Top 10 hyped Kentucky high school basketball players
Email
PrintMy intention was to write an entire article on the top 10 hyped Kentucky high school basketball players of all-time, but my air conditioning went out yesterday, rendering my family and I temporary nomads. Instead, I'm just going to list the players, with less verbiage and statistical information.
This is a fairly subjective subject (save a few players), so please feel free to make your own list and make mince meat of mine. Also, other than King Kelly Coleman -- who I've been aware of since I was seven or eight years old --I'm not privy to how hyped the other great Kentucky high school players from the early 1970's and earlier were during their high school days, so my list is by no means comprehensive.
Have at it, and have fun after the jump:
In no particular order:
1. King Kelly Coleman (Wayland) -- The first to be honored as Kentucky Mr. Basketball in 1956 -- They don't call him the "King" for nothing.
2. Manuel Forrest (Moore) -- Lost Mr. Basketball battle to Cawood's Phil Cox in 1981 -- Considered by many who follow high school ball in Louisville to be the best player to ever come out of that city. He destroyed his knees, though, and was never the player in college (UofL) that his high school career suggested.
3. Richie Farmer (Clay Co.) -- Mr. Basketball in 1988: Sweet 16 champion in 1987: Runner-up in 1988 -- The adjective "legend" is as overused as the adjective "awesome," but Farmer is a true Kentucky high school basketball legend.
4. Rex Chapman (Owensboro Apollo) -- Mr. Basketball in 1986 -- They don't call him "King Rex" for nothing. Like Farmer, Chapman was truly transcendent. He would have to be taken into the gyms he wreaked havoc on through back doors, away from the throng of fans awaiting his arrival. I can't even imagine how many words would be typed about Farmer and Chapman in today's Internet age.
5. Darrell Griffith (Male) -- Mr. Basketball in 1976: Sweet 16 champion in 1975: Runner-up in 1973 & '74 -- Griffith dominated high school basketball in Kentucky during his time at Male while playing for future UofL assistant/Tennessee head coach Wade Houston. One of the greatest athletes to ever roam the hard-court, Griffith fulfilled his promise 1,000 times over.
6. Allan Houston (Ballard) -- Mr. Basketball in 1989: Sweet 16 champion in 1988: Runner-up in 1987 -- A truly outstanding talent, he and his Bruins battled Farmer's Clay Co. teams in the Sweet 16 championship game two years in a row ('87,'88). Then, Louisville fans, hoping he would join his father as a Card, openly wept as papa Wade took the Tennessee job bringing along Allan in tow.
7. J.R. Van Hoose (Paintsville) -- Mr. Basketball in 1998: Sweet 16 champion in 1996 -- Leading his team to the Sweet 16 title as a mere sophomore, the hype on Van Hoose was overwhelming. The fact that he played for one of the legendary high school programs and coaches (Bill Mike Runyon) in eastern Kentucky only added to the drama.
8. Winston Bennett (Male) -- Mr. Basketball in 1983 -- An unbelievable talent, the battle for Bennett's services between UK, UofL, and Tennessee was hyper-competitive, resulting in almost daily dissemination of which suitor he would choose (to throw people off the scent, not long before Bennett announced for UK, he wore Tennessee gear to school).
9. Jamie Walz (Highlands) -- Miss Basketball in 1996: Sweet 16 runner-up in 1994 -- Walz scored an astounding 4,969 points in her high school career (covering 7th -12th grades), making her the all-time leading scorer in Kentucky high school history by a mile-and-a-half. The National Prep Player of the Year in '96, Walz received more ink than any female high school basketball player in history.
10. Chris Lofton (Mason Co.) -- Mr. Basketball in 2004: Sweet 16 champion in 2003 -- If not the sweetest shooter to ever come out of Kentucky, Lofton's smooth stroke certainly ranks on the short list of the best. The hype surrounding Lofton, partially because of the local schools' (UK, UofL) refusal to offer him a schollie, was large and in charge for at least two years and continued until he graduated from the University of Tennessee (ugh!).
Others: Brandon Bender (Ballard), Tony Kimbro (Seneca), Ervin Stepp (Phelps), Todd May (Virgie), DeJuan Wheat (Ballard), Wes Unseld (Seneca), Butch Beard (Breckinridge Co.), Jim McDaniels (Allen County-Scottsville).
Thanks for reading and Go 'Cats!
