King of the Bluegrass

Fairdale won it in 1990 in Freedom Hall…Jermaine Brown and Maurice Morris were juniors and Carlos Turner was a sophomore. Starters Tony Wheat, Terry Jenkins and sixth man Tyran Scroggins were the only seniors. The next year they one the State Champions again. Fairdale is the only school to win it Back-to-Back in Lexington and Louisville. Also, only one school has won the King of the Bluegrass, LIT and Sweet Sixteen in the same school year. Do you know who that is?

We talked to Bullitt East. We are loyal to our coaches and teams. They (Bullitt East) came to the KOB when they "were loaded"…therefore we offered them a spot out of loyalty, they didn't have a coach at the time and felt it would be best to let the new coach decide where he wanted to play. We (Fairdale and the KOB) have nothing but respect for BE. I assure you they will be back in the near future. We have always been loyal to those who chose the KOB over other National Tournaments. We also help teams get in tournaments after Christmas.

The KOB would love to have Indiana schools. This has been our wish for 36 years. Indiana schools can play one game across the river but NO TOURNAMENTS.

December 16-21, 2016 Fairdale High School Lexington Dunbar Covington Catholic Cooper Bowling Green Christain Co. Franklin Simpson North Hardin Ballard Trinity Doss Fairdale Fern Creek Berkmar - Lilburn, Georgia St. Rita - Chicago, IL Lee - Huntsville, AL Allatoona - Ackworth, GA

Both Cooper and Covington Catholic will be in the 2016 King of the Bluegrass, December 16-21, 2016 at Fairdale High School. They will be in opposite brackets.

Yes, the KHSAA provides all teams a hotel. I know that Lexington Dunbar chose NOT to stay in their hotel provided by the KHSAA this year. In our situation, with bussing, it was important to keep everyone together. First of all this was/is a great part of the State Tournament experience. For Fairdale we bought food and served breakfast at the hotel. You can control their schedule…curfew, practice, shoot-arounds, film time, meals, attending games on days off and most of all their visitors.. We even had a policeman stay with us. Rule #1…if you have visitors (during allowed time) the door to your room must be left open. We wouldn't do it any other way.

When Fairdale won Back-to-Back in 1990 and 1991 it cost us over $5000. In 1994 every time we won a game it cost us $936…we won the State Champinship. Back then they paid for five rooms…that's for players, coaches and staff. They gave you $10 a day for 15 people. We only put two players in a room for our 10 best players. The head coach and every assistant coach had a single room for his family. Managers were put four to a room. Our cheerleaders stayed home because we were playing in Freedom Hall. In Lexington they stayed in a different hotel. You could go to the tournamnet the day before you played…after that, if you lost your expenses were cut off the next morning. BUT…winning the state was worth every penny we spent.

I have already invited them to the 2017 King of the Bluegrass. Coach Drury is a very special friend and coach.

Congratulations Tyler…the King of the Bluegrass thanks you and Bullitt East High School for bringing your talent to our tournament. You will be an awesome addition to the Cards.

Indiana University commit Aljami Durham from Lilburn, Georgia Berkmar High School will also be showcased in the 2016 King of the Bluegrass. He will play on December 17, 2016. Tournament dates December 16-21, 2016. All 28 games at Fairdale High School.

Next years Forcht Bank King of the Bluegrass will feature: Hollingsworth Von Handorff Sloan Lovan Taylor Sebree and many others

Two more State Champions come out of the 2015 King of the Bluegrass. Congratulations to Paul Laurence Dunbar (KY) and Brentwood Academy - Division II AA (TN)

Apollo should be the #1 team in Kentucky today…and probably would have been if Wright, Moss and Young had stay together. I said it when they left Apollo and I got critized…now bad outside influences have taken it's toll on three great kids. With the state of high school basketball in this state this year (it doesn't look much better next year) Apollo would probably be the favorite to win the Sweet Sixteen this year…and Eli Wright would have had a great chance to be Mr. Basketball. With coaching being able to watch players on the internet right from thier office with the latest technology, they will be found…and observed and recruited. All three of these young men have transferred from the school that they transferred to from Apollo - Wright to Apollo to IMG to 22 ft…Moss - Apollo to 22 ft…back to ????? Apollo, Young - Apollo to Hunington Prep to ?????. Now, where are the people that talked them in to leaving Apollo. I would guess they are no where to be found. My advise to young players is STAY PUT and don't listen to outside influences that are more interested in their egos than your well being. If you can play….coaches will fing you.

