Steve Skaggs is a good choice for Greenup County, but you have to include an All-American in the discussion in Mike Scott. If he would've stayed at Wake Forest, I really beleive he would've been one of the better players to play for the Demon Deacons. Just like so many other players from the eastern part of the state they seem to get "homesick" and make their way back to the Bluegrass.

Plus he played for "The Little General'.

Guys, Jones was NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR.

 

 

In the 40's. Would he have recieved this award if he played with the talent level in the 90's? I am not saying he was not a great player in his time. I know of all the awards, but it was a different time and Thomas has to be considered with him. He was Mr. Basketball and played at a D1 school also.

From what I've read, Jones was the dominant player on those Harlan teams, while Thomas scored over 3,000 points even though he was playing with another Division I signee (Cox) and several NAIA players (Jones, Lester and Blanton).

The competition for Thomas was much, much, much tougher with consolidations and the fact that black athletes weren't a factor in the 1940s.

Not to take anything away from Jones, but I'd at least put them in the same league.

Jones made All American three times sharing the ball with Alex Groza (all american 47, 48, 49), Ralph Beard (all american 47, 48, 49), Cliff Barker, Dale Barnstable, Kenny Rollins, Jack Tingle (all american 46), Joe Holland, Jack Parkinson (all american 46), etc.. Somehow, I don't think sharing the ball with Todd Cox, Nathan Blanton, and Casey Lester would have bothered Jones much.

Guys, Jones was NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR.

 

 

In 1945.

In 1945.

Your right. Jones would be 80 years old by now. So he may not be the best to come out of Harlan anymore.

I don't know how I found myself arguing against Wah Wah Jones. I'm usually on the other side, pointing out he's one of the best ever in Kentucky. I didn't agree with the "not even close" part.

It was a different game in the 1940s (very few big schools and no black players). If someone from a Class A school in eastern Kentucky can lead a team to the state semifinals in 1995 and win Mr. Basketball and sign with a Division I school and play in the Final Four he deserves to be mentioned in the same league.

Your probably right. But you have to remember Jones was All American three times, won an Olympic Gold medal and played in the NBA also.

Your probably right. But you have to remember Jones was All American three times, won an Olympic Gold medal and played in the NBA also.

 

I agree I am not saying he was not the most celebrated player or even the best player, I am saying Charles belongs there with him. I may be mistaken, but isn't Wah Wah the only player to have his basketball number in the rafters and the football field, or I may be thinking of someone else.

Jones made All American three times sharing the ball with Alex Groza (all american 47, 48, 49), Ralph Beard (all american 47, 48, 49), Cliff Barker, Dale Barnstable, Kenny Rollins, Jack Tingle (all american 46), Joe Holland, Jack Parkinson (all american 46), etc.. Somehow, I don't think sharing the ball with Todd Cox, Nathan Blanton, and Casey Lester would have bothered Jones much.

 

 

I could have been an all american playing on that team. :sssh: I am just kidding. That was a great team back then though.

Generals Soldier I have nothing against Mike Scott but he could not hold up to Steve Skaggs. If Steve was 6'11 he would have been in the NBA an anyone from the 16th that saw hem play would have to agree. Steve would probably have to be on the all-time 16 region team

Generals Soldier I have nothing against Mike Scott but he could not hold up to Steve Skaggs. If Steve was 6'11 he would have been in the NBA an anyone from the 16th that saw hem play would have to agree. Steve would probably have to be on the all-time 16 region team

 

I was contesting Skaggs and his playing ability, I just said that Scott has to be considered

Generals Soldier I have nothing against Mike Scott but he could not hold up to Steve Skaggs. If Steve was 6'11 he would have been in the NBA an anyone from the 16th that saw hem play would have to agree. Steve would probably have to be on the all-time 16 region team

I agree on not putting Scott down and I also agree 100% with you on S. Scaggs, he was an absolute force and dominated when he played at GCHS. I would also probably haved to put him on an all time 16th region squad. hey maybe we can open a thread up on that?? Hmmmmm:D

Not even close. Thomas was a good one but Jones:

 

* Set a national high school scoring record, scoring more than 2700 points during a period when teams scored about 40 points a game.

* Was selected the "Most Outstanding Player in the NATION".

* Lead his Harlan team to two state championship games, winning one.

 

While Thomas was probably the second best at Harlan, his accomplishments don't compare to Jones'.

Jones is in a class all by himself in the entire 13th Region, with Ritchie Farmer being the closest to being in the ballpark with him. Charles Thomas, however is probably one of the top 6 or 8 players ever in the 13th Region, and possibly top 5.

 

Wah Wah Jones - Harlan

Ritchie Farmer - Clay County

Phil cox - Cawood

Nick Sanford - Cawood

Charles Thomas - Harlan

Could Cox have ended up in the NBA? if you watched them all three play then i will agree with you i only had pleasure to watch Hubbs in person and watch a few game films of the other 2, but for them to be this much better than Hubbs they must have been un-believable because Hubbs was a monster of the offensive side of the ball.

Hubbs was not close to being in the same league with Cox or Sanford. Look at the long term results (Cox - all-time leading scorer at Vandy) (Sanford - 4 time NAIA All American and averaged 30 points a game for 4 straight years) WOW, I mean those 2 guys could really play the game. Sanford was drafted in the 2nd round of the cba draft also.

So Blake Hubbs is not even mentioned? Even though he did not end up at a college he does hold the scoring title at cawood.

I think Kenny Baxter was the best I ever saw at Evarts, but I didnt see Hicks. Also, any discussion about the best of all time at Cumberland would probably have to start with a fella by the name of (Mike Granata) played back in the early to mid 60's and is somewhat of a legend in C-town. Another player that would deserve some mention as one of the best players from Cumberland would be one of their current coaches ( Derrick Akal) an unbelievable athlete and an excellent High School and college Player at Tennessee Wesleyan.