2023 Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees

Elizabethtown High School

Tim was the head coach of the Lady Panther basketball team from 1994 until 2016. In his 20 year tenure as the Lady Panthers head basketball coach, Tim Mudd had an 80.54% win rate with a record of 563-136. Sixteen of his seasons produced 20+ wins including five 30+ win seasons. Coach Mudd led his Lady Panthers to eighteen district championship titles between 1996 and 2016, eight 5th region championship titles in 1997, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015 and 2016, Kentucky high school state runner-ups in 1997, 2009, and 2014, and KHSAA Sweet 16 State Champions in 1998. Coach Mudd ranks as the 9th all-time winningest coach earning him the Courier Journal Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year in 1997 and 2009, the Lexington Herald Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year in 2009 and 2014, and the AP Coach of the Year in 2009 and 2015.

Columbia High School/Adair County High School

Coach John Burr became a legend among Kentucky high school basketball coaches over his 27 year tenure at Columbia and Adair County. His teams won 568 games and while losing 262. The Adair County Indians would challenge for Sweet 16 “glory” in 1954 and 1955, making it to the semi-finals in 1954 and the championship game in 1955 where they lost to Hazard High School. Coach Burr was named Courier Journal Coach of the Year in 1955 when his Indians finished with a 39-4 record. Coach John Burr was a fierce competitor whose teams exemplified his spirit. He is still considered by many the “Dean” of 5th region coaches.

Louisville Ballard High School

Chris Renner coached high school basketball in Kentucky for 27 years, including 24 years as the boys’ head coach at Louisville Ballard High school. He coached the girls’ team at Southeast Christian for two years and the boys’ team at Waggener one season before going to Ballard. He compiled a won-loss record of 703-186. His Bruins won nine seventh region titles and reached the KHSAA Sweet 16 tournament’s championship game five times, winning the grand title 1999. He was the seventh coach in state history to reach 700 wins and only the third from Louisville, joining Dale Mabrey of Pleasure Ridge Park and the late William Kean of Louisville Central. Coach Renner retired after the 2021-22 basketball season.

Glasgow Ralph Bunche High School

Charles Hunter earned the nickname “Big Game” at Oklahoma University, but he was a “big game” player from the beginning. He led Glasgow Ralph Bunche High School to the fifth region championship and a trip to the Sweet 16 State Tournament in his junior year. Charles was the leading scorer in the fifth region in his junior and senior year and was named to the 1961 All-State Team. He was nominated as a High School All-American and named to the Kentucky All-Stars where he was selected “Star of Stars” in both games vs. Indiana. After graduating from high school in 1962, college offers poured in, including one to become the first African American recruited to play basketball at the University of Louisville and Vanderbilt University. Charles opted to go to Oklahoma City University to play for legendary Coach Abe Lemons.

Princeton Dotson High School

Greg began his basketball career at Princeton Dotson High School along with his brother Dwight. They would lead Dotson to the Sweet 16 in 1964. Brother Dwight moved on to Western Kentucky University while Greg’s school, Princeton Dotson merged into Caldwell County, a new consolidated high school in the second region. Greg’s senior year at Caldwell County was phenomenal. He averaged 16 points per game, had a school record 36 rebound game vs. Madisonville Rosenwald and led his Cubs to the Sweet 16 where he was named to the All-Tournament Team. After graduation, Greg joined Dwight at WKU. Greg’s career there garnered him two OVC titles and NCAA berths, two All-OVC Team selections and an eight year NBA career. He played on the 1971 Milwaukee Bucks NBA championship team. He is the only Caldwell County player to have his jersey retired. Greg Smith joins his brother Dwight as the only brothers to be inducted into the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame.

Warren Central High School

Craig Eversoll was an all-round great player and a tremendous shooter. In 1982, his junior year, he would breathe new life into the Dragon program leading them to their first district tournament win in school history. They went on to win the district and regional championships sending the team to the KHSAA Sweet 16 for the first time. Craig duplicated his efforts in 1983 as Warren Central returned to the Sweet 16. He was named to the All-State Tournament Team and Courier Journal All-State Team in 1982 and 1983. His senior year Craig Eversoll averaged 29 points per game and set numerous school records. He would prove to be the “genesis” for the Warren Central basketball program that would evolve into a state power.

Louisville Shawnee High School

Ronnie Daniel was the floor general who orchestrated the1973 Shawnee High School Indians run to the Kentucky high school basketball Sweet 16 championship. He was selected to the All-State Tournament Team and Courier Journal All-State Team in 1973. In his senior year, Ronnie was selected as a McDonald’s All-American and played in their Derby Classic All-Star Game. He made the 6th region all-tournament team three consecutive years, a recognition that few have earned. Shawnee’s 1973 state championship run culminated with a victory over powerful Louisville Male High School led by Hall of Famer Wesley Cox. Daniel scored 30 points and dealt out eight assists in one of the great state championship game performances of all-time. He was a stellar guard who could score, defend, assist and lead. And lead the Indians he did, to the ultimate prize in Kentucky high school sports, the Sweet 16 championship.

