We have to find something to waste time inside while the winter weather sets in, so let’s argue over this… here is a list of the most accomplished basketball players who are native to Kentucky since 2000, based on their high school, college, and professional achievements:

Rajon Rondo
• Hometown: Louisville, KY
• Accomplishments:
• 2× NBA Champion (2008 with Boston Celtics, 2020 with Los Angeles Lakers)
• 4× NBA All-Star
• 4× NBA Assists Leader
• Known as one of the league’s best playmakers and defensive guards during his career

Darius Miller
• Hometown: Maysville, KY
• Accomplishments:
• NCAA Champion (2012 with Kentucky)
• SEC Sixth Man of the Year (2012)
• Played professionally in the NBA (New Orleans Pelicans) and internationally

Chris Lofton
• Hometown: Maysville, KY
• Accomplishments:
• SEC Player of the Year (2007 with Tennessee)
• All-time SEC leader in three-pointers made
• Played professionally overseas with a highly successful career in Europe and Asia

Shelvin Mack
• Hometown: Lexington, KY
• Accomplishments:
• NCAA Runner-Up (2010, 2011 with Butler)
• Long NBA career, playing with multiple teams (notably Utah Jazz and Orlando Magic)
• Known as a reliable guard and contributor in professional basketball

Anthony Hickey
• Hometown: Hopkinsville, KY
• Accomplishments:
• SEC All-Freshman Team (2012 with LSU)
• Played professionally in Europe and Asia

Elisha Justice
• Hometown: Virgie, KY
• Accomplishments:
• Kentucky Mr. Basketball (2010)
• Played collegiately for Louisville and Pikeville University, where he won an NAIA National Championship

Dominique Hawkins
• Hometown: Richmond, KY
• Accomplishments:
• NCAA Final Four appearances (2014, 2015 with Kentucky)
• SEC All-Tournament Team (2017)
• Played professionally overseas

These players have represented Kentucky’s basketball culture with their achievements in high school, college, and professional basketball.

Who needs added?

Jacob Conway from Lincoln County

2097 points at Lincoln 

Conway was a member of the 2019 NAIA National Championship team, an NAIA honorable mention All-American, member of the All Mid-South Conference Team and finished his career there with 1,121 points.

Playing professionally in Europe (England and France)

Scotty Hopson and Derek Willis would be good additions to this list also

CJ Fredrick of Covington Catholic, played at Iowa St, Ky and currently at UC.

And Beetle Bolden from Holmes, played for West Virginia and Alabama.

Both Northern Ky guys.

3 hours ago, 24Rocks said:

Jacob Conway from Lincoln County

2097 points at Lincoln 

Conway was a member of the 2019 NAIA National Championship team, an NAIA honorable mention All-American, member of the All Mid-South Conference Team and finished his career there with 1,121 points.

Playing professionally in Europe (England and France)

Jacob was a great player.  He just finished his playing career this past season overseas.  He is selling insurance in Danville., and giving back to the community coaching middle school basketball for Boyle County.

Kyle Rode had a very accomplished career at Liberty, and Collin Porter is playing there right now.  Very quality players.

Are we speaking HS career or overall?? 

Welcome to BGP @Horseguy!

Trevon Faulkner - Mercer County and NKU

From his NKU career:

He is ranked eighth all-time in school history and 49th in Horizon League history with 1,627 career points scored. Faulkner also slots in at eighth all-time in made free throws (324), ninth in steals (163), tenth in made field goals (561), 13th in made three-pointers (181), 18th in rebounds (565) and 21st in assists (234).
 
To go with his standout individual play, Faulkner was also a key part of three Horizon League Championship and NCAA qualifying teams (2018-19, 2019-20, 2022-23) with the Norse.

He played professionally in the Czech Republic in 2023 and is now playing in France.
 

Sam Vinson of Highlands 

4 hours ago, Horseguy said:

Are we speaking HS career or overall?? 

Overall, the accomplished list for simply high school careers would be never ending. 

Maybe not as high up there as "most accomplished" for an overall career. But Dayvion McKnight and KyKy Tandy, both of whom are still playing, could be added to this list.

McKnight (Collins) was 2020 Mr. Basketball. Was an absolute beast in high school and finished as Collins’ all-time leader in points (1,897), rebounds (1,040), assists (600) and steals (329). In college he was a three-year All-CUSA player for WKU and is now in his second season at Xavier where he is their starting PG. Has over 1,000 points in his college career. 

Tandy (University Heights) had over 3,000 points in his HS career and is top 10 in all-time scoring. After four years at Xavier where he has some success (338 points and Big East All-Freshman honors) but dealt with some injuries, he transferred to Jacksonville State where he started 32 games last season and put up 17.8 ppg. He is now at FAU and has 11.7 ppg through six games. He shredded Oklahoma State with 21 the other night. 

On 11/22/2024 at 11:48 AM, LethalPG said:

Kyle Rode had a very accomplished career at Liberty, and Collin Porter is playing there right now.  Very quality players.

Porter had 17 pts last night against Kansas St.  Really fun PG to watch.

Tyler Brown (6’2 guard/Class of 2008/Owensboro Apollo)- Led Apollo to an unexpected runner-up finish in the Sweet 16 as a Sophomore. Losing to J-Town 61-58 in the finals. Brown was named to the All Tourney team for his efforts in Rupp. After being named a KY All Star, in 2008, he led the team to a win over Indiana at the Louisville Gardens. Brown hit 5 three pointers and finished as the leading scorer with 19 points. (The win broke an 8 year drought for KY. But it also was the beginning of a 9 year drought! Ouch!!) After sitting out a year at Morehead St. Brown found his way to Marshalltown, Iowa Junior Collge. Where he was a 2nd team D1 All American in 2011 after averaging 21 ppg as a Sophomore. He signed with Illinois St. over Wichita St and went on to average 13 ppg as a Junior and was named to the Missouri Valley All Newcomer team. He then averaged 18 ppg as a Senior and was named 2nd team All Missouri Valley. He seemed to always show up when playing Power Conference teams or ranked opponents. Scoring 25 at #5 Louisville. 36 against Northwestern. 26 against Ole Miss. 24 against Stanford. 25 against #14 Wichita St. And 27 against #16 Creighton. Brown scored 1,000+ career points in his 2 years in Bloomington,IL. After graduating Brown played in the NBA summer league for the San Antonio Spurs. Then in the NBA D League for the Maine Red Claws. Scoring a career high 32 points vs the Iowa Energy. He also played briefly in France. Very very underrated player IMO.

Terry Taylor (6’5 Small Forward/Class of 2017/Bowling Green)- Helped BG to 4 straight Sweet 16’s. Including a runner up to Owensboro in 2015 and a state title win in 2017 vs Cooper. Winning Sweet 16 MVP as a Senior. Named a KY All Star after graduating. Ultimately signed with Austin Peay and is an all time great there. Averaging 19 ppg and 9 rebounds per game for his career. Governors all time leading scorer passing another underrated Kentuckian in Bubba Wells from Russellville, KY. Taylor won OVC player of the Year twice. And was 1st team All Conference every year he was in college. He didn’t get selected in the NBA draft of 2021 but has played in 95 career games for the Pacers and Bulls. Currently plays for the Stockton Kings in the G League.