Kentucky basketball Hall of Famer Cliff Hagan dies at 94

Cliff Hagan, a Kentucky basketball legend and Hall of Famer who won an NCAA championship during his college career, has died at age 94, according to a report from LEX18. Hagan was widely recognized for his play at the University of Kentucky and his later professional career, and he returned to athletics administration at his alma mater after his time in the NBA.

Hagan was a two-time UK All-American and helped lead Kentucky to an NCAA championship, LEX18 reported. His college accomplishments placed him among the most notable players in the program’s history, and his scoring and overall play established him as a standout in the era in which the Wildcats were national title contenders.

After college, Hagan went on to a long NBA career and became a five-time NBA All-Star, LEX18 said. His professional honors reflected his sustained performance at the highest level of the sport, building on the reputation he earned during his years at Kentucky.

Following his NBA career, Hagan later served as Kentucky’s athletics director, according to the LEX18 report. His administrative role marked a return to the university that shaped his basketball legacy, placing him in a leadership position overseeing the department’s day-to-day athletic operations.

The report did not specify the date or circumstances of his death beyond the announcement that he died at 94. No further details about memorial plans, survivors, or funeral arrangements were included in the initial LEX18 write-up.

Hagan’s death drew attention to Kentucky’s multi-decade basketball lineage, spanning NCAA success, NBA recognition, and later institutional leadership within the athletic department. As the university and basketball community process the news, Kentucky officials are expected to confirm biographical details and acknowledge the scope of Hagan’s contributions across coaching-era history, roster periods, and athletics department administration.