Over the years. Who's the Top high school player from each of Ky's 16 regions ?

[drcats2013]

13th Region. I have one that few may know but this guy was unreal. His name is Nick Sanford. He was 6-6, could shoot, dribble, and very athletic.
His problem was not much help in his home and his grades. He played at LMU over in TN for a couple of years for Phil Cox who played at Vandy. I'm telling you, he was the real deal.
He was Hami Diallo 30 years ago.

Always heard the same thing on him. Phil cox another good name from the 13th region. Charles Thomas had a nice college career

 

[Cawood86]

Always heard the same thing on him. Phil cox another good name from the 13th region. Charles Thomas had a nice college career

Nick broke Wah Wah Jones' scoring record for Harlan County. He could fill it up. Cox was a dead eye. If they had the 3pt line when he played, doubt anybody would catch him.

 

[kmann0433]

Charles Hurt in the 8th.
What region is Clay county, Richie Farmer was awesome in high school

I played in the 8th and was trying to think. Most impressive dude I saw in person was Donta Smith, the guy that committed to UL but went to the draft. Jimmy Dan Conner maybe at Anderson County? Mike Casey is likely the answer though, saw other people said the same.

 

[8858]

Couple from 15th region, Todd May from Virgie who went to UK and Ervin Stepp from Phelps who led the nation in scoring one year.

 

[cvillekat]

5th region
Anthony Epps Marion Co
Elton Scott Marion Co
Tick Rodgers Hart Co
Antwoin Barbour Etown
Stephon Pettigrew Etown

 

[legalbeagle123]

Don't forget about 1966 NBA all star game MVP Adrian "Odie" Smith of Farmington.

Odie would be 2nd region wouldn't he?

 

[FredTX]

?

16th. "Brother" Adkins, Dan Swartz

 

[TopCatCal]

Is there anybody better than Jim McDaniels at Allen Co. In the 5th region?

Not to get off subject, after all I'm the one that started this thread. But how awesome would it have been to have seen Jim McDaniels & his WKU teammate Jim Rose from the 14th region in UK uniforms as teammates of Issel, Casey, Pratt, Larry Steele, Tom Parker, ect... on UK's 1970 team. WOW. That would have been the team that all other UK teams would be measured by.

Also has anyone listed Todd May from the 15th region ? May was Kentucky's Mr. Basketball in 1982 He put up some huge numbers during his high school career.

 

[Ripcord65]

Don't know if anyone has mentioned Richard Travis yet. He graduated from Bowling Green High Street H.S. in 1965, and played his college ball at Oklahoma City University. During his junior and senior years at OCU, Rich finished No. 7 and No. 6 in the nation, respectively, in points-per-game scoring average among all D-1 players !

I'm pleased to "nominate" Rich Travis as the best player ever to come out of the "old Fifth Region" - now the Fourth Region, I think - which includes schools in several counties in and around Bowling Green. Rich was a good guy who beat us (Franklin-Simpson) by one point in the finals of the 17th District Tournament in 1964 on a last second forty-footer from right in front of the scorer's table in the old Bowling Green High gym on Center Street (which all of y'all old guys from South Central KY will probably remember).

 

[OSOK]

What about Cliff Hagan, one of few who won the State Championship, College Champion and Pro Championship.

Do not forget Wayne Chapman, Rex's father. 3rd region.

 

[Ripcord65]

In talking about Jim McDaniels and Jim Rose and "what might have been" . . . don't forget that Clarence Glover (6'8" and a rebounding machine from Caverna H.S.) and Jerome Perry (a very good player, from Louisville Manual, I think) also graduated from H.S. in 1967 and were on that great WKU team (that later beat the 'Cats) with their fifth starter, Jerry Dunn, who started his career at Gamliel H.S. but graduated from Glasgow H.S. in 1968).

 

[docholiday51]

In talking about Jim McDaniels and Jim Rose and "what might have been" . . . don't forget that Clarence Glover (6'8" and a rebounding machine from Caverna H.S.) and Jerome Perry (a very good player, from Louisville Manual, I think) also graduated from H.S. in 1967 and were on that great WKU team (that later beat the 'Cats) with their fifth starter, Jerry Dunn, who started his career at Gamliel H.S. but graduated from Glasgow H.S. in 1968).

