MANCHESTER — The saying, “If you build it, they will come,” was never more evident than on Sunday when hundreds of Clay County High School basketball fans, both boys and girls, gathered at Clay County High School to experience the much-anticipated Clay County Legends Hall Basketball Museum.
For high school basketball enthusiasts, the sight of a stunning 15-foot statue of legendary coach Bobby Keith awaits as they enter.
But that’s just the beginning.
The museum is a must-visit for all mountain basketball fans and high school basketball purists across the Bluegrass State. Clay County School Board Chairman Mark Hoskins noted that many individuals contributed to the museum’s creation.
“It was a 12 to 14-month project,” he explained. “Our gym addition provided ample space, and after numerous discussions with Superintendent William Sexton on how to best utilize this venue, the idea of creating a Clay County Basketball Museum was born.
“The Clay Historical Society established a museum in 2020. Former CCHS principal and Tiger assistant coach Mike White is their president,” Hoskins added. “I proposed the idea of collaborating with the Board of Education to create a basketball museum, and he immediately embraced it. He contacted Tom Kraemer of Kraemer Designs in Cincinnati, Ohio, the same firm that developed their museum. After many discussions and meetings, we devised a plan for moving forward.
“Mike, his wife LaBerta, and I have spent over 12 months collecting artifacts and meeting with former players and coaches to gather the information displayed in our museum,” he continued. “Hundreds of hours of research and archival searches culminated in numerous stories that are now part of our museum. This project was made possible by the Clay Board of Education to honor our rich basketball history, as Clay County is the only school in the state with over 2,000 boys’ wins and over 1,000 girls’ wins.”
Hoskins shared that upon entering the Bobby Keith Gymnasium, visitors are greeted first by the Clay County fight song, followed by the welcoming voice of the legendary coach himself.
“When you step inside, you’ll see the impressive 15-foot statue of the legendary coach,” he added. “The display cases offer a self-guided tour by decade, showcasing our history of outstanding teams and players. You can also find various ‘Tiger Tales’ that recount the stories of legendary games, events, and unique moments in our history.”
