Rez

Not sure if you mean geographic region, or basketball region. Here are some of the better teams in the state by geographic region: Western Ky: Hopkinsville and Christian Co will probably be the top 2, and UHA has a couple really good players. Not as Western Ky: Bowling Green Louisville: Trinity Ballard Fern Creek maybe Eastern and Doss? Central Ky: Scott Co Lex. Dunbar South Central Pulaski Southwestern Not sure about Eastern Ky. As far as events go, maysvilleky nailed it. The KOB in Louisville is the top showcase of Kentucky High School Basketball (with a little out of state flavor as well) and the Marshall Co Hoopfest (Western Ky) is great for national h.s. talent. The All A Classic in Frankfort (central ky) featuring the best "Small School" from each region is usually a fun event. Of course most any postseason (District, Region, State) tournament is exciting.

I will definitely have to head that way some time in the future. I may hold off until they have the physical Hall.

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.

What about the High Schools each will be attending?

I think you're pretty accurate. I think Coleman is the first choice. His legend is just too big. I'll go with Griffith second. The other 2 are tougher, but I think I'll go with Unseld and Wah Wah Jones. I would also consider William Kean for the last spot if coaches are allowed.

Awesome info! Thanks for the help. It's bizarre that Hatton and Kuhn were just ignored for such a long time.

I had always read/heard that Kelly Coleman was the first ever Kentucky Mr Basketball in 1956, but over the last few months I've seen in multiple places that Vernon Hatton was the first Mr Basketball. I looked in a couple of Sweet 16 programs from a decade ago and they all start with Coleman. Wikipedia used to start with Coleman (and still says he was first in the article) but now has Hatton and Kuhn before him. Also, if I remember correctly from my last trip to Lafayette, they had banners for Lickert, Mullins and Minniefield as "Mr Basketball" and Hatton as "Player of the Year" Are Hatton and Kuhn really the first two Mr Basketball winners, and if so why are they just now being recognized as such after having been ignored for decades?

I think Clay Co 1988 fits. Won it the year before. Only lost 1 game during the regular season. Had the player of the year. Lost in the finals to a team who they had beaten the year before in the finals (who was led by one of the best players in history).

Male was the huge favorite that year having gone runner-up in 74 and champion in 75 and bringing back possibly the two best players in the state. They lost in the region though, so wouldn't fit this question.

I believe I read it was a prom conflict. I can't imagine how anyone would choose prom or graduation over playing in the state tennis tournament (especially the finals), but I guess everyone makes their own decisions.

It lists Carson Williams as the first 8th region player to win Mr. Basketball in over 40 years, but they actually had back to back winners in 1999 and 2000.

I would put T. Faulkner and Cook on the list, in place of Sloan and Edwards. I know very little about Lovan, so I don't know if Edwards should stay over him or not.

I say anyone who is defined as a transfer by the KHSAA guidelines should be allowed to practice with the new school team, travel with the team and possibly even play JV, but they cannot compete in a Varsity contest for a year. I would consider an exception for kids that move due to military parents being moved.

I agree that Scott Co is the favorite. I think Dunbar and LexCath are the next 2, probably in that order, but I could go either way with those two.

You're missing Male's 75 state title.

Agree. Without a doubt Bowling Green is top 5, and you could argue as high as number 2.

I'd add Terry Taylor (BG) to the early list of candidates.

You could argue that Dunbar's last 6 games were against the next 6 best teams in the state. I doubt any champion has ever had a tougher road.

The best team won it. PLD was fun to watch all year. On a side note, I thought the officiating in this game was really bad. Worst of the tournament.

Dunbar may have a 20 to 1 fan advantage. Doss has had the fewest fans for a team that's made the championship game in the 20 years I've been attending; maybe for any team in that time. Has there ever been a team with less? (Possibly UHA in 92?) That just seems crazy for a school less than 90 minutes away that has over 1000 kids and a decent basketball history. Does anyone remember how they traveled back in 1980?

I have believed all year that Dunbar was the best team in the state, and they have proven that to be true by winning 5 straight games against top 10 teams. With that said, it's no fluke that Doss is in the finals, as they have won 5 straight against top 25 teams, and I expect this to be a toughly contested game.

Yes, but Timmy Dalton scored the layup, while Chaffins was called for the foul. I have never seen a player control foul called on a player that didn't have the ball. Is that even possible?

I thought the same thing. From the opening tip I kept asking why they weren't pressing full court. When they did, South Laurel struggled to handle it. Also, i kept expecting Ware to get it going from 3, but he couldn't get any to fall. Christian Co didn't shoot the ball well at all.

I thought the officiating late in this game was very suspect. The worst was when T. Dalton hit a layup late in the game, but after he made it an official waved it off and called a foul on Chaffins. Really bizarre call. They didn't give Lawrence the points, and didn't give Doss free throws from being in the bonus.

They called the foul on Chaffins. Struggle for the officials.