Grew up, played in, played for Kentucky. Travis Perry’s whole life has basically been blue and white. He grew up in Lyon County, lit up high school, and ended his prep career as the all-time leading scorer in Kentucky high school basketball history. Even after John Calipari packed up and left Kentucky, Travis stayed loyal to the Wildcats. And when things got tough—injuries, lineup shuffles, pressure—he stepped up in his freshman year. 

But then… just as the transfer portal was about to shut its doors, Perry threw in his name and officially said goodbye to the Bluegrass State. It was a massive move, and not one he made lightly. See, when your whole life has revolved around one state—your hometown, your high school, your college team—it hits different when you decide to move on. So if we’re gonna understand why this was such a huge shift, we’ve gotta talk about his roots. 

Who are Travis Perry’s parents?

Jami and Ryan Perry are the ones who raised this Kentucky star. Both are proud University of Kentucky alums. Big-time Wildcats fans. But what’s cooler is even with all that Kentucky pride, they never pressured Travis to commit there. It was all him.

He had offers from schools like Cincinnati, Ole Miss, Western Kentucky, and even Alabama. A lot of folks thought he’d skip UK, especially with Calipari gone. But Perry surprised everyone and picked Kentucky anyway. “We encouraged him but tried not to influence him,” Ryan said. “It was his decision.

Obviously, that didn’t make it easy. As a diehard Kentucky family, they were obviously thrilled when he picked the Wildcats, but they stood firm on one thing—it had to be his call. And well, considering his history of making solid choices, they trusted him to figure it out.

Who is Travis Perry’s father? Is he a basketball coach?

Ryan Perry is way more than just dad. He’s also his coach. He’s the head coach of Lyon County High School’s basketball team, the same team Travis led to a state championship in 2024. But when it came to college decisions..the coach hat came off.

“We sat at the dinner table for seven hours Saturday trying to hammer this thing out,” Ryan recalled. And honestly, being coached by your dad is not always a walk in the park. But for Travis, it worked. Sure, it came with challenges, but it also made the journey so much more meaningful.  “He’s probably harder on me than anyone else,” former Wildcat admitted. “But having him on the sideline every game… it meant I wasn’t just playing for myself—I was playing for him too.”

And it wasn’t just a father-son thing. The whole Lyon County squad shared that kind of bond with Coach Perry.  “He’s kind of like a father figure to Jack (Reddick) and Brady (Shoulders), too,”  Travis said. These guys grew up hooping together. Travis says that the relationship and the relationship his teammates shared with his father played a critical role in winning the 2024 KHSAA Boys State Championship.

Even Ryan said it himself, “As they got older and we went more places, did more things and played more basketball it really started to become a reality that these guys were going to be really, really good.” And while all of them went on to pursue their basketball dreams, Coach Perry has been building Lyon County.

Back in November, he was named NFHS Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year for Kentucky. He led the Lyons to their third straight 2nd Region title. But it’s worth noting that the award isn’t just about wins either. It honors coaches who contribute to the game beyond the scoreboard, who help their players grow as athletes and humans. Coach Perry’s been doing that since day one. And through it all, his better half was by his side.

Who is Travis Perry’s mother?

Jami Perry is the rock of the Perry household. While Ryan’s been calling plays from the sidelines, Jami’s been there for her son. Professionally, she’s a Doctor of Medicine, specializing in family practice, and is board-certified through the American Board of Family Medicine. 

Jami currently practices at Health First CHC in Princeton. Moreover, balancing medicine and motherhood is no joke, but she’s been doing it all while raising four kids. 

Does Travis Perry have any siblings?

Per UK Athletics, Tarvis Perry has three siblings—Lilly, Maddie, and Parker. While there’s not a ton of info out there about them, it’s clear the Perry house is always buzzing with energy. With a doctor mom, a coach dad, and a basketball star brother, you just know this family’s got a strong bond and a whole lot of support to go around.

So, all in all, family has been crucial for Travis Perry all this while. After his expected exit from Lexington, wherever he goes, he’s taking a whole community—and a whole legacy—with him. His next school isn’t just getting a baller, it’s getting someone who knows what it means to carry the weight of a name—and the pride of a state—on his shoulders.

And that, people, is something you just can’t teach.