Kentucky All-Stars and WKU - Western Kentucky University Athletics

Kentucky All-Stars and WKU

Individuals selected to play in the annual Kentucky-Indiana All-Star series have had success following the prep careers at WKU. Ivy Brown and Shalika Smith are likely to become the 58th and 59th WKU letterwinners selected to represent the state of Kentucky in the annual series with Indiana.

Kentucky Miss Basketball winners, the individuals selected to wear the #1 uniform during the annual contest, have had outstanding careers at WKU. Ivy Brown becomes the 14th Kentucky Miss Basketball winner to play at WKU during the 2014-15 season. It continues a trend of Kentucky's best players excelling at WKU.

WKU's previous 12 Kentucky Miss Basketball winners have combined to score 14,743 points in their WKU careers, an average of 1,221.6 points for those that played multiple seasons.

Four of top 10 scorers in program history were Kentucky Miss Basketball winners with 8 of the previous 13 Kentucky Miss Basketball winners to attend WKU reaching 1,000 career points

Eight of the top 10 scorers in program history are natives of the Bluegrass State

24 of the 35 players that have scored 1,000 points or more in program history are natives of Kentucky

Among WKU's three Final Four appearances, 28 roster spots on the three teams were filled by Kentuckians

Among WKU's six Sweet Sixteen appearances, 55 roster spots on the six teams were filled by Kentuckians

10 of 13 Kentucky Miss Basketball winners have helped WKU to at least one win in the NCAA Tournament with five reaching the Final Four and eight reaching the Sweet 16

10 of 13 Kentucky Miss Basketball winners have helped lead WKU to a conference tournament title

All-Time List of Players and Career High School Summaries for Select Kentucky All-Stars That Were Letterwinners at WKU

Geri Grigsby, 1977

Grigsby had a prolific high school career at McDowell. As a sophomore, Grigsby scored 1,079 points, followed by efforts of 1,421 and 1,885 points in her junior and senior years, respectively. At the time, her three-year total of 4,385 was the national record and was the Kentucky state scoring record for both boys and girls. In addition, her single-season total of 1,885 points in 1976-77 still ranks as the national record in that category. Along the way, she had single-game highs of 81 and 66 points. Her 81-point game still ranks fifth all-time.

A three-time first-team all-stater, Grigsby was named captain of the All-State team as a senior and was also chosen Miss Basketball in Kentucky that same year after being runner-up as a junior. In 1978, she was named Kentucky's Sportswoman of the Year, and 10 years later, she was named to the first induction class of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.

Vivian Higgs, 1977

Shari Lee Price, 1978

Lurie Heltsley, 1978

Sharon Garland, 1979

Dianne Depp, 1980

Lillie Mason, 1981

Mason starred at Olmstead High. Mason averaged 34 points and 15 rebounds as a senior in leading Olmstead to a 22-6 finish in her final year as a prep. She shot 67 percent from the field and 84 percent from the free throw line to finish her prep career with 2,532 points. She was a two-time All-State selection and was named to the Parade Magazine and Converse All-American teams.

"She has really put Western Kentucky in the map. She brought fame to their program, and a lot to her individual abilities. I think being the daughter of Clem Haskins brought her some of the attention, but in her own right she is one of the top guards in the country. I knew when she went to Western Kentucky, things would start happening, and they did. They have been to the playoffs every year she's been there and the Final Four twice. She is that caliber as a player."

Former USC Coach Linda Sharp on Clemette Haskins

Gina Brown, 1981

Sharon Ottens, 1982

Kami Thomas, 1982

Clemette Haskins, 1983

Haskins starred at Warren Central High. A two-time Kodak and Parade Magazine All-American selection, she led Warren Central to a state title as a senior. She was a two-time Courier-Journal All-State selection after compiling a 132-21 record in five seasons during her prep career. She finished with four district titles, two regional crowns and the 1983 state title. She averaged 21.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per game as senior. At the time, Haskins set ten school records for Warren Central, including points cored in a career at 2,808, an average of 18.5 points per contest.

She set her prep career high with 46 points against Hughes-Kirk. She also had 16 assists against Hughes-Kirk as an eighth grade player. Her career best in rebounds came as a junior against Russellville with 21. At the time of her graduation, she held school records in points in a game (46), season (826), and career (2808), most assists in a game (16), season (230) and career (556), most steals in a game (16), and season (134), best free throw percentage in a season (.752) and most field goals in a career (873).

Laura Ogles, 1983

Melinda Carlson, 1983

Kim Taylor, 1984

Bridgette Combs, 1985

Combs starred at Whitesburg High. Combs averaged 27 points per game as a senior and shot 54 percent from the field and 71 percent from the free throw line as a senior. Despite being just 5-10, she grabbed 14 rebounds per game during the 1984-85 season. She led her team to a 29-3 record as a senior and an appearance in the state tournament. In three years at Whitesburg, she helped her squad win three 14th Region titles. She was a two-time First Team All-State selection.

