Kentucky students Theo Timmerding and Gabe Mingus initiated the viral 'Kentucky Banner Boys' movement to welcome five-star recruit Tyran Stokes. Their efforts quickly gained traction on social media, highlighting a unique approach to college basketball recruiting.
What started as a joke between two Kentucky students who are fans of the basketball program has quickly become one of the most talked-about recruiting storylines this spring.
Sigma Chi sophomores Theo Timmerding and Gabe Mingus detailed how the now-viral âKentucky Banner Boysâ movement came together.
Theo said the idea began Saturday when they saw news that five-star recruit Tyran Stokes would be visiting Kentucky on Monday. By Sunday, Gabe and Theo were ready to make it happen. At first, they were struggling to find cheap bed sheets, as they debated whether it was worth the cost, but ultimately decided to go through with it anyway.
They quickly got to work and put the first banner up for Stokes that said âWelcome Home Tyranâ as it started to get attention across social media.
As more recruiting news followed, they added two more banners, including one for BYU transfer guard Rob Wright and Syracuse forward Donnie Freeman, helping the movement gain even more traction across Big Blue Nation.
The inspiration behind the message came from their connection to the program.
âSo me and Gabe have been die-hard Kentucky fans our whole life, and we think of Kentucky, as I mean, home,â Timmerding tells A Sea of Blue. âWeâre both from here, and I think of the school and the program as home. So weâre like, come home to the program, like we got the best fans in the world. Like weâre BBNâs family. So that was the inspiration behind that. That happened, then the craziest part is when the coaches rolled by the house.â
During it all, Kentucky assistants Mo Williams and Mikhail McLean stopped by the house, creating a crazy moment for the students.
âThis truck stopped right in front of the house, and I was like, â That looks a lot like Coach McLean,â but I couldnât see him from our angle,â Mingus says. âAnd then they pulled up a little bit, like theyâre going to take off, and they just stopped, and they got out of the car, and yeah, it was Mo Williams and coach McLean. Mo was recording us, and then Coach McLean walked up and was like, âDonnieâs mad you all donât have one for him,â and he turned his phone around, and he was on FaceTime with Donnie Freeman.â
Since then, the trend has spread beyond just the Sigma Chi fraternity house, with people now hanging their own banners on their houses or apartments.
âI think that is amazing,â Timmerding says. âThatâs what just makes BBN the best fans in the world because we see what something unites us and everybody will just take and run with it because BBNâs the most united fan base in the country, I think and when something like this happens and everyone gets involved, it just proves that we are the best fans and everyoneâs so together and it just makes makes the whole process just so more enjoyable being a Kentucky fan.â
Now, the âKentucky Banner Boysâ might even play a small part in Kentuckyâs recruiting push for Stokes, Wright, and Freeman.
âI mean, that would be the dream,â Timmerding says. âEven if we played no part, as long as they come here, that is the dream come true because thatâs the goal. We need them here. And if we played a little bit of part and they said, âMan, those banners are so freaking cool.â Even if they drove by here, I think we would freak out. I donât know what I would do with myself.â
Q&A
What is the Kentucky Banner Boys movement?
The Kentucky Banner Boys movement is a grassroots initiative started by two students to create banners welcoming recruits, beginning with five-star recruit Tyran Stokes.
Who are the founders of the Kentucky Banner Boys?
The movement was founded by Kentucky students Theo Timmerding and Gabe Mingus, who are both sophomores in Sigma Chi fraternity.
Why did the Kentucky Banner Boys create a banner for Tyran Stokes?
They created a banner for Tyran Stokes to welcome him during his visit to Kentucky, aiming to show support and excitement for his potential commitment.
How did the Kentucky Banner Boys gain attention on social media?
The movement gained attention after the first banner, which read 'Welcome Home Tyran,' was shared widely on social media, resonating with fans and the basketball community.
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