Andy Raaker Highlands 1996

He went the manager route at UK. He was the head equipment guy for the Lexington Horesmen for a couple of years, and the equipment manager for UK's baseball team for a season or two. (You can see him in those clips on ESPN, where Roger Clemens is pitching in front of the UK baseball team)

Jimmy Baughman of Danville ('83 to '86). 3 time All-State running back.

Great back that never played in college. Reasons will remain unspoken.

 

Ronnie Chenault of Danville as well. Ronnie was an All-State DB on the '84 state champs. He had height and speed and could hit as well as anyone I saw on those Danville teams in the 80's. He chose not to go to college but he would have been a fine prospect for at least a D 1AA team.

 

 

Mark Overstreet was a great OT for Boyle in the mid 70's. He started all 3 years ('75 to '77) for the Rebels and made All-State his Senior year. He could have gone to college but the summer after his Senior year he was killed in a tragic boating accident on Lake Cumberland.

 

 

As to Fletcher from Somerset (and Wayne County) I thought he played for Union at least one or two years. He was a very good RB for the Cardinals and then for Briar Jumpers.

Marty Regan (as far as I know, which isn't very far ) never went to college. I will not post any reasons, because I am unsure, I have my guesses though.

 

Did Shawn Robbins go to college?

 

RR, message me and I'll tell you what I know of that situation.

 

Another couple from Rockcastle County from when I was in high school are Jon Cromer and Jason Brown. Jason would have been a steal for any small college due to his speed. He was and probably still is the fastest white guy I've ever watched. His football career ended when we were at Somerset and he went down with a severe concussion...I still remember him collapsing to the ground after myself and someone else helped him off the field....he was then taken to a hospital and I heard (and this is just a rumor) that he almost died a couple times on the way to the hospital but the EMT staff did a great job in keeping him alive....not sure what he's doing now though.

 

As far as Jon, he went to EKU and decided not to play after the first few practices because of the long line of running backs in front of him.

 

Both guys were seniors when I was and that season, they were both 1000 yard rushers and for the first part of the seaosn, they were both in the backfield for the majority of the time and that was a fun time to watch the Rockets play.

RR, message me and I'll tell you what I know of that situation.

 

Another couple from Rockcastle County from when I was in high school are Jon Cromer and Jason Brown. Jason would have been a steal for any small college due to his speed. He was and probably still is the fastest white guy I've ever watched. His football career ended when we were at Somerset and he went down with a severe concussion...I still remember him collapsing to the ground after myself and someone else helped him off the field....he was then taken to a hospital and I heard (and this is just a rumor) that he almost died a couple times on the way to the hospital but the EMT staff did a great job in keeping him alive....not sure what he's doing now though.

 

As far as Jon, he went to EKU and decided not to play after the first few practices because of the long line of running backs in front of him.

 

Both guys were seniors when I was and that season, they were both 1000 yard rushers and for the first part of the seaosn, they were both in the backfield for the majority of the time and that was a fun time to watch the Rockets play.

I'd like to think we would've won state that year too. That was the best backfield duo at the Rock based on size and speed alone. Jon was a bruiser and Jason was the speedster. By the way that was Larry LaFevers that helped you help him off. I remember it like it was yesterday.

Lee Abshire

Fred Dean

Nick Meadows

Eric Cantrell

That's the four best from Lawrence County that I can think of right off my head. Those first three are three of the best high school players that I've ever seen in Eastern KY.

Fred went on and was the only high school player to start for Hunnington's Semi Pro team before he broke his neck.

Brad Tiller was the fastest I've seen not go on and play college but he went the baseball route. He was drafted by the Indians.

 

Nick went to G-town but had a car wreck I think.

Jimmy Baughman of Danville ('83 to '86). 3 time All-State running back.

Great back that never played in college. Reasons will remain unspoken.

 

Ronnie Chenault of Danville as well. Ronnie was an All-State DB on the '84 state champs. He had height and speed and could hit as well as anyone I saw on those Danville teams in the 80's. He chose not to go to college but he would have been a fine prospect for at least a D 1AA team.

 

 

 

A few more from the late 80's early 90's at Danville. Day Day Walker. Played in the same backfield as Donnie Redd, and may have been an all around better back.

Jeremy Andrews, DL, signed with Eastern KY, but came home in the first week of camp.

Kinte Bess. Possibly the best "football" player to play at Danville. Could run and hit and was nasty on the field.