As a sophomore, Combs earned honorable mention All-State honors while she earned All-Region and All-District honors on three occasions. As a sophomore, she led her team to a 39-1 record, losing in the state title game to Warren Central High after posting 16 points and 14 rebounds per game. Over three seasons, she compiled a 99-8 record and 2,635 career points.

Susie Starks, 1985

Michelle Clark-Heard, 1987

Mary Taylor-Cowles, 1987

Taylor starred at Marshall County High. Taylor was ana 1987 Converse All-American selection after leading Marshall County to a 117-11 record during her career, including four Region One titles, resulting in four trips to the state tournament. In 1984, her team went 34-0 and claimed the state title. She was a three-time All-Tournament team selection at the state tournament.

Taylor was a two-time Region One Player of the Year selection and averaged 18.2 points and nine rebounds per game as a senior while leading her team to a 25-4 mark. She averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds as a junior.

Kelly Smith, 1987

Staci Payne, 1987

Kim Pehlke, 1988 (Video Highlights from 1991-92: Part 1 Part 2)

Pehlke starred at Louisville's Doss High. Pehlke set school records for points at 2,073 and rebounds at 833 in helping Doss to an 86-29 record during her time at the school. Pehlke averaged 26.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game with 7.5 assists per contest as a senior while leading Doss to a 20-8 record. As a junior, she averaged 16.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Pehlke was named to the 1986-87 KHSAA Sweet Sixteen All-Tournament Team after leading her team to a 33-3 record and reaching the state finals before falling to laurel County. Her prep career high was 42 points.

She was named the 1987-88 Kentucky Player of the Year by USA Today and Gatorade and was a second-team All-American selection by Parade Magazine. She was also a member of Street and Smith's All-American team as an honorable mention selection. She earned First Team All-State honors from the Louisville Courier-Journal and Lexington Herald-Leader and was an All-Region selection for three years and All-District selection for four seasons at Doss.

Jennifer Berryman, 1988

Lori Abell, 1990

Gwen Doyle, 1990

Lea Robinson, 1990

Kim Warfield, 1990

Ida Bowen, 1991 (Video Highlights from 1991-92: Part 1 Part 2)

Bowen starred at Sheldon Clark High School. Bowen was a two-time Louisville Courier-Journal and Lexington Herald-Leader All-State selection after being named her teams MVP on three occasions. She averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds per game as a senior, shooting 52 percent from the field and posting five blocks per game. She also led the Kentucky All-Star team to a sweep of rival Indiana following per senior year at Sheldon Clark.

Veronia Cook, 1991

Brandi Ashby, 1993

Ashby starred at Webster County High School. She finished her senior season at Webster County averaging 21 points and 14 rebounds per game. She led Webster County to a 20-8 record as a senior and an 18-8 mark as a junior. A five-year starter and letterwinner, Ashby earned All-State and All-District honors three times. USA Today ranked Ashby 31st in the nation among high school prospects. She was also a five-year letterwinner in track, earning all-state honors twice as a high jumper.

Stacie Gamble, 1993

Laurie Townsend, 1994

Townsend starred at Owensboro's Apollo High School where she was ranked 28th among the top 64 high school recruits in the nation by Basketball America. She averaged 30 points, four rebounds and five assists during her senior season. She connected on 47 percent of her three-point attempts and 57 percent of her shots from the field. Upon graduation, she held the Apollo record for career points (2,234), most points in a single game (52), most assists in a game (15) and consecutive made free throws (36).

Playing for coach Willis McClure, Townsend was an All-Region and All-State selection as a sophomore, junior and senior. She also earned Parade All-American honors as a senior, being named to the Fourth Team. She lettered four seasons on the basketball court at Apollo and five years on the tennis court, finishing as a regional doubles champion in both 1993 and 1994.

Sharonda Allen, 1994

Shea Lunsford, 1995

Jamie Walz, 1996

Walz starred at Fort Thomas Highlands High. She was named the Gatorade Circle of Champions National Player of the Year in 1996 and the 1996 Parade Magazine National Player of the Year. She finished her career with a Kentucky record (boys or girls) 4,948 points, a career average of 25.5 points per game. She finished her prep career with 1,762 rebounds, 1,354 assists and 1,004 steals.
As a senior, Walz averaged 26.7 points per game, 11 rebounds, eight assists and four steals per contest. She led the state of Kentucky in scoring as a junior with a 34.4 points per game clip. Over her six seasons in a Highlands uniform, she compiled a record of 146-49 (.749).

Jamie Britt, 1996

Rachel Byars, 1997

Byars starred at Union County High School and was named the MVP of the 1996 state tournament. Byars averaged 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game as a senior, shooting 56 percent from the field and 68 percent from the free throw line. She was named the top player in the state of Kentucky following her senior season by both the Lexington Herald-Leader and Louisville Courier-Journal. She was also a Street and Smith All-American Honorable Mention selection. Byars averaged 20.6 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 3.0 assists per contest as a junior.

