Found 137 Matching Inductees
Henry Clay High School and Lexington Catholic
1984-1999
Coach Bob Tripure is the only girls’ coach in KHSAA history to win state titles at two different schools, Lexington Henry Clay in 1990 and Lexington Catholic in 1999. Along the way his teams won 8 consecutive regional titles at Henry Clay. His teams won 89% of their games over a 15 year career
(384-72). Bob Tripure was a loyal assistant to Hall of Fame boys’ basketball coach Al Prewitt before taking the Henry Clay girls’ basketball position.
Clay County High School
In 27 years as head coach of the Clay County “Tigers,” Bobby Keith led his teams to 767 victories. Along the way, he set a state record with 18 “Sweet Sixteen” appearances – seven of these consecutively from 1984 through 1990. In 1987 his “Tigers” took home the championship trophy by winning in front of 24,000 people in Rupp Arena.
He was two-time runner-up in ’85 and ’88 and from 1984 through ’93 his teams amassed an amazing total of 129 straight home-court victories.
Five times Coach Keith has been honored as the “Kentucky High School Coach of the Year”. He was named “Kentucky Coach of the Decade” for the 1980’s as well as being recognized as “National Coach of the Year” in his tenure as the Tiger’s head coach.
Daviess County High School
1954-1958
Bobby was named to the KHSAA All-Tournament team in 1957 and 1958. He also received recognition as a High School All-American in 1958. Scoring 103 points in the 1958 state tournament makes Bobby among the great scoring leaders in Sweet 16 history. He also received All-State team recognition in 1957 and 1958. He went on to have a great college career at Western Kentucky University under legendary Coach Ed Diddle.
Male High School
1973-1976
Bobby Turner made first team all-state in 1974, 1975, and 1976. A 6’4″ guard/forward, he was part of Male’s dynamic duo along with Hall of Fame teammate Darrell Griffith. Male won the state championship in 1975, and he was named to the all-tournament team. A great inside/outside player, Bobby’s tenacious rebounding provided Male the needed strength to win their championship.
Dunbar High
1961-1965
Recognized as the ‘Dunbar Kingpin’, ‘the spark’, and a ‘smooth passing southpaw’, Bobby was a strong team leader and competitor. His offensive punch and defensive leadership led the Bearcats to the 1963, 1964, and 1965 KHSAA State Tournaments. As a starter and player in 85 games, his scoring average was 18 points per game. Hall of Fame Coach S.T. Roach noted Washington as one of the finest guards ever to play at Dunbar, having the ability to shoot his famous jump shot from either hand. Receiving numerous awards, Bobby was also named to the Kentucky All-Stars and named to the 1965 Prep All-America basketball squad.
Owensboro High School
1957-1980
Watson was an All-State guard at Owensboro and returned to lead his alma mater to 14 regional championships and two state titles (1972, 1980) in 23 seasons. He had 537 career wins.
Adolph Rupp wasn’t sure if Bobby Watson was big enough to play basketball for the University of Kentucky, but it didn’t take long for the 5-foot-10 guard from Owensboro to prove to the legendary coach that he could play at that high level.
Watson, who died Jan. 31 at age 86, after a long bout with Alzheimer’s Disease, started at guard on UK’s NCAA championship team in 1951, and he was chosen on the first-team All-Southeastern Conference squad in 1951 and ’52. He was a long-shot artist.
“I had a scholarship offer from Alabama, and I took a visit there, but the coach didn’t come to see me much,” Watson once recalled. “Harry Lancaster (Rupp’s long-time assistant) told me I could walk on at UK and earn a scholarship.”
By the time Watson had reached the second semester of his freshman year, he had earned a scholarship and he was a starter in his last three seasons as a Wildcat. Watson was the fifth UK player in UK history to reach 1,000 points, scoring 1,001 in 96 games.
After college, Watson played basketball in the armed services and one year of pro ball with the Minneapolis Lakers before going to Henderson County High for one year. Then he began a 23-year career at Owensboro where he coached basketball and taught science, compiling a record of 539 wins and 169 losses.
The Red Devils, under Watson, won 18 district titles and 14 Third Region crowns They won two coveted KHSAA Sweet 16 championships in 1972 and 1980. He coached two Mr. Basketball winners, Randy Embry in 1961 and Jerry Thruston in 1980.
Watson also was a frequent visitor to the state tournament as a player.
“We played in it in 1947,” he said. “We finished third, losing to Maysville 56-41 in the semi-finals. We had a good team in ’48 with (Cliff) Hagan, but we lost to Maysville 55-45 in the quarter-finals. We thought we were good enough to win it, but we weren’t lucky enough.”
Hagan led Owensboro to the state crown in 1949, scoring a record-then 41 points in the final game against Lafayette. Hagan later joined Watson, 7-foot Bill Spivey and Frank Ramsey on UK’s ’51 national title team.
Watson was voted Kentucky’s Coach of The Year in 1980 and later was inducted into the Dawhares-KHSAA Hall of Fame, the Owensboro High Hall of Fame and the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.
Sacred Heart Academy
1976
An innovator, trailblazer, leader, pioneer, and mentor have been some of the words used to describe Coach Daugherty’s efforts in the promotion of girls athletics. Coaching basketball for over 40 years, she was coaching basketball long before it came back on the KHSAA scene in 1975. She was recognized as Coach of the Year in 1976, the same year her Sacred Heart Academy team won the state championship. Bunny was also the founder of the very prestigious LIT tournament which recognizes and brings in some of the best basketball team talent in the state.
Sacred Heart Academy
2002-2005
Carly Ormerod is in a select group of players who have twice won MVP honors at the state tournament and three consecutive state championships. She was named first team all-state in 2003, 2004, and 2005 and was selected Kentucky Miss Basketball in 2005. Carly was the ultimate team player who enhanced her teammates with her exceptional all-around game and leadership. She set a Sweet 16 performance standard for all to aspire.
Shelby County High School
1976-1979
A body that looked like it was chiseled out of granite, at 6’6” and 215 pounds, Charles’ physical stature was part of his success. He was a natural with a lot of talent, but his focus was always on the “team”. Leading the Shelby County Rockets to the 1978 state title, he will always be remembered for his late game heroics by making a last second shot in the championship game. What a great time for Charles as he had 82 points and 30 rebounds for the week of tournament play! He was named 1st team All-State in 1978 and 1979 and was selected to the All-State Tournament Team in 1978. Charles went on to a successful playing career at the University of Kentucky.
Harlan High School
1991-1995
The leading scorer in Harlan High School history, Charles Thomas, three time all-stater, brought back memories of former Harlan High School greats. Charles led the Green Dragons to a number one state ranking and Sweet 16 appearance in 1995. He was named to the All-State tournament team and solidified his high school career by winning the prestigious Mr. Basketball honor his senior year. The University of Minnesota signed Charles to a basketball scholarship where he continued his career.