Emma King has compiled more than 50 hours of community service during her near five seasons

University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball player Emma King, who graduated from the College of Health Sciences in December, has been named to the Southeastern Conference Community Service Team, the league office announced this week.

King, a Stanford, Ky., native, has compiled more than 50 hours of community service during her near five seasons at UK. Most recently, she attended the West Jessamine High School girls basketball fall event in October 2023. There, she spent time with the players, mentoring them on basketball and school. It didn’t mark her first time serving at WJHS. In September 2023, she also visited and spoke to their FCA chapter.

“It was really sweet,” said the guard. “Makes my heart happy to know I’ve made some kind of difference.” 

She said one of her favorite and more unique service projects was when she returned to Stanford Elementary School to attend its career fair. There, she spoke with classrooms about her experiences as a UK Athletics student-athlete.

Much of King’s service is revolved around the younger generation. Just a few months ago, she volunteered at a Bullitt East girls basketball tournament. There, she encouraged and inspired the girls, both athletically and spiritually.

Other service activities that King has taken part in recently include making holiday crafts with patients at Morning Pointe Senior Living & Memory Care, packing boxes for God’s Food Pantry, fixing an aged building to be used for recreation in her hometown community and many others. She also helped her teammates put on a basketball camp to raise money for the flood victims of Eastern Kentucky in 2022.

The Wildcat graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Human Health Sciences in December 2023.

King, who was named Most Improved at the end of summer practices before the season, has averaged 4.2 points and 2.6 rebounds per game, while dishing out 31 assists and making 17 steals in 2023-24. She also has set single-game career highs in almost every category this season, including points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and free throws.

King is leading the team with 99 games played as a Wildcat, while she has made 28 starts in Blue and White. She just celebrated Senior Night — her last career UK home game — this week. 

She always said the College has helped prepare her for life. 

“CHS has been able to show me and help me build real-world skills,” King said at the beginning of the season. “(On the team) we talk everyday about how to be a leader, and I think that’s been my biggest takeaway from these courses.”