Remember all of them well,played football against Dunn when he was at Gamaliel he was a man among boys even at that time.Glover didn't have a lot of offensive skill(if you don't count pretending to tie his shoe to hide behind the defense)Dunn's teammate at Glasgow Rex Bailey was a starter on that WKU team also.

 

[Supafuzz75]

14th Region - Johnny Cox

Give me Camron Justice.. 3rd in all time scoring.. 4 straight trips to Rupp.. I know Johnny won a state title but Cam was a way better scorer.. Also Herbie Stamper should be in the top 5 too..

 

[Soupbean]

In reality, Casey was the best to come out of the 8th with everyone else a distant second. Had he not gotten hurt we could have possibly had another title and he would've been one of the top guards in the NBA. Conner, Hurt and others were good but not on his level.[/

Manuel Forrest needs to be mentioned for the 7th region. His college career fizzled out, but I believe he is still the leading scorer in Jefferson County history.

Was Rudy Maclin in the 7th region too?

 

[FHAZCat]

I saw Billy Ray Cassidy, Johnny Cox, Kelly Coleman, Billy Ray Lickert(?), Mike Silliman, Tom Thacker, Larry Conley, Jim Rose and more in 50s and 60s.
The best one game performance from a player was Donnis Butcher from Meade Memorial in the 15th region. Coleman, most likely, was the best 15th region player ever, but Butcher was right there. Cox best in 14th.

 

[J-Town Chargers]

I don't believe Dominic Tilford is the best player from the 7th BUT since I've seen names such as Terrance Farley, Brandon Bender and JuJuan Spillman mentioned....
Tilford was a four year starter at PG and was the best player in the city for 3 years. Mr.Basketball as a senior.
Terrance Farley is best known for letting Renaldo Balkman dunk on his head repeatedly in an NIT game.
JuJuan Spillman and his brother Dontay were both kicked out of UL.

 

[BoxterS]

Tim Stephens from McCreary County could flat fill it up. Went on to Kentucky. George Bryant from old Burnside High School was a great player who had a great career at EKU.

I've heard old-timers say that George Bryant was the best they ever saw

 

[anon_q409idbs5m40a]

I watched JD In the region finals a very good player,I watched Mike about fifteen times at Shelby Co.a fantastic player.

Put Casey on the 1970 team with Issel, Pratt and company and we could very well have had an undefeated champion.

 

[anon_q409idbs5m40a]

I've heard old-timers say that George Bryant was the best they ever saw

I saw Bryant play against the 1978 UK team on their barnstorming tour after the season. Best player I saw for his size at the time.

 

[KeepingItReal74]

6th and 7th regions: Darrell Griffin, Tony Williams, Charlie Taylor, Brandon Bender, Paul Yaden, Dujan Wheat, Q, Terrance Farley, and although they didn't play Bball in college, Michael Bush and Jujuan Spillman.

Lmfao! No Derek Anderson, Ron King, Otto Petty, Winston Bennett, in a group listing Terrance Farley and Bender. Bush and Spillman? Lol.

 

[UKCATSFREAK]

Totally forgot about Unseld. Great call. Personally, I leave Houston off just because he spurned the Cards. My list is a bit biased with all UofL players.

Personally, I put Houston at the top of the list cause he spurned the Cards.

 

[KeepingItReal74]

Personally, I put Houston at the top of the list cause he spurned the Cards.

You mean he followed his dad to UT.

 

[UKSlim]

John Pelphery in the 15th has to be in the conversation

 

[willievic]

Good topic. Not the biggest expert on this sort of thing, so I have nothing to add myself. But here's a summary of what everyone's come up with so far, I think. (Feel free to amend. I'm not sure why 6th and 7th regions are combined above.) Still missing a few nominees for five of the regions.


