All-time top athletes from Male High School in Louisville (2024)

Darrell "Dr. Dunkenstein" Griffith led Male High School to the 1975 state basketball championship and was Kentucky's Mr. Basketball in 1976. He went on to lead the University of Louisville to the 1980 NCAA championship and played 11 NBA seasons with the Utah Jazz, earning NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 1981. His No. 35 was retired by the club in 1993. Griffith was inducted into the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1990 and the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014. March 24, 1980.

Former Male High School football player Michael Bush was named Kentucky's Mr. Football and Gatorade Kentucky Player of the Year in 2002 after passing for 2,891 yards and 35 touchdowns. He started his career as a receiver and finished with 163 catches for 3,031 yards and 37 touchdowns. He also was a three-time All-State pick in basketball and averaged 21.1 points and 10.5 rebounds as a senior. After a successful football career at the University of Louisville (2003-06), Bush was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. The running back played six seasons in the NFL with the Raiders (2008-11) and Chicago Bears (2012-13) and amassed 3,250 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns. NOV. 20, 2001

Ralph Beard Beard was the first athlete in school history to letter in four sports: football, basketball, baseball and track and field. In basketball, he was a two-time All-State selection and helped Male High School win the 1945 state championship. He also was a member of Male's 1943 state championship baseball team and helped the Bulldogs win the 1945 state track and field championship by capturing the 880-yard run. Beard went on to help the University of Kentucky basketball team win national championships in 1948 and 1949 and won a gold medal in the 1948 Summer Olympics. He played two seasons (1949-51) with the NBA's Indianapolis Olympians before being barred from the league for his participation in a point-shaving scandal. Beard was a member of the first class inducted into the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1988. Jan 29, 1950.

Winston Bennett was named Kentucky's Mr. Basketball and a McDonald's All-American in 1983 after averaging 25.4 points per game. A four-year starter for Male High School, Bennett finished his career with 2,161 points. He went on to play four seasons at the University of Kentucky and was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the third round of the 1988 NBA Draft. He played three seasons in the NBA (1989-92) with the Cavaliers and Miami Heat and later was the head basketball coach at Kentucky State and Mid-Continent.

David Muse was an All-American soccer player at Male High School and was named the Gatorade Kentucky Player of the Year in 1992. His 49 career shutouts as a goalkeeper from 1989-92 still stand as the state record. He also has the single-season state record with 22 shutouts in 1991. He went on to play at the University of Kentucky, where he recorded nine career shutouts from 1993-96.

Dallas Thornton was a star in football and track and field but was best at basketball, earning All-State honors in 1963 and 1964 and All-American honors in 1964. He averaged 16.5 points and 14 rebounds as a senior. Thornton went on to play at Kentucky Wesleyan Ð twice earning All-America honors - and then two seasons with the Miami Floridians of the American Basketball Association. After his pro career, Thornton spent 18 years with the Harlem Globetrotters. He was inducted into the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1996.

Kenny Kuhn, a multi-sport talent at Male High School earned All-State honors in both football and basketball and was named Kentucky's Mr. Basketball winner in 1955 after averaging 24.9 points per. He also excelled in track and field and baseball and ultimately chose baseball for his professional career, playing three seasons (1955-57) for the Cleveland Indians and then playing in the minor leagues. He was inducted into the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1989.

Gene Rhodes played football and baseball but made his biggest mark while playing basketball at Male High School, receiving All-State honors as a junior (1945) and senior (1946). He helped the Bulldogs win the state championship in 1945 and also played for Male's baseball team that won the state title in 1944. Rhodes went on to play basketball and baseball at Western Kentucky University, scoring 1,029 career points in basketball, and played one season in the NBA (1952-53) with the Indianapolis Olympians. Rhodes was inducted into the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1990, the WKU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. Aug. 7, 1944.

Chris Redman was named the Gatorade Kentucky Football Player of the Year and Parade Magazine's National Player of the Year in 1994, while at Male High School, after passing for 3,750 yards and 57 touchdowns. He finished his career with 7,653 passing yards and 102 touchdown passes. He played four seasons (1996-99) at the University of Louisville, earning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as a senior. The Baltimore Ravens selected Redman in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft, and he spent parts of nine seasons in the league with the Ravens (2000-03) and Atlanta Falcons (2007-11). He was inducted into the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2017.

Montrell Jones was named Kentucky's Mr. Football and Gatorade Kentucky Football Player of the Year in 2000 after catching 72 passes for 967 yards and 14 touchdowns and helping the Male High School Bulldogs win the Class 4A state title. His career receiving numbers rank among the state's all-time best 266 catches (No. 3), 4,345 yards (No. 6), 59 touchdowns (No. 3). Jones played two seasons at Tennessee (2001-02) and Louisville (2004-05) and later had a brief stint in the Canadian Football League.

Wesley Cox was Kentucky's Mr. Basketball and a third-team All-America selection by Parade Magazine in 1973 after averaging 19.5 points and 13 rebounds per game. As a sophom*ore, he was a top reserve on Male High School's 1971 state championship squad. Cox went on to play at the University of Louisville and was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 1977 NBA Draft. He played two seasons (1977-79) in the NBA. Dec. 6, 1975.

Tony Driver was named the Gatorade Kentucky Football Player of the Year and earned USA Today All-American honors in 1996 after rushing for 1,491 yards and 18 touchdowns. He finished his Male High School career with 3,460 rushing yards and 48 touchdowns. Driver also was a star in basketball and track and field, winning the Class 3A state title in the 100-meter dash in 1996. He went on to play football at Notre Dame and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played two seasons (2001-02) in the NFL. Nov 16, 1996.

Melissa Buck helped the Male High School girls soccer team win state championships in 1993 and 1994 and finished her career with 112 goals, ranking second in Jefferson County history. A four-time All-State selection, Buck went on to play four seasons (1997-2000) at the University of Dayton. Aug 30, 1995.

Justin Green was the Gatorade Kentucky Track and Field Athlete of the Year in 2008, while at Male High School, after sweeping the Class 3A state championships in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes. He finished his track and field career with six state titles. Green also was a standout football player and went on to play the sport for four seasons (2009-12) at Illinois, first as a running back and then as a cornerback. He had brief professional stints in the NFL, the Arena Football League and the Canadian Football League. Nov. 7, 2008.

Henry Bacon, a three-year starter for the Male High School basketball team, helped the Bulldogs finish as state runners-up in 1966 during his sophom*ore season and finished his career with 1,175 points. He played three seasons at the University of Louisville, compiling 976 points and 298 assists and helping the Cardinals reach the Final Four in 1972 during his senior season. He played one season (1972-73) with the San Diego Conquistadors of the American Basketball Association and was inducted into the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1999. Feb. 21, 1970.