Three games one day

4:30 - DeSales vs Bullitt Central 6:00 - Fairdale vs Marion Co. 7:30 - Male vs Newport All 3 games at Fairdale High School - $6.00

Fairdale gets a win in first rd of Sunshine Classic 69-60 over South Doyle. Play tomorrow at 1:30

3:00 Owen Co. - Carson Williams is a MUST SEE vs Ballard / CONSOLATION WINNER 4:30 Lexington Dunbar vs Evanston Township (IL) 5th PLACE 6:00 Bullitt East vs North Hardin 3rd & 4th PLACE 7:30 Louisville Trinity vs Nashville Brentwood Academy 2015 CHAMPIONSHIP BOTH UNDEFEATED, PLAY UPTEMPO, A LOT OF GREAT 3'S, TREMENDIOUS "D", TWO GREAT COACHES WITH DISICIPLINED TEAMS I saw some of the greatest TEAM basketball and 3 point shooting I have seen in years. Darius Garland, just a sophomore, Top 10 in 2018 class and highly recruited by UL and many others…a BIG TIME POINT GUARD…5 STAR. Just a few of the colleges represented this week. UL - two assistants + Coach Pitino Texas - Daren Horn Xavier - Head Coach Chris Mack Western Kentucky Morehead Eastern Kentucky Murray Vandy Northern Kentucky Centre Kentucky Weslyn Bellarmine Rend Lake Matlow State Thomas Moore and many more.

4:30 PM Gainesville ,(GA) vs Nashville Brentwood Academy 6:00 PM Bullitt East vs Waggener 7:30 PM Taylor Co. vs Louisville Central 9:00 PM Miami Senior (UK recruit) vs Evanston Township, (IL) (UL recruit) TOMORROW King of the Bluegrass Overtime ONE GAME Paul VI Catholic High School - Fairfax, VA - UL signee V. J. King vs North Bullitt 4:00 PM Gates open at 3:00 PM Tickets $10 visit kingofthebluegrass.com for all KOB information and updates

Thanks to all the great teams, coaches and you basketballolics who come to the King of the Bluegrass. Just off exit 8 of the Gene Snyder. Doors openat 3:00 PM. Four games tomorrow night…4:30, 6:00, 7:30. 9:00

Undefeated North Bullitt replaced Bryan Station

Regular updates on kingofthebluegrass.com

Forcht Bank King of the Bluegrass Holiday Classic starts Friday December 18th at Fairdale High School. 12 Kentucky Teams, four out-of-state teams…all with big time players. Kentucky recruit 7'0" Junior Zack Brown and many other highly ranked players from Illinois, Georgia and Tennessee + Kentucky's top players which includes Quentin Goodin and Carson Williams. check our website for games and times. 28 games, 5 days, 4:30, 6:00, 7:30, 9:00. We statr at 3:00 on Championship day at 3:00 with Championship Game at 7:30. KING OF THE BLUEGRASS Forcht Bank King of the Bluegrass OVERTIME because Bryan Station has two of thier top 3 players out until late January or Februaru they have requested to be replaced. We are proud to announce that North Bullitt, a big surprise this season, will replace them. North Bullitt is very well coached…shoot the lights out of, especially the 3's. They are extremely quick and after seeing them in action I was very impressed with them. Please don't judge them from thier past history…as of today they are 3 - 0 and putting up some big numbers. Paul VI has two Division I players. V. J. King has comitted to Louisville and will be the feature player. They also have a Corey Managualt who signed with Pittsburg. December 20, 2015 - Fairdale High School - 4:00 PM - $10. Doors open at 3:00 PM

King of the Bluegrass OVERTIME because Bryan Station has two of thier top 3 players out until late January or Februaru they have requested to be replaced. We are proud to announce that North Bullitt, a big surprise this season, will replace them. North Bullitt is very well coached…shoot the lights out of, especially the 3's. They are extremely quick and after seeing them in action I was very impressed with them. Please don't judge them from thier past history…as of today they are 3 - 0 and putting up some big numbers. Paul VI has two Division I players. V. J. King has comitted to Louisville and will be the feature player. They also have a Corey Managualt who signed with Pittsburg. December 20, 2015 - Fairdale High School - 4:00 PM - $10. Doors open at 3:00 PM

The community of Fairdale puts this on…99% volunteers. Days 3 and 4 games in both gyms, one entrance, one price $8.00 11 of top 18 in KY with Big time out of state teams.

28 games…5 days and they DON"T play at 8, 9, 10, ……. am…games are 4:30, 6:00, 7:30, 9:00…on the last day they start at 3:00, 4:30, 6:00 and Championship at 7:30.