Best Basketball Player ever in Arkansas High School?

[BigE_23]

Are you sure?  I'm pretty sure all are from the class of 92.

I've been wrong once or twice...I was only 11 at the time. 

[Qbackinman]

Gatorade National player of the year...Corliss Williamson

End of discussion.

So was Mitch Mustain in football.

[Qbackinman]

G - Dexter Reed.
G - Bennie Fuller.
C - Michael Cage.
F - Keith Lee.
F - Corliss Williamson.

Now I'll play anyone else's 5.

[#1 STUNNA]

james anderson is the best i have ever seen in person

[beasley]

Jimmy Dykes
Blake Eddins

[Jackrabbit Hog]

Have to throw the following names into the discussion:

Ron Brewer (Sr.)
Marvin Delph
Ricky Norton

[Fatty McGee]

Michael would've been the best Small Forward to ever play at Arkansas. It's a shame Pelphrey put so much weight on him & made him play the post. The kid's jumpshot & baseline game is as smooth as a baby laxative

Michael Jordan?  Michael Phelps?  Who is this strange Michael you speak of that was here during Pelphrey's tenure?

[Gor-Gor]

So was Mitch Mustain in football.

Dude, the question is who is the best HS BBall player from the state. Not who had the best career in basketball. Mustain deserved his POY award. He was a beast when it came to HIGH SCHOOL football.

[thirrdegreetusker]

Anyone on hear ever see Bennie Fuller play from 1968-1971? Just wondering, he owns a bunch of records in the state record book. Houston Nutt Sr. coached him and I have heard Houston talk about how good he was before.

Good high school player. He scored a bunch of points in high school, mainly because his school played in a very low classification. When he played in the Arkansas High School All-Star game, the players from bigger schools quickly figured out that he could only go to his right.

[tee1up2par]

I don't know who you are talking about, but Jamie Shepman (it's spelled differently, I know) was SICK.  She played at Van Cove and then went to Louisiana Tech.  She then transferred to OBU where she beat most of the men's team. 

You guys should have seen her crossing over some of the football players in intramurals.  I laughed until I cried.



Wendy Scholtens ( not shortens ) was an all-american at Southside FS. She went on to be an all-american at Vanderbilt. Definitely one of the best basketball players to come out of Arkansas. Had there been a WNBA and she so desired, she would have been a top pick. She dominated.

Better known as Big Bird.  Great Player.

[jseinfeld50]

G - Dexter Reed.
G - Bennie Fuller.
C - Michael Cage.
F - Keith Lee.
F - Corliss Williamson.

Now I'll play anyone else's 5.

Sorry to drudge up an old thread but I found this very interesting and informative.

I agree the above poster with 1,3,4, and 5. I would replace Bennie Fuller with Eddie Miles (NLR Scipio A. Jones High in the late 50's). He was a great all around player and his HS coach defensively demanding. Scipio played many of the top ranked teams in the country during his time which were usually in the South (MS, Nashville TN, LA, FL, Atlanta, etc).

I would have Willie Cutts as 6th man since this is best in HS. Bennie Fuller had the scoring stats but he could be limited or stopped by cutting him off and forcing him to go to his left. Also Fuller's competition was questionable.

[PORKULATOR]

T

Corliss Williamson

rated the #1 player in the country

this

I lived in Atkins then and it was fun playing ball at the Dam or The Hughes center and him playing all day. Every game. He lifted your game in pick up games so you can imagine how he raised up the level of the D-1 talent around him.

[cypert2]

I've seen a lot of hs bb. Keith Lee was the best by far.

[MedicHog]

Probably nobody here has ever heard of him but a guy named Tim Porter in the late 70s was as talented as any player who ever stepped on a basketball court in Arkansas.  He graduated high school in 1977 and was offered a scholarship at UofA by Eddie Sutton.  Tim had issues and the scholarship was pulled.  He was 6'2" and had a 42 inch vertical jump and could shoot lights out. It's really a shame that he had too many "demons" during his late teens or he could have played college basketball anywhere he pleased.

[HSVhogfan2]

Didn't read the whole thread, but as far as HS player and not how he did in college, Bennie Fuller. Played in the late 60s for AR school for the deaf. Averaged like 45 a game with no three point line.

[MountieDawg]

All Time Top 6 in no order

Joe Johnson
Malik Monk
Sydney Moncrief
Keith Lee
Michael Cage
Corliss Williams

[MountieDawg]

Don't forget a kid named Price that played on that WM team as well. I believe he went to Memphis State as well.

Best player was Sidney. He was a tenacious defender and rebounder at all levels of competition.

