Wildcats meet with 8-year-old Santo

MIAMI -- Turns out Kyrie Irving isn't the only high-profile basketball connection Gavin Santo, an 8-year-old Orlando, Florida, native suffering from a brain tumor, made this week.

Santo and his family were the guests of University of Kentucky coach John Calipari and the rest of the Wildcats for dinner Saturday, before Kentucky won the SEC Basketball Tournament the following day in Nashville, Tennessee.

Irving told ESPN.com he first became aware of Santo about a week ago, through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Although Irving did not get to meet Santo in person, he went on to be named the NBA's Eastern Conference Player of the Week -- exploding for a career-high 57 points against San Antonio and averaging 37.3 points on 63 percent shooting while leading Cleveland to a 3-0 record -- after being introduced to Santo's story.

Before the Cavs' 123-108 win Sunday over the Orlando Magic, Irving inscribed "For Gavin" on his sneakersand went on to score 33 points on 12-for-15 shooting. He wrote the same message in honor of Santo on his shoes for Cleveland's game Monday in Miami.

Gavin's father, Jamey Santo, told ESPN.com his son was an "avid hoops player" before being diagnosed with Glioblastoma multiforme cancer, which has now progressed to stage 4.

"It's a brain cancer that's terminal, inoperable, but he has beaten a lot of odds already and is here with us," Santo said.

The Santo family had hoped to meet Irving in person, but while logistics were being worked out, the opportunity with the Wildcats emerged.

"My son's time is limited, so while we had time, we jumped on the Kentucky basketball trip," Santo said.

On Monday, Gavin received a package from Make-A-Wish that included a signed basketball from Irving, whom Jamey Santo said is his son's favorite player.

"Gavin was extremely excited to receive the package," he said. "Due to his limited ability to communicate, he shouted with excitement. Once Gavin was told his favorite player had his name on his shoe, he shouted again with excitement.

"It made Gavin feel very special."

The Santos also expressed their gratitude via Instagram.