A
anon_q409idbs5m40a
Guest
I also recall Tubby being very defensive when asked why he didn't recruit Lofton. Nevertheless, it was a major recruiting gaff.
5 Kentucky high school players that didn't pick UK, but you wish they had.
- Thread starter TopCatCal
- Start date
A
anon_q409idbs5m40a
Guest
I ran into Wayne Golden at Fort Hood in 1984. I do not remember his rank but he was the point of contact on a project I was working on for the Morale, Wellfare and Fitness Department. He was playing on the post basketball team at the time and they were good. Really a nice guy and he was surprised that I knew about him from his Shawnee team that won the State Tournament in 1973. Just goes to show that it really is a small world.
First you say the SEC was not the issue, then you claim UK should have left the SEC, all the while touting your "first hand knowledge".
Seems like you want to say something but the little tangible you've brought to the table is contradictory at best. Care to elaborate on exactly why you think Unseld didn't attend UK?
Note I don't disagree that the SEC as an organization wasn't an impediment to Unseld attending UK. UK had already expressed their intention to recruit black players in 1963 and the SEC didn't make any public efforts to stop them.
But I do think playing against and traveling to some SEC schools was a real concern for any black athlete considering joining an SEC team. And for good reason because those pioneers who did take that step were indeed harassed.
A
anon_q409idbs5m40a
Guest
I always wonder why Jeff Mullins and Vince Taylor were both from Lexington but ended up at Duke.
Jeff Mullins grew up right across the street from Lafayette High School and played there, before going to Duke. Not sure, but I think Taylor's Dad was a professor at UK.
I would go with:
Unseld, Mullins, Cowens, Haskins, Griffith, Houston
I listed six, as it was hard to reduce to only five.
I would go with:
Unseld, Mullins, Cowens, Haskins, Griffith, Houston
I listed six, as it was hard to reduce to only five.
Last edited:
Cowens was much better in College then in High School Rupp never seriously considered him
This topic about Dave Cowens and his lack of recruitment by UK at the time was discussed recently on this board.
UK was recruiting Dan Issel, George Janky and Joe Bergman for one spot. They were all nationally ranked.
Unfortunately for Cowens (and UK in hindsight) he wasn't nearly as well-regarded as the other players UK was recruiting at the time. It would have been nice to have Issel and Cowens together.
A
anon_q409idbs5m40a
Guest
Yes, Vince Taylor's father was a professor at UK. I was a senior at UK the year that Taylor picked Duke. A lot of people were upset when he picked Duke and it was even worse the next season when they beat us in the 1980 Regional at Rupp.
Big mistake-----leaving your 20's. I have always regretted leaving mine.
Jeff Mullins was from New York and his father was transferred to Lexington while working for IBM. The family had no loyalty to UK. None. Later Jeff's father was transferred to Boca Raton, Florida by IMB so he was just passing through Lexington.
There was never a chance for UK to sign Mullins but they sure did want him.
A big part of the reason that Vince Taylor didn't pick UK was. Because the #1 high school in America Dwight Anderson, who played the same position as Taylor was a UK commit
The issue with Unseld choosing another school is not the concern. He faced racial tension regardless of the school. His reasons were personal. If you get a chance to discuss it with him, feel free to ask. I will assume you get the same answers he his given previously.
Since I went to Seneca with Wes and have talked with him many times over the years I feel like I am a better source and he says it was fear of KKK
And Issel's Father made Dan take a second visit to U.K. After he had made a verbal commitment to Illinois
I think Vince Taylor's story might've been similar--In Lexington because his dad took a job as UK professor, but not a case of a guy with any deep family ties to the state. Interesting that both Mullins and Taylor chose Duke.
Last edited:
A
anon_q409idbs5m40a
Guest
Being from Eastern Kentucky, I've heard many times that UK was not an option for King Kelly. He had ties to WVU and after he was roundly booed at the State Tournament he had pretty much had it with Lexington. Not really sure if he would've gotten along with Rupp to begin with.
I was a Lofton guy.... sucked to see 2,000+ points get wasted playing at UT.
True. King Kelly had discipline and drinking problem. He may have lasted a week under Rupp but I doubt it. He wasted a career by being a good ole boy from the hills. But he sure could put the points on the board and will always be the Kentucky Legend of High School Basketball. #1
I do not care who someone is. What I know, I know, what I think, I think.
Each opinion is valuable on its own.
1970 we win the title....easy???? Let's get serious...we very well could have won with Casey in the lineup, but lets not forget just who did win, and they were on a roll like no team ever has been or ever will be....I would have taken a 1 point win over them in a heartbeat, but thinking it would have been easy, no way my friend, no way....
With Casey Pratt and Issel and the supporting cast I'll take our chances you probably never played college ball so we will agree to disagree
Terry Compton from Hart County.
I think he led Vandy in scoring all three years he played (early 1970's). They beat UK four straight times.
If I recall, the man had testicular cancer as well, but wanted to wait till after the season for surgery. What a tough S.O.B.
A
anon_q409idbs5m40a
Guest
The King Kelly legend never died. He ended up playing at Wesleyan because he was ruled ineligible to play at WVU. Was the 9th pick in the NBA Draft the year he came out by the Knicks but made some bad decisions and never made it big. Yes, Robertson made him look like trash during the all-star game but according to some writers Kelly had been drinking heavily the night before the games, was out of shape and dealing with a leg injury. Robertson was clearly the better player but Coleman could've performed better had his head been on straight.
We played Taylor's team when I was assistant coach at Prestonsburg and he was good but Joe B either didn't offer or the kids dad who taught in the dental school at UK wanted him at Duke for education
When did the King kelly legend die?Seems to be alive and well 60 years later with people still talking about him.
A
anon_q409idbs5m40a
Guest
It never died. People from Eastern Kentucky who lived during his time still recount watching him play. Anyone who scores 68 points in the KHSAA State Tourney game will never be forgotten.
Similar threads
