If you know of a story of a basketball program that no one (or not many people) know about, tell us about it. If you know of a huge basketball star that others havent heard about, or a player that didnt amount to much after being hyped up, tell us about it. You can go back many years if you want.

I voted

Has anyone heard of Kentucky's best basketball player ever, and one of the best players to ever play high school basketball? His name is "King" Kelly Coleman. He was the first Kentucky Mr. Basketball and A. Rupp said he was the best high school player ever in the history of basketball. He holds many of the scoring records of Kentucky still today. My uncle and my family always talked about him since they are from the same area where KKC grew up and my uncle (who ended up playing at USC) played against him and was proud to hold him to 30 points. He scored over 4,000 points in his career and averaged 44 a game his senior year without the 3 point line. UK wanted him to play there but he signed with WVU to play with Jerry West. He ended up getting alot of money, a car, and other things from WVU boosters and Rupp was upset and turned it in to the NCAA. Kelly Coleman ended up not playing bball because he was a drunk and had poor grades and he went to Ohio to work, but then ended up going back to college to play at Kentucky Wesleyan. I think he averaged close to 30 points a game there and got drafted pretty high by the New York Knicks. The NBA didnt pay much then, so he ended up quiting the Knicks.

True Story:

Thad Matta told me that Anthony Davis was set to pick between Kentucky and Ohio State (he was an OSU lean) and Matta got a call from A. Davis's dad, who said "what can you give me" and Matta replied somthing to the tune of 'A spot and a chance to win a National Championship' to which Davis's dad replied "I'm talking money". When Matta refused Davis's dad said Calipari can offer us more and the rest is history!
'

Bobby Joe Hill, David Lattin, Willie Worsley, Willie Cager, Nevil Shed, Harry Flournoy, and Orsten Artis were pretty awesome guys. Many don't really ever talk about them though. David Lattin was a beast!

Tommy Finch, the son of Sidd Finch, is a 6'11" point guard for a small HS in Tibet. He is an American but his dad spent much time in Tibet and decided to raise Tommy there out of the scrutiny of the US media. He has the moves of a big man and has perfected Jabbar's sky hoot, has the quickness of a guard, and shoots nearly 64% from 3 land.

From what I hear from the so called overseas experts is that Tommy is looking at a collegiate program that also has a great yoga program.

A little bit of local flavor. Bobby Knight was offered the job locally to coach HS basketball at Celina High School, but he turned it down becuase the school also said he had to coach another sport in the school.

Staying with Bobby Knight....the old-time (early 90's) clip of Knight head-butting a player on the bench....Sherron Wilkerson....., he eventually left the team, had some girl issues or something and the coach at little NAIA Rio Grande helped him out and took him in. Sherron was in two of my classes at Rio....saw him a total of 4 times I think all quarter and he scored 28 ppg helping take the coach over 400 career wins.....but somehow things were done illegally and Sherron was ineligible and the coach was stripped of wins....putting him short of 400 in which he never got to.

Now back again to Rio Grande. Bevo Francis holds the all-time single game scoring record of 113 points, but Rio didn't have a gym back then and he scored the points in the old high school auditorium at Jackson....the same rims we played on in jr high....and the same rims that I scored my highest total ever (23)

ohiobucks1;1082387 wrote:True Story:

Thad Matta told me that Anthony Davis was set to pick between Kentucky and Ohio State (he was an OSU lean) and Matta got a call from A. Davis's dad, who said "what can you give me" and Matta replied somthing to the tune of 'A spot and a chance to win a National Championship' to which Davis's dad replied "I'm talking money". When Matta refused Davis's dad said Calipari can offer us more and the rest is history!
'

Believable, Cal is a cheat and fraud

Calipari is dirtier than Vegas

Calipari is fuckin awesome

Ironman92;1082488 wrote:Now back again to Rio Grande. Bevo Francis holds the all-time single game scoring record of 113 points, but Rio didn't have a gym back then and he scored the points in the old high school auditorium at Jackson....the same rims we played on in jr high....and the same rims that I scored my highest total ever (23)

Rims musta been extra large!!!

Good stories! I remember Wilkerson at IU and recall bevo francis.



Family friend of ours was a coach and maybe AD at Toledo Macomber. Was up there and he took us to the school and at a gym a kid was shooting hoops. This guy introduced us to him and insisted that we get the kids autograph who was only a frosh. He said the kid is gonna be in the NBA some day. Got the autograph, but threw it away before I got home probably.

I would say Jimmy Jackson ended up a pretty big star!

ohiobucks1;1082387 wrote:True Story:

Thad Matta told me that Anthony Davis was set to pick between Kentucky and Ohio State (he was an OSU lean) and Matta got a call from A. Davis's dad, who said "what can you give me" and Matta replied somthing to the tune of 'A spot and a chance to win a National Championship' to which Davis's dad replied "I'm talking money". When Matta refused Davis's dad said Calipari can offer us more and the rest is history!
'

Another true story: BJ Raymond was being recruited (and had in fact committed) by Xavier when Thad Matta was there. BJ asked Thad many times if he was leaving Xavier to which Matta assured him he was not. Within a week Matta was calling BJ asking him if he wanted to play for Ohio State to which BJ told him essentially to get bent.

