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Basil Hayden has the distinction of being Kentucky basketball’s first All-American. He also has the distinction of being the coach with the last losing record at Kentucky before Adolph Rupp took over as head coach. His UK playing career began in 1919 and concluded in 1922. Over those playing years Hayden helped lead Kentucky to a record of 28 wins and 14 losses.
He was also a key performer on the 1920-21 team that finished with a 13-1 record and won Kentucky’s first ever tournament championship. Hit a crucial game-tying basket in the Cats’ 20-19 championship game win over Georgia in the 1921 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament. Averaged 9.6 points a game for that club. Suffered a knee injury prior to the 1921-22 season but still managed to average 5 points per game. Coached at Stanford High School and Kentucky Wesleyan College before returning to UK as coach of the 1926-27 team.
The University of Kentucky would retire a jersey in his honor.
