Conley Named Kentucky’s 2016 SEC Basketball Legend

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – An All-Southeastern Conference team member and a part of the 1965-66 “Rupp’s Runts,” Larry Conely has been tabbed as Kentucky’s 2016 SEC Basketball Legend and will be honored at this year’s SEC Tournament, which will be held at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., March 9-13.

A key member of “Rupp’s Runts,” one of the most beloved teams in Kentucky basketball history, Larry Conley helped lead the Wildcats to a 1966 national runner-up finish, a 27-2 record and an SEC championship. 

On a starting five that featured no player taller than 6-foot-5, Conley dished out a team-best 100 assists while averaging 11.5 points per game. Conley was named to the All-SEC First Team by the league’s coaches in 1966 for his efforts and the All-SEC Third Team by the Associated Press. Conley was also an All-SEC Third Team selection in 1964 and 1965, a two-time Academic All-SEC selection, and an Academic All-American during the 1963-64 season. 

A member of the University of Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame, Conley went on to play a season in the American Basketball Association for the Kentucky Colonels before diving into a longtime and ongoing broadcasting career. He’s called games for ESPN, NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox Sports and Raycom Sports.

The 2016 class includes Ennis Whatley, Alabama; Pat Bradley, Arkansas; Jack Stewart, Auburn; Lee Humphrey, Florida; Jarvis Hayes, Georgia; Larry Conley, Kentucky; Stanley Roberts, LSU; Johnny Neumann, Ole Miss; Mario Austin, Mississippi State; Devan Downey, South Carolina; Vincent Yarbrough, Tennessee; Carroll Broussard, Texas A&M; Shan Foster, Vanderbilt.

Each SEC Basketball Legend will be recognized at halftime of his institution’s first game at the tournament.

This marks the 18th year of the SEC Basketball Legends program.