Inductees

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.

Flap Gap High School
1952-1957
Known as ‘The Horse’ for his formidable size, and physical play, Charlie Osborne is another one of the great basketball players from the mountains of Kentucky. He scored 3,647 career points and remains 2nd all-time in the record books. Known for his inside play and uncanny ability to score in traffic, his 85% free throw shooting accuracy added to his scoring proficiency. He led the Flat Gap Greyhounds to 60 victories over the 1956 and 1957 seasons while garnering All-State honors.

Mason County High School
2002-2004

Scoring 252 points in 10 state tournament games, 2003 and 2004, and maintaining a record made 17 three-pointers in the 2003 state tournament has kept Chris at the top of the record books. Helping his Royals to the KHSAA State Championship in 2003, he was also named the tournament Most Valuable Player. Scoring 2763 points in his high school career, Chris was named Kentucky Mr. Basketball in 2004. He also received accolades as the Gatorade Player of the Year, and Associated Press Player of the Year. All-State Tournament Team 2002, 2003, and 2004.

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.

Caverna High School
1967

Clarence Glover was a sleeping giant who rose out of the Western Kentucky farmlands to dominate the 5th region in the 1966 and 1967 seasons.  At 6’8”, Clarence was a mobile athletic force on the court.  He led the Caverna Colonels to consecutive 5th region title games in both 1966 and 1967 only to be denied state tournament berths in close game losses.  A two time All-State selection, Clarence would further his career at WKU where his Hilltopper teams became legendary, reaching the NCAA Final Four in 1971.

Horse Cave High School
1945

Clarence Wilson was a premier player in the Kentucky Athletic League rom 1942-1945, leading Horse Cave to a 65-1 record and two state titles. The Tigers under the tutelage of Coach Stone Thomas were also national runner-ups 1945. Clarence would go on to a distinguished career at Tennessee A/I before choosing to become a member of the Harlem Globetrotters, choosing basketball over baseball for his professional career. He was a Globetrotter from 1949-1964, the longest tenure of any Trotter of his time. Clarence Wilson and the Horse Cave Tigers story would require a movie to accurately depict their greatness. A Kentucky “treasure”, the Hall of Fame welcomes to your new team!

Campbellsville High School, Taylor County High School
1959-1963

From humble beginnings on a Taylor County tenant farm, Clem Haskins earned his way to basketball glory. With dignity and class throughout his life, Clem proved to be a true pioneer who – along the way – opened doors for others of his race. Playing first for Campbellsville Durham in ’59 through ’61, Clem “The Gem” made the decision to transfer to all-white Taylor County High for his Junior and Senior seasons. Here, the big, quick, sharp-shooting guard led his team to the 1963 State ‘Sweet Sixteen” one generally regarded as an important pivotal point in our high school sport’s history. While at Taylor County, Clem earned “All-State” and “All-American” honors.

Following high school, Clem and Dwight Smith became the first two black players to don the “Hilltopper” jerseys of Western Kentucky. An outstanding professional career followed.

Warren Central High School
1979-1983

Playing for the Warren Central High Dragons from 1979 through 1983, Clemette Haskins proved to be one of the most versatile and talented athletes to ever grace the courts of the Commonwealth.

Her accumulated totals of 2,856 points, 1,731 rebounds, 857 assists and 533 steals proved her skills as both an individual and team player and earned Clemette many honors including “Kentucky Athlete of the Year” and Kentucky’s Miss Basketball” in 1983.

In this same 1983 season, she led her “Dragons” to a State Championship followed by being named as a “Kodak All-American.”

Owensboro High School
1945-1949

Playing for the Owensboro High “Red Devils” from 1945 through 1949, Cliff Hagan broke all his high school scoring records. With great quickness, strength and a picture-perfect hook shot, the 6″4″ center led his ’49 Red Devil Team to a State Championship win over Lexington Lafayette.

His title-game performance – including 41 points – is still regarded as one of the “Sweet Sixteen’s” greatest all-around performances.

Three times named as “First-Team All-State,” Cliff would go on to win an NCAA championship, an NBA Championship and then served as Athletics Director at his Alma-Mater – the University of Kentucky.

Louisville Southern High School
1976-1995

Coach Bill Brown was Kentucky Coach of the Year in 1987 when his Louisville Southern Trojans won Sweet 16 State Championship. His teams would win 447 games while losing only 116, and 84% winning percentage. Coach Brown’s teams won 20 or more games for 13 consecutive seasons from 1981-1993. They were district champions 14 times, regional winners 10 times, and captured the ultimate prize in 1987. He is a Louisville legend known not only for his coaching skills but for his professionalism and personality. Coach Bill Brown joins his 1989 Miss Basketball Player, Lisa Harrison, in the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame. He is now a member of the legendary Hall of Fame coaching staff.