1. Joe Fulks, Dan Langhi

2. Frank Ramsey

3. Rex Chapman, Butch Beard, Corky Withrow, Patrick Sparks

4.

5. Jim McDaniels, Clem Haskins

6 and 7. Darrell Griffith, Allan Houston, Wes Unseld, Tony Williams, Charlie Taylor, Brandon Bender, Paul Yaden, Dujan Wheat, Q, Terrance Farle

8.

9. Dave Cowens

10.

11.

12. Reggie Hanson, Kenny Davis, Leonard Coulter

13. Frank Selvey

14.

15. Kelly Coleman

16. Larry Conley, OJ Mayo

From the 14th, Johnny Cox, who led UK to a National Championship against Seattle and Elgin Baylor.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

 

[jf121264]

Kenny Higgs wasn't too shabby in the 3rd region.

 

[bigdaddy741]

I agree. Others..... Minnifield, Turpin, James Lee, Vince Taylor, Darnell Burton, Shelvin Mack, Junior Johnson, Jermain Brown

Jermaine Brown didn't play in the 11th region. He played for Fairdale.

 

[KeepingItReal74]

Kenny Higgs wasn't too shabby in the 3rd region.

Darius Miller 10th Region.

 

[KeepingItReal74]

Jermaine Brown didn't play in the 11th region. He played for Fairdale.

With Maurice Morris.

 

[KeepingItReal74]

Keith Williams and Tony Kimbro of Seneca High.

 

[bigdaddy741]

With Maurice Morris.

Yes, the and the Turner kid that signed with South Carolina just before stabbing his girlfriend. Sad ending to a great high school team. Brown is, or was, in prison as well.

 

[lpbrowning]

What region was lofton? He's got to be tops

Don't forget about 1966 NBA all star game MVP Adrian "Odie" Smith of Farmington.

Roger Newman

 

[KeepingItReal74]

Yes, the and the Turner kid that signed with South Carolina just before stabbing his girlfriend. Sad ending to a great high school team. Brown is, or was, in prison as well.

Team with Roberson, Vaden, Philcox, Carter, and another player at Faridale was better. They could flat out rip the rims down.

 

[Mojocat]

Yes, the and the Turner kid that signed with South Carolina just before stabbing his girlfriend. Sad ending to a great high school team. Brown is, or was, in prison as well.

Really? Hadn't heard that about Brown. I lived in Tennessee in the early 90s, and had heard how good that Fairdale team was, had heard that Brown was Griffith's kid. So when he went to UT I was interested to see him. Pretty underwhelming player at that level, to be honest - and surprisingly, given who his dad was, he was pretty average athletically. At least when I saw him.

 

[JacksonPurchaseCat]

Odie would be 2nd region wouldn't he?

I don't go back that far, but I doubt it. Farmington is in Graves County, which as far as I know all schools from there have always been region 1.

 

[UKCATSFREAK]

You mean he followed his dad to UT.

No, I mean he spurned the Cards.

 

[Bryo72]

?

Cameron Mills 8th or 11 someone help....I know Dunbar

 

[coachmkc]

10th Region has had some great ones, but what about Ronnie Lyons.

 

[Aike]

Really? Hadn't heard that about Brown. I lived in Tennessee in the early 90s, and had heard how good that Fairdale team was, had heard that Brown was Griffith's kid. So when he went to UT I was interested to see him. Pretty underwhelming player at that level, to be honest - and surprisingly, given who his dad was, he was pretty average athletically. At least when I saw him.

I wouldn't call Brown average athletically, but he wasn't elite on the level of his father. Few ever have been.

 

[legalbeagle123]

I don't go back that far, but I doubt it. Farmington is in Graves County, which as far as I know all schools from there have always been region 1.

Yep, you're right. Don't know what I was thinking.

 

[Deli owl]

6th and 7th regions: Darrell Griffin, Tony Williams, Charlie Taylor, Brandon Bender, Paul Yaden, Dujan Wheat, Q, Terrance Farley, and although they didn't play Bball in college, Michael Bush and Jujuan Spillman.

Maybe the concept of best eludes you.