Mountain Sports Hall of Fame meeting had plenty of dignitaries
WAYLAND – July 18, 2020 – Brendon D. Miller
If you are a high school sports fan in Eastern Kentucky, especially high school basketball, today was a “pinch-me” moment in Wayland. Wayland, a town of 289 (2000 census) is the home of the what is going to be the Mountain Sports Hall of Fame, and today hosted some basketball royalty.
Of course Wayland is the home of the legendary Wayland Wasps, and where the best prep player in the history of the Commonwealth, “King” Kelly Coleman rose to stardom and set records. King Kelly was 1956 Mr. Basketball and scored 4,337 points from 1953 to 1956, which was the national record at the time and remains the Kentucky High School scoring record. Coleman put on a display in the Sweet Sixteen that will never be matched scoring 185 points in four games (46.25 per) in leading the Wasps to a third place finish after being upset by eventual State Champion Carr Creek by a point in the Semi’s.
Mayor Jerry Fultz is spearheading the effort for the Hall, and has overseen the renovation of the storied Wayland Gymnasium. The Gym has been fully restored on the interior and is presently hosting daily play including the Legends Skills Academy. The balcony of the Gym will hold the items for the Hall of Fame.
The Skills Academy allows players can be tutored by former Mountain Standouts and Kentucky Mr. Basketballs J.R. VanHoose, Elisha Justice and Camron Justice.
The Mountain Sports Hall of Fame will recognize athletes from the Mountains, being the areas which constitute the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th Basketball Regions, in all sports.
I am honored to have been asked to be an ambassador for the 14th Region to promote the MSHOF and recommend persons for induction from the 14th. I was able to invite other ambassadors and formed the 14th Region Committee of Mike Holcomb, Kristie Combs, Deron Mays, and Manis Blair, to help in the task.
Today’s Attendees included:
Kentucky Mr. Basketball:
1980 – Ervin Stepp – Phelps High School
1988 – Richie Farmer – Clay County
1998 – J.R. VanHoose – Paintsville
2010 – Elisha Justice – Shelby Valley
Kentucky Miss Basketball:
1978 – Irene Moore – Breathitt County
2015 – Maci Morris – Bell County
2019 – Savannah Wheeler – Boyd County
It was a great day, and the MSHOF will be a great addition to document and commemorate the stories and impact of our Mountain Athletes!!!
