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Kentucky native Bolden ready for opportunity against Cats

Bolden is a Kentucky native.
Bolden is a Kentucky native.

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James “Beetle” Bolden always dreamt of playing for Kentucky, not against them.

But that’s where the redshirt sophomore finds himself with the Wildcats set to come to town as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge.

Like most Bluegrass State natives, Bolden followed the Wildcats his entire life and hoped to have the opportunity to suit up for Big Blue.

The Covington native did receive some interest and played in front of John Calipari in the state tournament but never was awarded the scholarship offer he long coveted.

So Bolden signed with West Virginia and now only a few years later will match up with the Wildcats.

“I’ve been waiting for this opportunity my whole life honestly,” he said.

But it’s an opportunity that Bolden has had to fight to make reality. That’s because against TCU Monday, the diminutive guard was rocked by a screen as the first half expired aggravating a groin injury in the process. That cost him the rest of the second half against the Horned Frogs.

“It kind of hurt, I felt that one,” he said.

Toughness isn’t typically associated with a 6-foot, 170-pound, guard but that’s exactly what Bolden has come to exemplify during his time on the floor.

Against Texas, Bolden injured the same groin and was forced to leave the game in the first half with nine points to his credit only to come back in the second half to finish with 10 during that frame.

It’s something engrained in the DNA of the guard and an area he has always taken pride in because of his size and the desire to prove people wrong.

“I tell myself I’ve got the heart of a lion and I got the lion tattooed on me,” he said. “And that’s where I get it from. I take pride in doing the things I do on the court and toughing things out.”

Bolden has never backed down from players that are bigger or perceived as stronger than him and it’s that chip he carries on his shoulder that has propelled him to the success he’s had to date.

Coming off the bench, Bolden is averaging just shy of ten points per game while serving as one of the catalysts on the offensive end with his ability to shoot the basketball.

And now he’ll have the chance to prove it against the team he always thought was his future.

“I want to prove something to everybody back home that West Virginia is just as good as Kentucky,” he said.

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