The Joe B. Hall Prep Classic, formerly known as the Kentucky Prep Classic, was originated in 1989-90 by co-game directors, Ira D. Combs and the late Pat Doyle for the purpose of showcasing the Commonwealth of kentucky's top level high school boy's basketball teams and the state's elite level college basketball recruits produced annually. In many of the past years, the boy's Sweet 16 State Tournament failed to showcase several of the state's top teams and players because they were upset in district and regional tournament play, which produced the idea of Combs and Doyle to feature these type teams and players in a one day event in january or february each year that would be set up in a nice, centrally located, fan friendly facility.
The inaugural Kentucky Prep Classic was held in december of 1989 at the EKU Alumni Coliseum, but was moved after one year due to scheduling conflicts with EKU's men's and women's team. For the next 16 years, the Kentucky Prep Classic, as it was known then, was played at the Frankfort Dungeon / Frankfort Civic Center in our state's capital city of Frankfort. This facility featured 5,650 theater style chair back seats in a venue that was used for college post season tournaments, high school regional tournaments, girl'sSweet 16 State Tournemants and many other state level events, like the KHSAA Wrestling tournament. However, due to rising costs for facilities event rental fee and lack of support from the Frankfort business community, the Kentucky Prep Classic game management had to start looking for alternate sites.
In January of 2006, the Kentucky Prep Classic was moved to the new Montgomery County High School Events Center in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky and the event is just as popular as ever with the hoop crazy Kentucky fanbase. The MCHS Events Center can accomodate approximately 4,250 fans in it's basketball friendly venue and features several state of the art additions, like big screen TV's on the upper level for watching college basketball during the Joe B. Hall Prep Classic with excellent site lines to the playing court from all areas of the facility and spacious concession areas on both levels for the fans to purchase food and still have eyesight of the playing floor.
In January of 2009, the Kentucky Prep Classic was renamed, in a special dedication ceremony, the Joe B. Hall Prep Classic in honor of the former UK Hall of Fame coach for his many contributions during his coaching career to Kentucky high school basketball through his summer camps, fall coaching clinics and support of the state's popular Sweet 16 state basketball tournament.
Coach Hall was the head basketball coach at the University of Kentucky for 13 seasons in the 1970's and 1980's, leading the Wildcats to several SEC Championships, Sweet 16 NCAA appearances, elite 8's and four Final Four appearances finishing the 1975 season as NCAA runners up and the 1978 season as NCAA Champions. Coach Hall was Adolph Rupp's top assistant his last few years and many across the Commonwealth feel as though Joe B. has never received the credit he was due for his accomplishments at UK. Many across the nation feel as though he deserves to be in the National Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachussetts but due to the political and jealousy factor, like in most Hal of Fames, it has never happened yet.
The line-up for the 2011-12 Joe B. Hall Prep Classic is listed on this web site as well as the high profile, elite college basketball and professional basketball players who have played in this event. Just click on the Alumni Players section of the Joe B. Hall Prep Classic.
This event has produced over 40 Division 1 college basketball players, as well as six who have went on to play in the NBA. Our most impressive statistic may be the eight teams who have played in this special day of hoops that have went on to win the coveted KHSAA Swett 16 in the same season, listed below along with their coach:












Year
School
Coach




1992
UHA
Jeff Jackson




1996
Paintsville
Bill Mike Runyon




1997
Louisville Eastern
Bryce Hibbard




1998
Scott County
Billy Hicks




2000
Elizabethtown
James Haire




2002
Lexington Catholic
Danny aney




2005
South Laurel
Steve Wright




2008
Mason County
Chris O'Hearn








History - Tradition - Facts