UofL All-American Wesley Cox Needs Your Help

When former University of Louisville basketball All-American Wesley Cox went to the emergency room nearly a year ago to be treated for what was an irregular heartbeat that caused his heart to beat too quickly, he didn’t know that there was much more coming.

A medical emergency recently forced Wesley to have both of his legs amputated below the knee due to an infection and poor circulation, a devastating procedure for anyone, but amplified for a person who was once a terrific athlete that rose to the professional ranks. He is in need of financial assistance to address medical care bills, prosthetics and to properly equip his home to meet his current physical demands and address rehabilitation and the need for dialysis three times a week – all beyond what his insurance will cover.

Wesley is a highly-accomplished former basketball star who ranks in the top 20 in career scoring and rebounding at UofL and was inducted into the UofL Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991. As a four-year starter, Cox helped the Cardinals achieve a combined 90-25 record while winning two Missouri Valley Conference championships and one Metro Conference title. He earned All-America honors as a senior in 1976-77.

Wesley totaled 14 points and 16 rebounds against UCLA in the 1975 NCAA national semifinals. He was a first-round NBA draft pick (18th overall selection) of the Golden State Warriors, where he played two seasons and was roommates with Hall of Fame center Robert Parrish for a period.

Prior to his time at UofL at Louisville’s Male High School, Cox led his team to a combined 83-17 record as a three-year starter, including a state championship in 1971 and a runner-up finish in 1973. He was named Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball in 1973.

After also playing pro basketball in Italy, Cox worked as a supervisor for Metro Parks before serving the city of Louisville in economic development and the city’s law department. The Louisville native attended night school to attain qualifications for the latter to build upon his degree in sociology earned at UofL in 1977.

Cox is a Sunday school teacher at Highland Park Missionary Baptist Church, where his brother Byron is pastor. A group of about a dozen people are waiting to be baptized until Cox is able to leave the rehab center where he is currently awaiting prosthetics.

Your contributions to this fund will provide an immense help to Wesley. Thank you in advance for your generosity.