The West Memphis Team that went 60 and 0 had:
Keith Lee  All American at Memphis State and made it to an NCAA Championship

Micheal Cage - Played 15 years in the NBA and lead the league in rebounding

Aaron Price - Started at Memphis State with Keith Lee and played in NCAA championship game

Tim Harrell - A 4 time NAIA All American

A total of 9 players got basketball scholarships off the team

[labb]

If we count girls===Lakyn Garrison of Wickes

[michaels]

ron brewer
corliss
joe johnson
sidney
marvin

marcus monk, i always thought was a better basketball player
& matt jones was no slouch

[Tripod1]

Corliss Williamson

rated the #1 player in the country
I am certain Jason Kidd was rated ahead of Corliss. Kidd's team (from the Bay Area in Cali) won the King Cotton tournament that year and beat Corliss, too.

Jason Kidd was rated #1 player but you are wrong about his team winning the King Cotton.  Russellville won and the final play of the game was a blocked shot of Kidd's by Williamson. Put it into press row along courtside.  I know this because I was one of the officials calling that game.  Best high school game of my career. BTW, they were both juniors that year.

[HSHS1974]

Was in high school in the 1970's, so this is from the way-back machine. We played against Delph, Brewer, and Moncrief and they were all out of this world (at U of A, too, of course). But to this day, I tell people that the best player I ever saw on a court was Chris Bennett from LR Catholic. I am sure I am totally biased because he personally ran us off the court like we were third graders. And he may not have thrived in college even if he did not injure his knee. But boy, was he a remarkable player on the three occasions he played against us.

[hoglady]

Don Kessinger deserves a shout ... played hoops and baseball at Ole Miss and was an All-Star shortstop with the Cubs. Forrest City flash was supposedly a great hoopster

better players than many mentioned so far are richard scott and nicky bradford (both played at Kansas), Caldwell Jones (76ers) and his two brothers, Quincy Lewis (led the Big Ten in scoring at Minnesota) ... ok, my brain is tired

Is that the same guy who had the racketball club off Shackleford back in the early 80's?

[HoopS]

Jason Kidd was rated #1 player but you are wrong about his team winning the King Cotton.  Russellville won and the final play of the game was a blocked shot of Kidd's by Williamson. Put it into press row along courtside.  I know this because I was one of the officials calling that game.  Best high school game of my career. BTW, they were both juniors that year.

and I was in the stands not far away from that block.

[MountieDawg]

Mark McEntire Walnut Ridge.... He was like Jimmy Chitwood of Hoosiers fame.

[hogwild6700]

Jason McDonald from Saratoga. Saratoga had some serious ballers in the early-mid 90's.

IMO McDonald is like the basketball version of Basil Shabazz. A BIG "What IF".

[TNhogfan]

Probably nobody here has ever heard of him but a guy named Tim Porter in the late 70s was as talented as any player who ever stepped on a basketball court in Arkansas.  He graduated high school in 1977 and was offered a scholarship at UofA by Eddie Sutton.  Tim had issues and the scholarship was pulled.  He was 6'2" and had a 42 inch vertical jump and could shoot lights out. It's really a shame that he had too many "demons" during his late teens or he could have played college basketball anywhere he pleased.

Was he from NE Arkansas? I remember the name.  Sutton's teams had a number of really good AR players.

[TNhogfan]

Better known as Big Bird.  Great Player.

Do you remember her counterpart who played at Mount Saint Mary's?  They went against each other in the Overall final that KARK televised and she went on to play at Auburn, but I can't remember her name.  They were two really good tall girls.

[TNhogfan]

If we count girls===Lakyn Garrison of Wickes

Gail Buffington, Stephens
Gloria Glasgow, Blevins
Regina Grissom, Highland
Denae Jones, Harmony Grove, Camden

[hogcam]

Malik Monk

[Cinco de Hogo]

Michael Cage was a beast in HS, wasn't he?

Didn't he play with a guy named Lee?  Can't remember his first name.

[MikePiazza]

Didn't he play with a guy named Lee?  Can't remember his first name.

Keith Lee.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Lee

[Rocket23]

I don't know who you are talking about, but Jamie Shepman (it's spelled differently, I know) was SICK.  She played at Van Cove and then went to Louisiana Tech.  She then transferred to OBU where she beat most of the men's team. 

It was Wendy Sholtens from fort Smith Southside, 6-5 post player.  She three was three-time all-SEC and one, maybe two-time Kodak All-America.

You guys should have seen her crossing over some of the football players in intramurals.  I laughed until I cried.

