Who's the best player from each of Kentucky's 16 high school regions that went on to play for UK?
- Thread starter TopCatCal
- Start date
Probably the all-time best player from the 4th would be Jim McDaniels (Allen Co) who played at Western Kentucky. Is there anyone better that y'all know of?
I think that's right. Only other for consideration I think is Troy McKinley. I'd have been hell with a 3 point line.
I think Ned Jennings was on the 59-60? UK team that beat the Lucas and Havlichek NCAA championship team.
John Turner, 6'4" forward was a great player. He and Fred Sawyer, 6'11" center for the 59 cards beat the cats in the elite 8 to go to the final four!
I think Fred Cowan was from there. Haskins played at Taylor County as did his older brother, Clem.
Orbie "Chief" Bowling, 6'10' and Bob Rice, 6'6' played on the 1959 Sandy Hook HS team which was the tallest team in the state and at one time during the 59 season was ranked # 1 in the state by either the Dunkle or Litkenhouse rankings. Roy Fannin , who scored 61 points in a game his senior year, 1960, was also a guard on that team.
Chief had verbally committed to Eastern Ky after his senior year and was working at Eastern during the summer of 59. Just prior to the beginning of the fall semester Chief was visiting his parents for the weekend and an asst coach at the Univ of Tennessee drove up to Sandy Hook, picked Chief up and drove him back to Knoxville. He played four years for UT starting at center during his junior and senior years. His UT team beat UK twice during the 62-63 season with Chief playing a major role in the wins. This was sweet revenge for him because he wanted to go to UK but for some reason Rupp didn't recruit him.
Chief played a few seasons for both the New York nets in the NBA and for the Ky Colonels in the ABA. He also played several years for the Washington Generals which was the opposition team that traveled with the Harlem globetrotters. Several years ago the Sandy Hook School Superintendent during a conversation with Chief asked him what were his fondest memories from his playing years. He replied that beating UK and blocking 4 or 5 of Cotton Nash's shots was one of his biggest thrills but the most memorable event occurred while playing for the Generals against the globetrotters in London. He said after the game, Prince Charles, now the King of England, brought his sons down to the sidelines and asked Chief to autograph the game program for his sons, one of whom was Prince Harry. Ponder that for a minute the King of England asking for the autograph of an ole country boy raised on a small hillside tobacco farm located on a gravel road several miles outside Sandy Hook.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Bob Rice received a BB scholarship to UK where he played for one year before transferring to Lindsay Wilson. In the winter of 59-60 I was at Memorial coliseum and saw Bob Rice and Orb 'chief" Bowling jump center against each other when they were matched up during the UK and UT freshmen teams.
Definitely Casey pre car accident one of the most complete players I ever saw. The closest I ever saw was Larry Bird and Reed. All threes greatest quality was their sense of anticipation and then the next move after that.
5th Region only produced a couple of UK players- Epps and Barbour. Best player ever is probably Clem Haskins out of Taylor County. Louisville has got a lot of players out that region Boo Brewer, Tick Rogers, Troy Smith, Robbie Valentine. Brett Burrow was all-SEC at Vandy, Stepphon Pettigrew won Mr. Basketball and was 1st team All-Sun Belt at Western. Boley and Scott weren't anything special after high school.
And course Burrow’s dad Bob was an All American at UK
and his jersey is in the rafters. He was from Wells, Texas
Damn I can't believe I forgot about Jimmy dan almost won Anderson county a state title In 1971 against male
Some great louisville region athletes prior 1980
Wes unseld (close to playing for UK mom advised otherwise due to the climate in the south at the time )
Ron King
Otto petty
Tom payne (UK but jailed on rape
Junior bridgeman
Darrell griffith
Bobby Turner
Rudy macklin
Damn louisville produced some high rate ballers back then what the hell happen
Wes unseld (close to playing for UK mom advised otherwise due to the climate in the south at the time )
Ron King
Otto petty
Tom payne (UK but jailed on rape
Junior bridgeman
Darrell griffith
Bobby Turner
Rudy macklin
Damn louisville produced some high rate ballers back then what the hell happen
Rupp said Casey best player ever with game on line.
Rupp said Tingle best over all player he ever had.
