host a book signing event on Friday evening, Dec. 12 for Kentucky sportswriter and seven-time author Jamie Vaught’s new book on UK basketball.
The Somerset event, located at 4195 S. Highway 27, will take place from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.
Vaught’s latest book, Unforgettable Journey with the Cats, includes new interviews with 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, a Somerset native 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. I had fun doing this book primarily because of Mark Pope. He has brought new energy to the program that was missing in recent years.”
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, Trent Noah, Georgia Amoore, and the former Wildcats who played in the now-defunct American Basketball Association, including the popular Louisville-based Kentucky Colonels. Jeff Sheppard, Cameron Mills, and sports journalists also share memorable stories.
Said Tom Leach, the Voice of the Wildcats on UK Radio Network, “UK Basketball is the connecting thread for the state and Big Blue Nation members around the world, and Jamie Vaught understands that as well as anyone. That background gives him a keen insight into the Wildcats, and the players and coaches that have given the BBN so many memorable moments and you’ll enjoy reliving those moments in his newest book. You’ll enjoy every minute you spend reading it.”
Recently, several other book signings took place at London (which featured former Cats Jeff Sheppard and Paul Andrews), Harlan, Middlesboro and Lexington (Joseph-Beth Booksellers).
A current member of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) who once wrote for The Cats’ Pause magazine for 13 years, the author retired from Southeast Kentucky CTC full-time in 2024 after 33 years but still teaches two online accounting courses. Vaught is a two-time UK graduate with degrees in accounting and MBA.