[Cinco de Hogo]

The West Memphis Team that went 60 and 0 had:
Keith Lee  All American at Memphis State and made it to an NCAA Championship

Micheal Cage - Played 15 years in the NBA and lead the league in rebounding

Aaron Price - Started at Memphis State with Keith Lee and played in NCAA championship game

Tim Harrell - A 4 time NAIA All American

A total of 9 players got basketball scholarships off the team

Sorry I missed this post and ask about Lee.  Yea I think that team may have been the best even if we didn't get any of them.

Talk about a darn shame!!!

[Rocket23]

Don't forget a kid named Price that played on that WM team as well. I believe he went to Memphis State as well.  AARON PRICE.  PLAYED FOR A BIT AT MSU.

Best player was Sidney. He was a tenacious defender and rebounder at all levels of competition.

[Boarmonger]

Corliss Williamson

rated the #1 player in the country
I am certain Jason Kidd was rated ahead of Corliss. Kidd's team (from the Bay Area in Cali) won the King Cotton tournament that year and beat Corliss, too.

I don't think this is true.  I seem to remember Corliss blocking Kidd's last second shot attempt to win the game.

[Boarmonger]

Was in high school in the 1970's, so this is from the way-back machine. We played against Delph, Brewer, and Moncrief and they were all out of this world (at U of A, too, of course). But to this day, I tell people that the best player I ever saw on a court was Chris Bennett from LR Catholic. I am sure I am totally biased because he personally ran us off the court like we were third graders. And he may not have thrived in college even if he did not injure his knee. But boy, was he a remarkable player on the three occasions he played against us.

Went to school with Chris and he was outstanding.  Was never the same after the knee injury his senior year.  I saw him make a behind the back down court pass in a dismantling of lR Central that still makes my jaw drop when I think about it.

[thirrdegreetusker]

Anyone on hear ever see Bennie Fuller play from 1968-1971? Just wondering, he owns a bunch of records in the state record book. Houston Nutt Sr. coached him and I have heard Houston talk about how good he was before.

Fuller played in the lowest Classification in Arkansas. He was tall, and could shoot, so he killed that level of competition.

A HS classmate of mine guarded Fuller in the HS all-star game. Figured out pretty quick that Fuller could only dribble with his right hand. My classmate started at PG for the freshmen Hogs in 71-72, same class as Medlock.

[WMHawgfan]

Yeah, that's old school. East side of Ark...W Memphis maybe?

yeah it was West Memphis back in the eighties. he and Keith Lee were unbelievable.

[WMHawgfan]

I don't think this is true.  I seem to remember Corliss blocking Kidd's last second shot attempt to win the game.

Correct Russellville won the KCC that year by one point and Corliss blocked Kidd's last second shot.

[WMHawgfan]

I know he didn't pan out at UofA but Ken Biley was a ridiculous HS player as well. Saw him play in the state tourney around 90 or 91 and though he was going to be a star.

[FATHAWG08]

1. Sidney  Moncrief- LR Hall
2. Ron Brewer- FS Northside
3. Marvin Delph- Conway
4. Corliss Williamson- Russellville
5. Joe Johnson- LR Central
5. Amber Lee FS Northside
6. Dexter Reed- LR Parkview
7. Chris Bennett LR CATHOLIC
8. Randy Curl - PB ZEBRAS
9. Keith Lee- West Memphis
10. Robert Griffin - LR Central

[SuperSid4Ever]

Sidney Moncrief, without a doubt in my mind.

[chiefhawg]

Houston Dale Nutt. One of the best high school point guards to play in Arkansas. He, Robert Griffin, Homer Couch and Robert Farrell were a team to watch in the 70s.

[TheRazorbackGuy]

Houston Dale Nutt. One of the best high school point guards to play in Arkansas. He, Robert Griffin, Homer Couch and Robert Farrell were a team to watch in the 70s.

Archie Goodwin deserves consideration. Him and Sonny Weeks are now teammates

[root_hawg]

Malik Monk ... who else?

[TomBigBeeHog]

Malik Monk ... who else?

Big Nasty? Malik will probably have a better pro career but I seem to recall Corliss being more dominate  in high school.

[jry04]

Corliss Williamson

rated the #1 player in the country
I am certain Jason Kidd was rated ahead of Corliss. Kidd's team (from the Bay Area in Cali) won the King Cotton tournament that year and beat Corliss, too.

I am sure this has been addressed, but I wasn't going to go through all 8 pages to read. Russellville won that game, and Corliss won national player of the year. So you are wrong on both comments.

[CalHog]

Rick Sugg

[davidharwood]

Donnie Watts of Harrison and Gary Parson from Huntsville, both played mid 1960's.

[Big Nasty 34]

I'm very nostalgic, but could any of these old timers really have a chance of slowing down Monk?