Vernon Hatton honored again for Mr. Basketball 62 years later

[Smashcat]

http://www.wkyt.com/content/sports/...r-Mr-Basketball-62-years-later-370018941.html

 

[lawrencekash]

One of my great memories was being at the Temple game where Hatton hit the half court shot-then I made my first airplane trip from Prep School on a DC-3 the night they beat Elgin Baylor and Seattle. The pilots let me come into the cockpit to listen to the final minutes!!!!

 

[st-louie-blue]

http://www.wkyt.com/content/sports/...r-Mr-Basketball-62-years-later-370018941.html

I was at U.K. when Vern first got to U.K. It doesn't seem that it could have been 62 years ago. Time does fly when you are having fun with the Cats. Go Big Blue.

 

[kybballcrazy]

Vernon Hatton, Johnny Cox, John Crigler, Ed Beck and Adrian "odie" Smith. 1958 National Champs baby.

 

[wyomingcat]

That's pretty cool

 

[Elliott Tim]

One of my great memories was being at the Temple game where Hatton hit the half court shot-then I made my first airplane trip from Prep School on a DC-3 the night they beat Elgin Baylor and Seattle. The pilots let me come into the cockpit to listen to the final minutes!!!!

What a great story to share. How old were you then? I was 6.

 

[BigBlueCatNation]

Good for him to be honored. Kentucky and UK need to continue to honor these old men who made UK and really the Commonwealth the basketball haven that it's become.

They won't be around forever.....

 

[JohnKBA]

One of my great memories was being at the Temple game where Hatton hit the half court shot-then I made my first airplane trip from Prep School on a DC-3 the night they beat Elgin Baylor and Seattle. The pilots let me come into the cockpit to listen to the final minutes!!!!

I know Vernon really well and he always says there must have been 75,000 people at that Temple game because everyone he runs into tells him they were. If you ever get a chance to sit down with him and talk, he has lots of great stories. Excellent guy too. A true UK legend and a great member of the community.

 

[Teachable Moe]

Get to know Vernon and Suzanne. Great people.

 

[.S&C.]

Great great guy. Great signer too. Those guys were the best. Sad to say lots of players today don't come close to the men those guys were.

 

[Bogansback2Basil]

A really great man with a great family. He was my first real basketball coach and he used to talk a great deal about coach Rupp with all of us. Had his oldest son, Jeff, played for Lafayette during his senior year (1979), Lafayette would have not lost in the district, and perhaps finished #1 nationally instead of #2 behind Macon Southwest.

Glad to see him get his "overdue" due...

 

[Hjack]

One of my great memories was being at the Temple game where Hatton hit the half court shot-then I made my first airplane trip from Prep School on a DC-3 the night they beat Elgin Baylor and Seattle. The pilots let me come into the cockpit to listen to the final minutes!!!!

Saw the game. Will never forget it. Temple had a left-handed stud - Guy Rodgers

 

[ashlandcatfan600]

I was there. George Conley refereed. He took me and his son Larry Conley. A night to remember. Guy Rodgers played for Temple.

 

[Indy Cat]

Vernon Hatton, Johnny Cox, John Crigler, Ed Beck and Adrian "odie" Smith. 1958 National Champs baby.

That 58 team still remains as my all time favorite. They, as this year's team, struggled all season but put it together at the right time to win it all.

Johnny Cox was my favorite player & Vern Hatton a close second. Hatton had a great game against Seattle & Elgin Baylor in the championship game. I was listening on radio when he hit the 47 footer against Temple, I was at the ripe old age of 15. lol

 

[TeoJ]

I was a bit young at the time 7,good to hear.I did hear my dad talk about him at the time and in later years.He got to see the fabulous five also.

 

[lawrencekash]

What a great story to share. How old were you then? I was 6.

I was 16!