I have not heard anything about Jock Sutherland for several years and wondered if any Lafayette people might know how he is doing. He was the funniest head coach on the sidelines I ever watched. Had some great players in the day like the two Minnifields, Tony Wilson, and others.

I know fairly recently he called some Sweet 16 games.

I know fairly recently he called some Sweet 16 games.

 

Thank you! I am glad to hear he is still involved in the game. Jock was never at a loss for words!

There is a relatively new group called the Sports History Foundation that is seeking to re-live some of Kentucky high school sports' biggest stories. They have already produced full length videos of the 1982 unbeaten Madison Central baseball team and the 1991 Nicholas County gals basketball team...both state champs.

 

Their next project is Jock's 1979 state champs at Lexington Lafayette. Word from group leader David Mills is that the coach is "not doing well" and they would like to get production done as quickly as possible.

 

Sports History Foundation

Very colorful Coach. Had great talent but was a master at getting them to play together for wins. I remember him being asked about what he called his Press Defense and he said it was the "junkyard junk" defense, I just tell them to get the ball........

Very colorful Coach. Had great talent but was a master at getting them to play together for wins. I remember him being asked about what he called his Press Defense and he said it was the "junkyard junk" defense, I just tell them to get the ball........

 

Tony Wilson played at Western Ky. after leaving Lafayette and was one of the greatest leapers of that era. He was overshadowed by Dirk Minnifield at Lafayette, but Tony was the most exciting player I saw in Lexington from the 1970s. Even more so than James Lee, who could also do it!

Tony Wilson played at Western Ky. after leaving Lafayette and was one of the greatest leapers of that era. He was overshadowed by Dirk Minnifield at Lafayette, but Tony was the most exciting player I saw in Lexington from the 1970s. Even more so than James Lee, who could also do it!

 

I intentionally left out Jack Givens from Bryan Station, he was not an exciting player like James Lee or Tony Wilson! Jack could really shoot and score, but he was more of a mechanical player and not a high jumping dunker or power player. Henry Clay also had a player named Michael Scearce who, I think, went on to play at Purdue. Michael was one of the best to ever play for Coach Prewitt at Henry Clay!

I have not heard anything about Jock Sutherland for several years and wondered if any Lafayette people might know how he is doing. He was the funniest head coach on the sidelines I ever watched. Had some great players in the day like the two Minnifields, Tony Wilson, and others.

The Jock Sutherland Classic is being held Saturday, 2/7/15, at Lafayette,,Don't know if he will be there,,,But he was last year........

I intentionally left out Jack Givens from Bryan Station, he was not an exciting player like James Lee or Tony Wilson! Jack could really shoot and score, but he was more of a mechanical player and not a high jumping dunker or power player. Henry Clay also had a player named Michael Scearce who, I think, went on to play at Purdue. Michael was one of the best to ever play for Coach Prewitt at Henry Clay!

 

Lexington just doesn't produce players like they used to. They always have good players, but rarely do you see high-level Division I players in Lexington anymore.

Lexington just doesn't produce players like they used to. They always have good players, but rarely do you see high-level Division I players in Lexington anymore.

 

Who does? Name one place in the state where "high level" D-1 players are a regular occurrence Louisville has had a great run the last couple of years but there was a dearth of high D-1 players for many years. Players in Kentucky just don't get the exposure that players from other states do. Kentucky is under-recruited in my opinion but it is a biased one.

Who does? Name one place in the state where "high level" D-1 players are a regular occurrence Louisville has had a great run the last couple of years but there was a dearth of high D-1 players for many years. Players in Kentucky just don't get the exposure that players from other states do. Kentucky is under-recruited in my opinion but it is a biased one.

I don't think it has anything to do with under-recruited or exposure,,the college scouts know where the players are located,,for some sad reason the commonwealth just doe not produce the talent that it once did......

BOKC, Michael Scearce did, indeed, play at Purdue. He was first or second off the bench in the 1980 season when the Boilermakers made the Final Four. Drafted two years later by the Pacers.

BOKC, Michael Scearce did, indeed, play at Purdue. He was first or second off the bench in the 1980 season when the Boilermakers made the Final Four. Drafted two years later by the Pacers.

 

broadcaster-Thanks for the info on Michael Scearce. He was really a great high school player. I never understood why UK did not go after him at the time with Joe B. Hall as coach. Michael was just as good s Freddy Cowan or LaVon Williams, both played at UK. Thanks again for the update!

Lexington just doesn't produce players like they used to. They always have good players, but rarely do you see high-level Division I players in Lexington anymore.

 

You bring up a good point, but I am biased for Lexington high schools. When I was in high school you had Jack Givens, James Lee, two big-time recruits in the same city who both played at UK, and Michael Scearce who later played at Purdue. That does not include guys a couple of years after I graduated like Dirk Minniefield, Tony Wilson, Junior Johnson, Guy Minniefield, William Conner, Leroy Byrd, a guy named Keith at Bryan Station who I forgot his last name! and others.

 

I think much of today's lack of production in Lexington has to do as much with the fact the drop-out rates in the public schools in the city are not good. So many good players just decide to leave school which is the biggest mistake they will make as teenagers.

 

I attended a Henry Clay football game against Bryan Station in the fall and was shocked at the numbers on both teams. They were both good teams and had really fun players, but I thought back to the good old days when both had 75-90 players dressed. Both had much fewer this year.

Tony Wilson played at Western Ky. after leaving Lafayette and was one of the greatest leapers of that era. He was overshadowed by Dirk Minnifield at Lafayette, but Tony was the most exciting player I saw in Lexington from the 1970s. Even more so than James Lee, who could also do it!

 

I remember that magical year Grant co. had going for it in1979 -80. Went into the sweet 16 like 32 and 1. But as luck would have it drew the Generals right out of the box. They played neck and neck with them for a quarter and then they came down on a fast break and Dirk threw a sky high lob to wilson that he rattled the backboard with. The braves mouths just kinda flew open and it was like CHECK PLEASE !!!. Game over.I honestly believe We could have beaten any of the other 14 teams and we actually might have played them as close as anyone else did. They were awesome.