Basketball royalty made its way home to Right Beaver Creek on Friday to reminisce their childhood, catch up with family, friends and talk about the glory days of Floyd County hoops at the Mountain Sports Hall of Fame located inside the Wayland Community Center.
Wayland Mayor and Mountain Sports Hall of Fame founder Jerry Fultz said the gathering of 40 plus was “a once in a lifetime event.”
Those returning home included former Maytown stars Bob and Pat Tallent, along with Randy Click, all now living in northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C., area.
Bob Tallent, who played for legendary Kentucky Coach Adolph Rupp for three seasons, transferred to GW in 1967. A knee injury kept him from playing in the NBA. He later coached at GW for seven seasons and was elected to the school’s Hall of Fame in 1990.
Pat Tallent finished as GW’s third leading scorer of all time. Like his brother, Bob, he was elected to the school’s Hall of Fame in 1993 and into the college basketball Hall of Fame this year.
Click, who helped organize the event along with Fultz, addressed those in attendance on the history of the 58th District schools and the 15th Region.
He said only four district teams have reached the Sweet 16 semifinals over the years, including the 1969 Maytown team which he described as “the last great district team.”
Others included Betsy Layne (1931), Wayland (1956) and Wheelwright (1961).
The old Wayland High School Gymnasium, where Kentucky’s first-ever Mr. Basketball “King” Kelly Coleman played, is being renovated to house the museum.