42 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Nice list, Ken
And I appreciate the comments you gave, all while the AC was out on a hot weekend. Some of the earlier hyped players:
Cliff Hagen – a legend, certainly around the Owensboro area where he used to sneak into the YMCA to play when it was closed.
Vernon Hatton – the first to wear the #1 in the Indiana-Kentucky all-star series, even though it was the year before Mr. Basketballs were chosen.
Harry Todd – a scoring and rebounding machine from western Kentucky, and subject of a recruiting battle between Rupp and Ed Diddle.
Howie Crittenden – the ballhandling wizard from Cuba, KY, who Rupp said was “too fancy” to play for UK. His teammate, Doodles Floyd, was also quite a sensation.
Linville Puckett – big guard from Clark County who led his team to back-to-back state championship games in the early 1950s.
Mike Casey – led his Shelby County team to the 1966 state championship.
Tom Payne – a seven-footer from Louisville Shawnee in the late 1960s. First Black player to sign with UK.
Mike Silliman – led St. Xavier of Louisville.
Mike Redd – of Seneca of Louisville, before Unseld.
Ron King – Louisville Central, who spurned both UL and UK to attend Florida State to play for Hugh Durham.
Wesley Cox – who outplayed stars from the rest of the country in an early Derby Classic all-star game.
Jack Givens and Dirk Minniefield – a couple of our very own Wildcats from Lexington high schools.
Jeff Mullins
Jim McDaniels.
To name 2 others from 60’s.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 5, 2011 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Kenny Higgs From 1970's
To name another Owensboro prodigy.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 5, 2011 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions
McDaniels
I almost listed him, and should have definitely listed him in the “others” category, because I did know he received quite a bit of attention.
Yeah
I missed his name on first glance.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 6, 2011 7:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Heck, Forty
I wrote it and forgot I had listed him. My oversight is much bigger than yours :)
Question for you or anyone who might know: Almost all of the info I’ve read on McDaniels has him listed as attending Allen Co.. When did Allen Co. begin being referred to as Allen County-Scottsville?
It Was Allen County Back In 1967
Not familiar with name change since then.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 6, 2011 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Great list yourself, jdog
I just really have no way of knowing how hyped Hatton, Hagen, etc were, but no doubt they received more than their fair share of ink. Terrific additions!
Great List...lots of memories
others that come to mind:
Jeff Lamp, Lee Raker, Vince Taylor, Troy McKinnley, Mel Turpin
Lofton
Louisville offered him a scholarship as a junior (2003) but he didn’t accept it.
Yes
Pitino withdrew the offer in 2004 as a senior.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 6, 2011 7:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Louisville Was His First Choice
Both he and Rondo preferred the Cards to UK (as HS juniors).
by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 7, 2011 8:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Ramsey
Can not believed that Frank Ramsey was not on this. Also old times would list Joe Fulks and Phil Rollins.
One that did not get a lot of hype
but probably should have was Frank Selvy of Corbin. He was the player who went on to score 100 points in a game at Furman.
Hope These Links Work?
http://www.kyhssports.freewebspace.com/guysallstateteams.doc back to the 1940’s
http://www.kyhssports.freewebspace.com/guysallstatetourneyteams.doc back even further (19-teens)
by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 6, 2011 10:04 AM EDT reply actions
Forty, that list is jammed packed
with names from the past. One I remember was Randy Wadell of Pleasure Ridge Park in Louisville. He was a 6-3 guard that could really handle the ball and run a team — scored well too. Well, when Jimmy Dan Conner signed with UK along with Mike Flynn of Jeffersonville, Wadell was miffed. He signed with Alabama, but broke his leg during his freshman season (freshmen were not varsity eligible then). He never really recovered and I lost track of him.
Yep, Pretty Neat List
Decades upon decades on KY basketball history reflected in those names.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 6, 2011 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Forty
There was a Bob Nix on the 1969 AP all-state team from Owen County. If I remember correctly, he attended Univ. of Minnesota and was somehow involved in the fight with Ohio St. in which Luke Witte was severely injured. Nix didn’t throw the punch, but he was somehow involved.
Correct
He was a Gopher.
EVERYBODY on both teams was involved in that fight.
Witte is now a pastor and quietly made peace and forgave the 2 guys who pounded him.
by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 6, 2011 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions
I remember seeing Nix score over 40 points one night in high school
He was quite a player. A 6-2 guard if I recall correctly and could really shoot.