Whitesburg High School

Brigette Combs led Whitesburg High School to three consecutive KHSAA Sweet Sixteen appearances. In 1983, during her senior season, she averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds per game and was named Kentucky Miss Basketball. During a standout career, Combs totaled 2,672 points, 1,920 rebounds and 585 steals as the Lady Yellow Jackets captured three straight region 14 titles and compiled a 99-8 record. Brigette was a two time, first team All-State selection. She was named All-America by KODAK, National Coaches Association and Milky Way. Brigette Combs was selected as one of the top 25 high school girls’ basketball players on the Kentucky All-Century Team. She starred at Western Kentucky University where the Lady Toppers had a Final Four appearance in 1986.

Phelps High School

During Ervin Stepp’s junior season in 1979 at Phelps High School, he averaged 47 points, eleven rebounds and five assists per game. His points per game average led the nation and broke the state record previously held by King Kelly Coleman. He amassed 1,275 that season, shot 60% from the field, 87% from the foul line and selected first team All-State. Stepp’s senior season shattered his previous records as he led the nation in scoring again with an average of 53.7 points per game along with ten rebounds and five assists per game. He had a high game of 75 points while his low game was 34 points. He also set the state record for the most free throws made in one season with 357, a mark that still stands and ranks second nationally. Ervin Stepp was named Mr. Basketball in 1980, selected to the Converse All-American team, named Kentucky Athlete of the Year by the Hertz Corp. and was chosen First Team All-State in every poll.

Louisville Western School

Patty Jo Hedges-Ward was one of the most dynamic point guards to play basketball in the state of Kentucky. She was a fan favorite with her speed and incredible ball handling ability. Hedges-Ward was an All-State selection in 1979 while averaging 15.7 points per game, six assists and six steals. Patty Jo holds the all-time assist and steals record for Louisville Western High School. Currently, the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches presents the “Patty Jo Hedges Ultimate Teammate Award” each year in her honor to the girl who exemplifies her selfless style of play. She started at point guard for the University of Kentucky where she became a 1,000 point scorer and an all-time assist leader. Patty Jo played professionally and also played for USA Basketball where she won a gold medal at the 1983 Pan-American Games.

Louisville Iroquois High School

A’dia Mathies finished her Louisville Iroquois High School career as the school’s most decorated player. A’dia was a varsity starter beginning in the sixth grade. Mathies totaled 3,113 points and 2, 583 rebounds in her high school career. She averaged a double double her senior season scoring 17.1 points per game while pulling down 11.4 rebounds. A’dia led Iroquois to three Sweet 16 appearances in 2006, 2007 and 2009. In 2009, the Raiders had a 33-1 record and claimed the Sweet 16 title. She was named Courier Journal First Team All-State in 2007, 2008 and 2009. She was selected as a member of the All-State Tournament Team in 2006, 2007 and 2009 and culminated her high school career by being chosen Miss Basketball in 2009. A’dia Mathies played college basketball at the University of Kentucky where she was SEC Player of the Year her junior and senior seasons and was recently named to the All-Time SEC Women’s Team. She was a first round draft pick by the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA.

Louisville Ballard High School

Jerry Eaves, a 6’4” point guard, is one of the few Kentuckians to ever play on both a state championship team , Ballard High School 1977, and a national championship team, University of Louisville 1980. He was a two time Courier Journal All Stater in 1977 and 1978, 1977 Sweet 16 All-Tournament Team member and 1978 Parade All-American before taking his game to the University of Louisville. He scored 1,581 career points at Ballard, 1,250 career points at U of L and 1,200 career points in the NBA. Jerry was the point guard for arguably the best team in Kentucky high school history, the Ballard Bruins of 1977. Jerry Eaves joins Ballard teammates Lee Raker and Jeff Lamp in the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame.

Louisville Shawnee High School

The 1973 Kentucky high school basketball season was dominated by the Shawnee Indians with a 34-2 record and a Sweet 16 championship. The Indians went on the war path early and never let up with warrior guards Wayne Golden and Ronnie Daniel leading the way. Golden, a scoring machine, averaged 30+ points per game while setting a Jefferson County single game scoring record with an 84 point game. Wayne earned All-State, All-State Tournament and All-American honors in 1973, his senior year. He scored 26 points in the state championship game where Shawnee won over powerful Louisville Male. Wayne Golden and his running mate, Ronnie Daniel, may arguably have been the best guard combo in state history. He went on to a stellar college career at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, becoming an All-American as a member of the 1977 Division II National Championship team.

Marshall County High School

A graduate of Marshall County High School, Carol was Kentucky’s Miss Basketball in 1984, leading the Lady Marshals to an undefeated championship season.  She also played on the 1982 state championship team and in three seasons gathered numerous honors and awards.  She was the Region 1 Player of the Year in 1983 and 1984, made All-State Tournament Team in 1983 and 1984 and was MVP of the 1984 State Tournament.  Carol led the Lady Marshals in rebounding in 1983 and 1984, scored 1,564 points in her career and was named a National High School Girls Basketball All-American in 1984.  She went on to play for Paducah Community College making All-Conference teams in 1985 and 1986.  She was 1986 PCC Most Valuable Player.