I guess that depends on what you define as the criteria. To me the "Mt Rushmore" would be the biggest legends of Ky HS Basketball, not necessarily the best. I think Coleman and Farmer are the 2 biggest legends of Ky High School basketball, so they are definitely on the monument in my mind.

 

Never been a fan of the guy, and I guess his latest well known antics don't help my opinion of him, so I know my opinion is a little jaded. I didn't grow up in KY so I was not familiar with his hs "legend" status till he was at UK, which is about the time I relocated to KY. I saw him play as a freshman at Miss State and thought he was bad then, and never thought he was very good in his college career and I always wondered how this chubby, short(ish) kid ever did much of anything at the hs level. I know, hs and college are completely different, and one doesn't always translate to the other, and Farmer is definitely a very good example of that. I can see why people say he needs to be on the "Rushmore" of KY hs basketball...I will just personally look for another option and believe there are definitely a few in the mix that can be argued for.

In this old timers mind three choices are very easy: King Kelly Coleman might be the greatest male player in Ky history; Richie Farmer is a legend that brings smiles to all true basketball fans for what a little man can accomplish in a big man's game; Jamie Walz Richey for the pioneer role she played in making Ky Girls basketball the legitimate, highly competive and talent led game it is today. Now the 4th becomes very difficult and for me it is Dave Cowans for what he accomplished in overcoming his lesser natural talent with hustle and effort and even today serves as a monumental example for all skill levels to mimic.

Give me Alan Houston. Better than Farmer then, better than Farmer now.

 

Houston was a great player, a greater talent who excelled at the highest level of hoops. With that being said most are never going to put him in the same class as Farmer. In my opinion Houston would be behind Chris Lofton in the hierarchy. Both were great on the biggest stage but Lofton was magical. I pulled some Sweet 16 stats for both and they are solid.

 

 

2002

vs Butler 29/7

vs Paducah Tilghman 6/3

Chris Lofton

 

2003

vs St. Henry 17/4

vs Oldham County 19/5

vs HopTown 30/6

vs Ballard 39/5

 

2004

vs Wayne County 34/10

vs Trinity 29/11

vs Scott County 23/11

vs Warren Central 26/9

 

Allan Houston

 

1987

vs Marshall County 34/5

vs Mason County 25/3

vs Paintsville 21/3

vs Clay County 24/5

 

1988

vs Laurel County 29/7

vs Holmes 15/5

vs Apollo 24/3

vs Clay County 23/5

 

The 1987 was one of my favorites, tons of memorable names played in Rupp that season.

 

Travis Ford

John Pelphrey

Deron Feldhaus

Allan Houston

Scott Boley

Kelly Wells

Richie Farmer

Russ Farmer

Russell Chadwell

Willie Combs

Well I'm from Chicago and all them names from Kentucky and Indiana don't compare to Illinois Derek words Isaiah Thomas Jabari Parker Juwan Howard Anthony Davis

Them are some gooduns that's for sure.

Well I'm from Chicago and all them names from Kentucky and Indiana don't compare to Illinois Derek words Isaiah Thomas Jabari Parker Juwan Howard Anthony Davis

 

Ummm...when did we start comparing states and what do those guys have to do with KY high school basketball?:idunno:

Because I saw some ppl out Indiana who was up there that's why I said that and plus I'm from Chicago I live in Madisonville Kentucky and my son one best 7th basketball player in this state

And away we go.:popcorn:

Hmmm- pretty tuff to see and rank 7th graders but what do I no