Former UK star Lea Wise Prewitt hugged Lisa Collins' sister during a ceremony Saturday to honor Collins, a former Miss Basketball from Laurel County and four-year starter at UK. (Larry Vaught Photo)
It was emotional but also easy for former University of Kentucky All-American Valerie Still to talk about her former UK teammate Lisa Collins.
“She was not just a basketball player. I can feel her in this place. We are honoring the past and promoting the future,” said Still, who is UK’s all-time leading scorer with 2,763 points. “You all (in the crowd) are Lisa Collins.”
Collins, the 1980 Kentucky Miss Basketball, died in April at age 52. She played six years at Laurel County and helped the Cardinals win three straight state titles, including an undefeated 36-0 season in 1978-79.
Collins’ former teammates at UK where she was a four-year starter wanted to honor her memory and South Laurel coach Chris Souder was totally on board since Collins played her high school basketball in the South Laurel gym.
The first Lisa Collins Classic featured four games matching teams from the 12th and 13th Regions.
“We want to make this the premier high school holiday basketball tournament,” said Still.
Lexington mayor Linda Gordon issued a proclamation during December as Lisa Collins Month. Gov. Andy Beshear called her one of Laurel County’s “most respected citizens” — and she was.
Many former UK and Laurel County teammates were at the ceremony before South Laurel played Pulaski County in the final game and a huge plaque that will hang in the gym was unveiled. Collins’ high school coach, Roy Bowling, had to fight back tears as he talked about her.
“She left us way too soon,” he said.
Both Still and Souder thanked Bowling for all he did to help girls basketball and give players like Collins and others opportunities to participate.
Bowling recalled he was officiating a middle school boys basketball game when he saw Collins play with the boys and quickly realized she was the best player on the court. He went to her parents immediately after the game letting them know he wanted her on the team and said she never missed a practice in six years with him.
Collins scored 1,840 points during his Laurel County career at a time when points were not nearly as abundant as they are now. Bowling noted that Laurel went 175-12 in Collins’ six years on the team and won 74 straight games at one point. She made 17 all-tournament teams in her career and her senior year was named a high school all-American. As Miss Basketball, she wore jersey No. 1 in the Kentucky-Indiana All-Star Games and helped Kentucky win two games.
“She was loved by all who knew her. Even our opponents loved to watch her play,” Bowling said. “She was something else to watch play and something else to coach. She was special.”
Collins had 952 points in her four years as a UK starter and was always the team’s best free throw shooter. She helped Kentucky win the 1982 SEC Tournament — something UK did not do again until last March.
Still helped spearhead the drive to honor Collins with this event and also the plaque that documents her legacy. There were tables in the lobby going into the gym with Collins’ remembrances, including her Laurel County letter jacket.
“I want everyone to take one minute because I believe in the power of pure thoughts,” Still said. “A lot of us have lost loved ones recently and our hearts are aching.
“If you knew Lisa Collins, bring up that thought that puts a smile on your face and hold on to one cheerful, powerful, beautiful thought about here. Let’s fill this place with Lisa Collins’ presence.”
It was just a beautiful, touching celebration and remembrance of a special player. When middle school and current South Laurel players were joined by Collins’ former high school and college teammates on the court — and all eight participating teams were given shirts with Collins’ name and No. 10 on the back — for the plaque unveiling there were a lot of tears shed.
But remember Still’s words.
’This is not an ending. It’s just the beginning. The Lisa Collins Classic will carry on her legacy,” Still said. “Lisa, we love you. We know you are here and always will be.”
Lisa Collins Classic
Photos by Larry Vaught
