By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Three former Northern Kentucky high school basketball players who continued their careers at NCAA Division I colleges will be inducted into the Greater Cincinnati Basketball Hall of Fame on Wednesday at Receptions in Fairfield, Ohio.
This year’s list of 10 inductees selected by the hall of fame committee includes:
CovCath graduate Dick Maile was a three-year starter for LSU.
Dick Maile – 1961 Covington Catholic graduate who was recruited by Louisiana State University and averaged 17.4 points and 10.4 rebounds as a three-year starter for the Tigers. Maile returned to Northern Kentucky and coached boys and girls high school basketball for several years.
Rhonda Klette – 1982 Scott graduate who went to the University of Dayton and ranks second in career free throw percentage (88.1) and single-season free throw percentage (90.9) for the Flyers. Klette also spent 14 seasons as Scott’s head coach and retired with a 213-217 record.
Jack Jennings – 1988 Holmes graduate who averaged 34.6 points during his senior season and scored 41 points in a state tournament game. In college, Jennings averaged 17.6 points and 7.6 rebounds as a two-year starter for Western Kentucky University.
Awards to the top coaches and players for the 2018-19 high school basketball season will also be part of the ceremony on Wednesday.
Reid Jolly of Campbell County was named Northern Kentucky Player of the Year in boys basketball. Lauren Schwartz of Ryle and Zoie Barth of Highlands were co-winners of the girls award. Coach of the Year selections were Katie Haitz of Ryle and Aaron Stamm of Conner in girls basketball and Aric Russell of Campbell County in boys basketball.
The hall of fame will also recognize the Ryle girls basketball team for winning the 2019 Kentucky state tournament and the Thomas More University women’s basketball team for winning the 2019 NCAA Division III national championship.
Tickets to the ceremony are $50. A social hour will begin at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. To make a reservation, call Jake Grunkemeyer (513-470-3724) or Steve Moeller (513-383-5565).