I vaguely remember Jerry West was banging someone's Mom or something along those lines. I can't really recall the whole story maybe someone could fill in the blanks.

robj55;1082492 wrote:Believable, Cal is a cheat and fraud

Yeah, but AD's dad is also a POS

This is my favorite, and changed Indiana basketball forever.

Dan Dakich is an assistant for coach Knight. He gets word of a kid out of the Virgin Islands and he and his family want him at Indiana for coach Knight? Dakich requests tapes sent to Indiana? They arrive, Dakich neglects them initially then forgets and coachKnight never sees them.

Tim Duncan ends up at Wake Forest. Dakich never told Knight he knew about him before college lol.

athlete37;1082509 wrote:Another true story: BJ Raymond was being recruited (and had in fact committed) by Xavier when Thad Matta was there. BJ asked Thad many times if he was leaving Xavier to which Matta assured him he was not. Within a week Matta was calling BJ asking him if he wanted to play for Ohio State to which BJ told him essentially to get bent.

You follow up a story about potential NCAA violations with a story about a coach making a career changing decision?

NEAT!!!!

athlete37;1082509 wrote:Another true story: BJ Raymond was being recruited (and had in fact committed) by Xavier when Thad Matta was there. BJ asked Thad many times if he was leaving Xavier to which Matta assured him he was not. Within a week Matta was calling BJ asking him if he wanted to play for Ohio State to which BJ told him essentially to get bent.

lol--I can unequivocally say that this is NOT a true story! Sean Miller and Thad Matta remained in close contact after Matta left for OSU, and he even told the recruits (at least he told BJ) that they should honor their commitments as they wouldn't miss a beat with Miller at the helm. This came directly from BJ's mother, and no, I don't have a link.

vball10set;1084573 wrote:lol--I can unequivocally say that this is NOT a true story! Sean Miller and Thad Matta remained in close contact after Matta left for OSU, and he even told the recruits (at least he told BJ) that they should honor their commitments as they wouldn't miss a beat with Miller at the helm. This came directly from BJ's mother, and no, I don't have a link.

My source is closer than BJ's mother

athlete37;1084589 wrote:My source is closer than BJ's mother

yea, ok, but if you're implying it's BJ himself, he was pulling your leg....trust me

Laley23;1084514 wrote:This is my favorite, and changed Indiana basketball forever.

Dan Dakich is an assistant for coach Knight. He gets word of a kid out of the Virgin Islands and he and his family want him at Indiana for coach Knight? Dakich requests tapes sent to Indiana? They arrive, Dakich neglects them initially then forgets and coachKnight never sees them.

Tim Duncan ends up at Wake Forest. Dakich never told Knight he knew about him before college lol.

ou gotta be shittin me!!

What years was that...>I guess I could look it up...just wondering who IU had at the time.

I think some of their best teams was with Chaeney, black and white graham, Henderson, Bailey and crew. I think they win it all if Henderson hadnt gotten hurt as Ostertag was too much for Kansas that season.

thavoice;1084735 wrote:ou gotta be shittin me!!

What years was that...>I guess I could look it up...just wondering who IU had at the time.

I think some of their best teams was with Chaeney, black and white graham, Henderson, Bailey and crew. I think they win it all if Henderson hadnt gotten hurt as Ostertag was too much for Kansas that season.

I dont know the exact dates. But Dakich told the story to one of my classes in college. Said to this day, Coach Knight does not know. Knight even asked him a few times during Duncans career at Wake, "Why didnt we recruit this kid?" lol. Dakich said he probably would be a complete unknown in the coaching world (this was when he was coming back to IU from BG) had Knight found out.

Laley23;1084867 wrote:I dont know the exact dates. But Dakich told the story to one of my classes in college. Said to this day, Coach Knight does not know. Knight even asked him a few times during Duncans career at Wake, "Why didnt we recruit this kid?" lol. Dakich said he probably would be a complete unknown in the coaching world (this was when he was coming back to IU from BG) had Knight found out.

That is some funny shit. I have a buddy who worked around him at BGSU for a bit and should ask him.

I may go back to see what years that woulda been and who was on the IU squad at the time. I think TD woulda worked out very well at IU. Not flashy..just someone who shows up, plays hard, and goes home. Exactly what we liked.

thavoice;1084932 wrote:That is some funny shit. I have a buddy who worked around him at BGSU for a bit and should ask him.

I may go back to see what years that woulda been and who was on the IU squad at the time. I think TD woulda worked out very well at IU. Not flashy..just someone who shows up, plays hard, and goes home. Exactly what we liked.

I think Knight is quoted at one time as saying Tim Duncan is the best player he never coached. IE, he was pretty enamored by Timmay...