Wes Leonard, Remembered and Honored
February 12, 2012
Nearly a year after his unexpected and tragic death, Wes Leonard's memory lives on as his story continues to touch many on a national level.
Fennville High School added to his legacy Friday, inducting the former all-state basketball standout into its athletic Hall of Fame in a ceremony one Michigan sportswriter described as both somber and proud.
Check out his report and links to additional coverage of Friday's induction by clicking the links below, and also one for the Wes Leonard Heart Team and its efforts in preventing sudden cardiac arrest:
Wes Leonard's Fennville Hall of Fame induction one of 'deep sadness' and 'deep pride' (Kalamazoo Gazette)
Wes Leonard inducted into Fennville Hall of Fame (Holland Sentinel)
Wes Leonard inducted into Fennville Hall of Fame (The Associated Press, via Detroit Free Press)
Wes Leonard Heart Team (blog most recently updated Jan. 31)
Our MHSAA Network cameras were there for the ceremony and a feature with thoughts from his mom, coach and teammates.
Also, check out this ESPN video from May.
PHOTOS courtesy of Al LaShell Photography.
River Rouge Star Wilburn Remembered
By
John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director emeritus
October 19, 2016
One of the captains from the legendary boys basketball teams of the early 1960s at River Rouge passed away earlier this month.
Ken Wilburn, 72, a forward on the 1961 and 1962 teams that were part of a since-unequaled streak in Michigan high school basketball – five consecutive MHSAA championships – accomplished what was thought to be the first triple-double in Finals history in the 1962 Class B championship game against East Grand Rapids.
Wilburn scored 26 points – 13 in the third period – to go with 15 rebounds and 11 steals in a 69-39 win, a game Coach Lofton Greene said “was his best ever.”
Wilburn would go on to lead Central State University (Ohio) to a 30-0 record and the NAIA national championship in 1965, when he was named the title game’s Most Valuable Player. He earned All-America honors and finished his career as the school’s scoring leader.
During a 13-year journeyman professional career, Wilburn played in the NBA, the ABA and in the Eastern Pennsylvania Basketball League/Eastern Basketball Association. He played on three championship teams in the EPBL/EBA and was a league MVP on two occasions.
PHOTOS: (Top) Ken Wilburn (25) poses with his teammates after the 1962 Class B championship game victory. (Middle) Wilburn works to gather a loose ball from an East Grand Rapids player.