King Kelly Coleman Kentucky's Greatest Basketball Legend
Basketball is a sport that has captured the hearts of Americans all across the country, but nowhere is it loved more than in Kentucky. The Bluegrass State is home to some of the greatest basketball players of all time, and at the top of that list is King Kelly Coleman.
Early Life and High School Career
Coleman was born in Edmonton, Kentucky in 1932. He grew up in a family of eight children, and basketball was always a part of his life. He started playing in elementary school, and by the time he was in high school, he was already a standout player.
Coleman attended Edmonton High School, where he quickly became a local legend. In his junior year, he led his team to the Kentucky High School State Championship, averaging an incredible 46 points per game in the tournament. In his senior year, he repeated the feat, leading his team to another State Championship and averaging 54 points per game in the tournament.
College Career
After graduating from high school, Coleman received numerous scholarship offers from colleges across the country, but he chose to stay close to home and play for the University of Kentucky. At the time, Kentucky was one of the most dominant college basketball programs in the country, and Coleman was expected to continue that tradition.
Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. Coleman clashed with Kentucky head coach Adolph Rupp, who favored a slow, methodical style of play that didn't suit Coleman's fast-paced, run-and-gun style. Despite his incredible talent, Coleman played in only 27 games over two seasons at Kentucky, averaging just 5.4 points per game.
Professional Career and Legacy
After leaving Kentucky, Coleman played for several different professional teams, including the Harlem Globetrotters and the Phillips 66ers. He also played for several semi-professional teams in Kentucky and Tennessee, where he continued to dominate the competition.
Despite his limited college career, Coleman is still widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players in Kentucky history. His high school scoring records still stand to this day, and he was inducted into the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. In 2000, he was also inducted into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame.
Throughout his life, Coleman continued to be involved in basketball. He coached and mentored young players, and he was a frequent presence at high school and college games across Kentucky. He passed away in 2007, but his legacy lives on as one of the greatest players not only in Kentucky, but in all of basketball history.
Conclusion
King Kelly Coleman is a true legend of Kentucky basketball. He may not have achieved the same level of success in college as he did in high school, but his talent and determination still made him one of the greatest players of all time. His legacy continues to inspire young basketball players across the state, and his name will always be synonymous with the sport in Kentucky.