Haley Robey

By LARRY VAUGHT

She’s been a “huge” University of Kentucky fan her entire life, but Boyle County High School senior Haley Robey is also now a “huge” Jarrod Polson supporter.

Robey, 17, proudly proclaims on Twitter that she is part of Team Polson.

‘When I was a sophomore, he was a senior in high school (at West Jessamine) and I watched him play and was always thinking he went above and beyond on the court. I was thinking he could do big things and when he went to Kentucky, it made my day,” said Robey. “Yes, he was from a rival high school, but I just thought it was awesome to see what he was doing on the court.

“Kentucky runs deep in my family. I had no choice but to be a Kentucky fan. But it was easy to be a fan of his. He went to Kentucky as a walk-on player and has ended up on scholarship for two years. I just think that is really cool because he is putting in such a great effort and often going above and beyond what others do.”

Robey, a member of Boyle’s swim team, thinks she would have been a Polson fan once he got to Kentucky even if he was not from the 12th Region.

“Him being around here does give him more fan support than some others on the team, but I would have been a Polson fan no matter what. I love the way he plays,” she said.

Robey is one of many female Kentucky fans that seem to be part of Team Polson.

“Him being nice looking adds to it a little bit,” Robey said. “I recently lost my prom date. The first person my mom thought of for me to ask was Jarrod Polson. She was like, ‘Why not ask him?’ I told her that might be a little difficult, but actually I would love to do that.”

Robey has not been to a Kentucky game this season.

“Usually my dad and I try to go to one game a season to stay in the loop,” she said. “We have not gone this season yet. Hopefully we can find a game. If not, we’ll just watch on TV and enjoy it just as much.”

She has never met Polson, either.

“I would like to. I think that would be awesome,” she said. “He has played so well. He has worked his butt off. The game against Auburn he was just hustling all over the court and getting it done when others were not. He is always playing for his team and that is something he does that others have not always done this year.”

Robey says her friends know what a Polson fan she is.

“I have a few of them that are on board with that, too,” she said. “A few of them are female friends, but there are about 20 of us at school — and it is more guys than girls — that always talk about UK games the next day. We discuss everything about it because we just love Kentucky basketball.”