More food for thought
Mel Turpin, Travis Ford, Patrick Sparks.
From more recent vintages, there was quite a lot of hype
over the Mr. Basketball battle between Darius Miller and Scottie Hopson. Of course, we’re in the age of quite a lot of hype over most everything.
Hi Ken
Thereis no way you could have missed “Coxs Army” When Johnny Cox hit Lexington for :The Sweet Sixteen" They dropped leaflets on the city to announce his arrival.
most hyped but not realised of my lifetime
Tony Kimbro and Todd May. Most unsung and overlooked: Jeff Hall, Kent Sisler, Joey Wells, Jim VanHoose, Frank Lee, Jr. Vanhoose.
"all the way"
I remember Kimbro, May, and Hall
but you got me on the others. I assume VanHoose was the brother of the other kid from Paintsville that was hyped and ended up at Marshall (J. R., I think).
Close
Jim VanHoose was part of Boyd County’s early 80’s run of 16th region titles. Joey Wells was on the same team; and dominated the local big men like the Cantrell boy from Ashland and Mike Scott of Greenup County. Kent Sisler was the 2nd highest scorer in the state, even with no press from the local paper (Ashland Daily Independant) he was second team all state and dominated head to head match-ups with Jeff Hall. Those guys were part of the historic ambushing of Oak Hill Academy in Bchs’ holiday tournament, 1982. At the time, Boyd County had won the “Great Southern Tournament of Champions” at Disney World against the big name schools from New Jersey and NYC, as well as going to the championship game of both LIT’s. The Ashland Daily Independants rankings at the time did not mention BCHS. The Herald Leader had them at 25 in the state. USA today had them at no. 5 nationally. In my opinion, between 1980-2000 Boyd County had the highest winning percentage in the state, and the most sweet 16 appearances, first round; as well as a historic and disappointing number of first rd exits from the sweet 16. In fact, i’m guessing they probably had the most first rd lossess of all time.
"all the way"
Frank Lee was another Boyd County Product forced to go to a small school because of the "flat earth thinking"
That is where the world ends just east of Mt. Sterling and somehow eastern Kentucky is due south of Lexington.
"all the way"
Negative (Very) Hype
Bud Mackey sentenced to 15+ years.
"Statistics are no substitute for judgment" — Henry Clay (my namesake)
You have omitted some of the real ALL-TIME COMMONWEALTH GREATS!!! Corky Withrow, Central City Tide – played in the King Kelly era. A real stud! One of the greatest athletes ever produced by the Commonwealth. Was second to King Kelly in scoring. Played professional baseball for St. Louis Cardinals; Anyone remember Ralph Mayes, Central City also (late 60’s) – a Parade Magazine All-American and started at Vandy for three years; Clem “The Gem” Haskins – needs no introduction to any real basketball fan from KY; How can any list not include the late, great Ralph Beard who starred at Manual before leaping on the national scene at UK? All UK guards are still measured by The standard set by Beard – a 3-time college All-American and Olympic Gold Medalist
Hype High School Players
Another one of the Commonwealth’s ALL TIME GREATS! Shame on me for not mentioning Dave Cowens who starred at Newport Catholic – Rupp said he was too slow to play at UK so Cowens took his future Hall of Fame self to Florida State where he averaged 19 ppg and 17.2 reb for his college career. Cowens was named Rookie of the Year and then captured both the NBA’s MVP and All Star Game MVP in ‘73. Cowens led Boston to NBA Championships in ’74 & ’76. He was name to the NBA’ s Anniversary Team in 1996 as one of the Top 50 NBA Players of All Time. Elected to the Nasmith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991.
More KY H S Hyped basketball players
Lenoard Poole, Breckenridge County – went to Murray Sate but unfortunately drown in a boating accident ( I believe after his frosh year – freshmen were not elgible then) before he could fully blossom as a player ; What about the Smith brothers from Princeton Dodson? Greg and Dwight both starred with Clem Haskins at WKU. Dwight drowned in a car accident following his senior season – his sister and brother were in the car and both escaped. Greg went on to win a NBA ring with Milwaukee Bucks as he started on the team that featured Kareem Abdul Jabar and the great Oscar Robertson.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Community Guidelines
[UPDATED 01/18/2012]
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