Byars finished her high school career with single game career highs of 36 points, 19 rebounds, nine steals and eight assists. A four-time All-Region and All-District selection, Byars was a four-sport star, lettering four times in basketball, three times in golf, twice in softball and once in tennis.

ShaRae Mansfield, 1997

Lavonda Johnson, 1997

Natalie Powers, 1997

Kristina Covington, 1998

Leslie Logsdon, 2000

Jamie Truitt, 2000

Camryn Whitaker, 2000

Ashley Butler, 2002

Sarah Shouse, 2002

Charlotte Marshall, 2003

Crystal Kelly, 2004 (Highlight Video)

Kelly, a graduate of Louisville's Sacred Heart Academy, won three consecutive KHSAA state championships from 2002 through 2004, winning all three titles at WKU's E.A. Diddle Arena. During her four years under head coach Donna Moir, the Valkyries went 139-9 (.939), and finished 2003-04 ranked seventh in USA Today's Super 25 poll after a 37-1 season.

During her senior season at the high school level, she averaged 14.2 points and 9.3 rebound before being named Kentucky's Miss Basketball. She also recorded 106 blocks, 133 assists and 91 steals. The two-time Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year and 2004 Associated Press Player of the Year finished her high school career with 2,377 points, 1,478 rebounds, 370 steals, 366 blocks and 349 assists. She also recorded a career 64.8 field-goal percentage.

Along with her Miss Basketball and Gatorade Player of the Year honors, Kelly was also named All-America by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, Street & Smith and Parade. She is also a three-time Courier-Journal First Team All-State selection and was twice named to the Associated Press All-State First Team.

Arnika Brown, 2006

Brown starred at Christian County High School. Brown averaged 25.5 points and 12.3 rebounds per game as a senior at Christian County High School, helping the Lady Colonels to a 25-4 record. She also guided CCHS to three state tournament appearances, and was a three-time first-team all-state selection. The 2006 Associated Press Player of the Year in Kentucky, Brown led Christian County to a 164-21 record since sliding into the starting lineup as an eighth grader.

Brown ranked as one of the top 50 players in the nation and was listed as high as 10th in the nation at her position by several recruiting services coming out of high school. She was named the National High School Freshman of the Year by StudentSports.com and was named a High School All-American by both the WBCA and Street and Smith. She ended her prep career as the all-time leading scorer in Christian County history.

Brooke Faulkner, 2006

Kenzie Rich, 2006

Hope Brown, 2007

Whitney Ballinger, 2007

Danay Fothergill, 2009

Chastity Gooch, 2011

LeAsia Wright, 2012

Kendall Noble, 2012 (current player)

Micah Jones, 2012 (current player)

Ivy Brown, 2014 (current player)

"Ivy Brown was a major focus of our recruiting efforts from the first day we arrived on campus as a staff. She can be an immediate impact player for us at WKU. She has an amazing skill set and has enjoyed great success, helping take her high school to the next level."

WKU Coach Michelle Clark-Heard

Brown starred at LaRue County High School. Brown averaged 24.4 points per game and 12.6 rebounds per game for the Lady Hawks as a senior. Brown owns the LaRue County career mark for career points, rebounds and steals.

Brown was named the Lexington Herald-Leader's Girls Basketball Player of the Year in the state of Kentucky while being named an All-State First Team selection. She also was the leading vote getter in the Louisville Courier-Journal's All-State balloting as a senior, earning First Team honors. She led LaRue County to a 24-7 record in 2013-14, including wins in 10 of the final 11 games of the season and an appearance in the Fifth Region Championship Game. Among the most notable moments of her final prep season was a Jan. 27, 2014 win over the top-ranked team in the state of Kentucky on the road, Elizabethtown, scoring 27 points, grabbing 19 rebounds and dishing out nine assists in the win.

Brown averaged 22.9 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and 3.5 assists per outing as a junior, ranking her among the top 10 scorers and top 15 rebounders in the state. She also shot over 50 percent from the field and hit 43 three-point field goals as she was named a First Team All-State performer by the Louisville Courier-Journal and Lexington Herald-Leader. Following the season, she was also named to the Kentucky Junior All-Star team.

As a sophomore, Brown led the Lady Hawks to a 17-11 record, averaging 19.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. She was named an Honorable Mention All-State selection by the Associated Press following the season. As a freshman, she helped the Lady Hawks reach the semifinals of the regional tournament and finish the season 27-4, winning the 2010 KME Classic at Trigg County over the holiday break.
Brown also excelled on the volleyball court, leading LaRue County to a 24-10 record in 2013 and an appearance in the semifinals of the regional tournament.

Dee Givens, 2015 (curent player)