Two Lexington basketball all-time greats earn high school hall of fame honors
Julius Berry, Lexington’s all-time leading scorer as a member of the city’s original Dunbar High School and former Tates Creek High School boys coach Nolan Barger were announced Monday as two of 13 inductees into the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025.
Berry, who continued his playing career at Dayton and later became one of Lexington’s most influential public servants, died in 2001. He’s credited by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association for scoring 3,000 points in a career that officially began his sophomore year in 1957, the Bearcats’ first season as members of the KHSAA after desegregation. But spotty records at the time mean he likely scored far more.
Playing for Hall of Fame coach S.T. Roach, Berry led Dunbar to the Sweet 16 state tournament in 1958 and 1959 and was named to both the All-State and All-State Tournament teams each year. At one point Berry ranked as Kentucky’s fourth all-time leading scorer and although he’s slipped down the list over the years, Berry’s total remains the KHSAA’s base number for the chart.
Barger began his 28-year career at Tates Creek High School in 1972. He became known as the “Giant Killer” for his tournament wins against some of the state’s greatest teams. In Lexington’s 43rd District, arguably Kentucky’s toughest division, Barger averaged 19 wins per season.
Under Barger, the Commodores went 34-2 in 1991, claiming the 11th Region championship and reaching the Sweet 16 finals while led by all-state star and current Northern Kentucky University coach Darrin Horn. Tates Creek fell to defending champion Fairdale in that title game 67-63.
Barger also coached Dom Fucci, 1975’s Kentucky Mr. Basketball, who later went onto become the Commodores’ baseball coach.
When Tates Creek opened a completely new school in 2022, its new basketball gymnasium took the name of its old one — Nolan Barger Gymnasium.
The hall of fame induction ceremony is scheduled at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6 at, Elizabethtown’s Historic State Theater. Tickets are $25.00 each and can be purchased at gofan.co/event/3667201?schoolId=KY72725.
Induction into the KHSBHF is based on accomplishments and contributions made by players and coaches to Kentucky high school basketball. Since 2012, 181 individuals have been inducted into the KHSBHF. This year’s other inductees are:
▪ Coach John “Hop” Brown, West Carter (1978-2003). Brown won 514 games, six regional titles, and a Girls’ Sweet 16 state championship in 2000.
▪ Greg Buckner, University Heights (1994). Greg Buckner played on two state championship teams during his career at University Heights Academy, the Sweet 16 in 1992 and the All-A Classic state tournament in 1991.
▪ Brett Burrow, North Hardin (1982). As a 6-10 junior in 1981, Burrow led the North Hardin Trojans to their first regional title under Hall of Fame coach Ron Bevars. The following year, they were within a “second” of capturing the 1982 Sweet 16 title game, losing to Laurel County on a 50-foot game-winning shot by South Laurel’s Paul Andrews.
▪ Phil “Cookie” Grawemeyer, Manual (1952). Grawemeyer led the Crimsons to statewide basketball prominence in 1951 and 1952 and went on to the University of Kentucky where his jersey hangs in the rafters as a member of the Cats’ undefeated 1953-54 squad. Manual went 66-5 over those two high school seasons.
▪ Anthony Hickey, Christian County (2011). The 2011 Kentucky Mr. Basketball helped the Colonels claim the Boys’ Sweet 16 title and earned All State and all-Boys’ Sweet 16 honors before continuing his playing career at Louisiana State.
▪ Coach Hardin McLane, Elizabethtown Catholic (1958-1968). During his tenure, the Knights won more than 20 games each season and 76.7% of their games overall and made four Sweet 16 appearances (1961, 1965, 1967, 1968).
▪ Kim Mays Mills, Knox Central (1990). A varsity starter for the Panthers since seventh grade, Mills led the state in scoring as a senior with 41.6 points per game and earned Miss Basketball and All-America honors on top of all-state nods in 1988, 1989 and 1990. She continued her playing career at Eastern Kentucky.
▪ Jason Osborne, Male (1993). An extremely agile 6-9 athlete, Osborne led Male to the 1993 Sweet 16 semifinals and was named Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball in addition to all-America and all-state tournament team honors before continuing his playing career at Louisville.
▪ Coach Don Parson, Calhoun, Hopkins County, Madisonville (1960-1998). Parson followed an all-state playing career at Laurel County’s Lily High School and a college career at Western Kentucky under legendary coach Ed Diddle with a historic 38-year coaching career at three schools. He amassed 706 wins and seven region titles.
▪ Natalie Powers Payne, Apollo (1997). Credited with starting every game of a four-year varsity career, Powers Payne set eight school records, including 2,497 points and 560 assists, in helping the Eagles win three consecutive region titles (1995, 1996, 1997). She continued her playing career at Western Kentucky.
▪ Adrian “Odie” Smith, Farmington (1954). Adrian “Odie” Smith defied obstacles in his native Graves County and became an all-state player as a senior. He later blossomed into a starter for UK’s 1958 “Fiddlin’ Five” national champions, earned an Olympic gold medal and NBA All-Star Game MVP honors as a player for the Cincinnati Royals.