Ben Kinley. Anice RB that could have played somewhere.

Todd Harris. Signed with Morehead and ended up going into the military

Kelvin Kinley. Along the same lines of Kinte Bess. Could run and hit and was a great football player.

There are a few more, but these are the ones who really missed out on being good collegiate football players IMO.

Craig "Nails" Cooper from SK. He went to college but not for football, one of the biggest hitters for a small man that I've seen.

How about Quenton Henson from Lynn Camp? Did he ever go anywhere? What happened to him. Dude was a beast coming out of the backfield, especially at the single A level.

 

Yes, Quenton was a beast had some great offers. But didn't meet all the requirement's and choose not to go to a JUCO which was offered to him by Alabama(San Fransisco city)it was to far away for him. He lives in Lexington and works 2 jobs last time I talked to him.

Doug Howard from Belfry's two state championship teams may have been one of the best HS players I have ever seen.

I'd like to think we would've won state that year too. That was the best backfield duo at the Rock based on size and speed alone. Jon was a bruiser and Jason was the speedster. By the way that was Larry LaFevers that helped you help him off. I remember it like it was yesterday.

 

I'll never forget it either. I would have posted Larry's name but didn't want to butcher his last name....lol. That was one of the scariest nights I've ever had as a manager for the football team. I didn't slep a wink due to not knowing the extent of the injuries.

Nick went to G-town but had a car wreck I think.

 

Wow you are right on. I totally forgot about him wrecking. He was one heck of a high school RB! Mike West did play college ball. He went to Marshall then transferred to a smaller school.

Marty Regan is a good call. He was one heck of a high school player too.

Jeff Duggins didn't keep playing but he was a tough QB.

Did Monin from E-Town play anywhere?

Wow you are right on. I totally forgot about him wrecking. He was one heck of a high school RB! Mike West did play college ball. He went to Marshall then transferred to a smaller school.

Marty Regan is a good call. He was one heck of a high school player too.

Jeff Duggins didn't keep playing but he was a tough QB.

Did Monin from E-Town play anywhere?

 

Monin was from Bardstown and I'm curious to know about him, too.

 

Speaking of E-Town, what about the Deaderick kid that went to Auburn the WRs from their '03 runnerup team, Jerry Turner & A.J. French.

 

The kid from Highlands who laid a monster hit during the '05 KY/TN All-Star game, Mike ?????, and it wasn't Mike Mitchell.

 

Tashawm McBroom of Trinity

 

The RB from Henderson Co. who blew his knee out before his senior year.

 

What happened with their football careers?

Joe Casey from Paducah Tilghman: Didn't make it in college because of a run in with academics. Casey was unreal but really never had a chance due to his academics. He left hs after his senior football season and planned to try and play at a JUCO but that never worked out.

 

Mike Bright from Mayfield and Terrell Starks from Mayfield were also great players. Some of you Beechnuts may recall this pair. For Starks, I think there was little adult guidence to help him in making choices. Bright suffered in academics that was largely the result of being dislexex.

Monin was from Bardstown and I'm curious to know about him, too.

 

Speaking of E-Town, what about the Deaderick kid that went to Auburn the WRs from their '03 runnerup team, Jerry Turner & A.J. French.

 

The kid from Highlands who laid a monster hit during the '05 KY/TN All-Star game, Mike ?????, and it wasn't Mike Mitchell.

 

Tashawm McBroom of Trinity

 

The RB from Henderson Co. who blew his knee out before his senior year.

 

What happened with their football careers?

 

Deaderick went to Alabama. He is still there.

Seems like I heard of French going somewhere, not sure about the other guy.

Obviously, Duncan went to UK and Todd went to Texas Tech and is going to go to Auburn now.

 

Not too sure on the other guys.

I think Josh Adkins and Thomas Tolliver have to be mentioned when talking about Racelands greats that did not go on to play college football. Adkins was a head hunter at free safety and was an absolutely fearless running back. Im almost 100% sure he led the Rams in TD's his junior and senior year. His reason for not playing college football was ligit though because he accepted a track scholarship from the University of Louisville. Unfortunately he did not stay at Louisville very long but from what I understand he is enjoying a nice career in the United States Air Force, which suits him well. As for Thomas Tolliver, who was IMO the single most explosive WR I have seen in a Raceland uniform, he continued his athletic career playing baseball for Transy. Tom was an outstanding 3-sport athlete for the Rams.