<!--REPLACE WITH STORY TITLE HEADLINE--> :: Men's Basketball
Preston Knowles
Class: Junior
Hometown: Winchester, Ky.
High School: George Rogers Clark
Height / Weight: 6-1 / 190
Position: G
Experience: 2L
Sophomore Year:
Known for his intensity on defense and for providing a spark off the bench for the Cards at both ends of the floor.
Second in the BIG EAST in three-point field goal percentage (.432). He was fourth on the team in three-point goals (48) and fifth in steals (35).
Scored in double digits in six of the last 14 games, including 12 points in the BIG EAST tournament championship game vs. Syracuse. He averaged 7.1 points and made 47.8 percent of his three-pointers (22-of-46) while the Cardinals won 13 of their last 14 games.
Scored 11 points against Michigan State in the Midwest Region championship game, adding two assists and two steals.
Scored 11 points against Cincinnati, making all three of his three-point attempts.
Scored 19 points against DePaul, burying a career-best 5-of-7 three-point goals.
Had 11 points, two rebounds and two steals against Providence
Produced nine points, three rebounds and two steals against No. 1 UConn off the bench.
Scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds against Pitt, hitting three key three-point attempts in the second half.
Scored 11 points against UNLV, hitting all three of his three-point attempts.
Scored a career-high 21 points against Austin Peay, adding five rebounds and three steals. He hit 8-of-11 shots from the field, including 4-of-5 three-pointers.
Scored six points, grabbed a career-high five rebounds and handed out two assists against Lamar.
Made his first career start vs. Western Kentucky and contributed three points and two rebounds amidst foul trouble.
His cousin Jermaine Martin played basketball at Berea (Ky.) College.
Freshman Year:
Had a steal in nine of the last 16 games.
Had five points and two assists vs. Oklahoma in the NCAA Tournament second round, including driving baseline for a resounding dunk and burying a three-pointer.
Scored four points and collected a career high four steals at Providence.
Scored nine points and handed out three assists in 14 minutes of action at DePaul, hitting four-of-five shots from the field.
Had a season-high 10 points, two rebounds and two steals in 16 minutes of action against Rutgers, hitting all four of his shots from the field (2-2 3FG).
Scored his first collegiate points on a three-pointer in the first half against Miami (Ohio).
Logged a season-high 18 minutes vs. Marshall and contributed five points and three rebounds.
High School:
Averaged 21.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.2 steals as a senior for Coach Scott Humphrey in leading Clark County to a 26-8 record and the Region 10 title, the school's first regional championship in 17 years.
Shot 49 percent from the field, including 38.1 percent from the three-point line, and made 71 percent of his free throw attempts as a senior.
Second-leading scorer in the 2007 state tournament (21.0) and was honored on the Sweet 16 all-tournament team.
First-team all-state selection as a senior.
Tenth Region player of the year and was noted as the top sleeper among Kentucky seniors by Rick Bolus' High Potential Basketball. He totalled 33 points and eight rebounds in the regional championship game against Mason County.
Averaged 19 points a game as a junior when Clark County posted a 22-9 record.
Chose Louisville after also considering Virginia Commonwealth, Kansas State, LSU and Miami (Ohio).
Personal:
Born March 26, 1989 ... Son of Kym Gipson ... Has an older (Ashley Knowles) and younger (Jamilla Conner) sister and two younger brothers (Tavon Lay, Anthony Lay) ... Major is communication.
Personal goal at U of L is "to grow as a man and as an athlete."
Enjoys reading and hanging with friends and girls in his spare time.
Chose to attend U of L because "I wanted to challenge myself at one of the best programs in the nation and to play for Coach Pitino."
Best basketball advice given to him was hard work pays off.
Few people know that he likes reading poetry.
His cousin Cedric Tate has had the greatest influence on his athletic career.
Best moment of his athletic career was winning the regional championship against Mason County and getting a scholarship to U of L.
Wanted to wear No. 2 because it was his number in high school
Feels Derek Luke would be the best actor to play him in a movie.
If you walked into his dorm room, the first thing you would notice is a SLAM poster.
What impresses him the most about Coach Pitino is "his ability to help you grow as an individual on and off the court and the fact that he will never let you settle."
Would most like to meet: Malcolm X (if he were not dead).
Favorites:
Basketball Player: Dwyane Wade
NBA Team: New Orleans Hornets
Athlete, Other than a basketball player: Michael Vick
Movies: Life, Harlem Nights, Wedding Crashers, I Spy
University of Louisville Belknap Campus
Student Activities Center - Third Floor
Corner of Floyd Street and Brandeis Street
or
Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
Gate 2 (Floyd Street side)
