ASHLAND — DeMarcus Cousins made one girl cry.

“He’s my idol,” blurted Savannah Cotton shortly after Cousins granted a hug request, joyful tears streaming down her face.

Naomi Minnehan did one better — she got a peck on the cheek from the near 7-footer.

“I bet nobody else has got a kiss,” the 76-year-old Ashland native chuckled. She’s been a Kentucky fan for 60 years.

Minnehan and Cotton were among approximately 300 to show up at Kentucky Korner at Ashland Town Center on Wednesday evening.

“Boogie” Cousins, who averaged 15.1 points per game and 9.9 rebounds in his one season at Kentucky (2009-10), was all smiles as he signed memorabilia and posed with fans for pictures for an hour.

“I consider this place home and it feels good to be back (in Kentucky),” said Cousins, who had an outstanding rookie season with the Sacramento Kings in 2010-11 — he posted 14.6 ppg and 8.6 rpg.

David Irvine’s wide white backboard with a blue UK Wildcat logo is running short on space.

An amazed Cousins scanned the backboard and finally found a spot to scribble his ink, just left of legendary coach Joe B. Hall.

Cousins was signature No. 183 on Irvine’s well-traveled piece of art.

“This thing’s gone a lot of miles,” said Irvine, who has journeyed as far as Owensboro for Wildcat autographs. He purchased the backboard on eBay eight years ago.

Irvine’s backboard contains players and coaches dating back to Basil Hayden, Kentucky’s first All-American in 1921. Irvine met Hayden at his 103rd birthday party.

The 45-year-old from Ashland met many former Kentucky greats at the 100-year anniversary in 2003, and he’s personally met each one of the 183 who have etched their names on the backboard.

Said Irvine when asked what he would do once there was no room left: “I guess I’ll just hang it up on the wall and leave it. I don’t know if I can start over again with a new one.”

Melissa Jackson reaffirmed the notion that Kentucky basketball players are royalty in the Bluegrass.

“It’s like meeting the President of the United States to me,” Jackson said of the opportunity with Cousins. She and Larra, her granddaughter, had been anticipating the big man’s arrival since before 11 a.m. Cousins showed just after 6 p.m.

“Fans, you know they act crazy here,” Cousins said with a huge smile. “They come at 9 a.m., 6 a.m., whatever. It’s not surprising.

“I love it,” he added. “I’m very thankful for every moment of it.”

Cousins started all but one game in the 35-3 season that produced an Elite Eight appearance for Kentucky in 2009-10.

Wildcat fan David Rigsby’s favorite highlight? The center’s last-second putback to send the SEC championship game against Mississippi State to overtime, which the Wildcats eventually won.

“He was my favorite player on that team,” said Rigsby, signed basketball in hand. “Everybody was a John Wall fan, but I was a Cousins fan. I like his aggressiveness on the court.

“He had a tremendous impact on the whole state of Kentucky,” said Rigsby.

Impact was certainly validated with the turnout on Wednesday. Cousins recently also made a stop in Elizabethtown.

As for the current NBA lockout, Cousins it’s difficult to prepare for his second season, which is in jeopardy, but he’s still working out.

And hugging it out with fans like Cotton.

“I’m so happy!” said the Raceland freshman. “I can’t believe I actually got a hug!”

AARON SNYDER can be reached at asnyder@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2664.