5 James King

James King was born James Libern King on September 30, 1919, in Little Cypress, Kentucky, to Alzada Iowa Massey and Soloman King. He grew up near the small Marshall County community of Sharpe and became the floor leader of one of the most remarkable championship teams in Kentucky high school basketball history. Sharpe High School had an enrollment of only about 150 students, and its players had practiced outdoors until the school obtained a gymnasium in 1937. Despite those modest circumstances, King captained the Green Devils to the 1938 state championship and earned All-State honors.

Sharpe entered the state tournament as a little-known Western Kentucky team but stunned heavily favored St. Xavier, 26-23, in the semifinals before defeating Maysville, 36-27, for the championship before approximately 5,000 spectators. King and teammate Duward “Red” Culp were selected to the all-tournament team. The title produced an extraordinary celebration across Marshall and Calloway counties, with an estimated 1,500 people gathering at the school and a long procession carrying the champions through Western Kentucky. Culp later remembered King as the finest floor leader he had ever seen—a determined competitor who refused to admit defeat and would not allow his teammates to surrender, either.

King enrolled at the University of Kentucky in September 1938, although work on his family’s tobacco crop nearly delayed his arrival. His athletic ability quickly became apparent. He captained Kentucky’s freshman team and became the focal point of the Kentucky Kittens’ attack, earning particular notice for his exceptional jumping ability. He scored 13 points against Eminence and 17 against Campbellsville College during the 1938-39 freshman season.

King made an immediate impression in his varsity debut against Berea on December 9, 1939. Entering as a reserve, he scored a career-high 18 points on seven field goals and four free throws. He later earned his first start against Tennessee, but a bout with influenza cost him several games during a sophomore season in which Kentucky captured the 1940 Southeastern Conference championship.

As a junior, King became a regular member of the starting lineup and developed into one of Kentucky’s most dependable performers. He scored 15 points against Tulane during the 1941 SEC Tournament, earned second-team All-SEC recognition and was selected to the All-SEC Tournament team. King briefly left school after the season, saying he had grown tired of college and wanted to get away. Adolph Rupp openly lamented the decision, describing him as a great athlete, a cooperative teammate and a tireless worker who always tried to do whatever was asked of him.

King returned for his senior season and accepted a reserve role after Mel Brewer claimed the starting position in the pivot. Although listed as a guard, King could operate effectively near the basket and was especially valued for his passing, feeding and command of Kentucky’s offense. When Brewer rested, King kept the Wildcats moving at the quick pace Rupp demanded.

His defining Kentucky performance came in the semifinals of the 1942 SEC Tournament against Auburn. Kentucky fell behind 10-0 and trailed 18-11 at halftime before King replaced Brewer. He slowed Auburn standout “Shag” Hawkins and scored 11 points, including the basket that tied the game and the next four points that placed Kentucky in control. King again provided important minutes in the championship game as the Wildcats secured another SEC tournament title. Kentucky finished the season 19-6 and became the first SEC program invited to the NCAA Tournament.

King’s basketball career ended just as the United States was becoming fully engaged in World War II. After completing rigorous flight training, he received his silver wings and a commission in the United States Army Air Forces at Ellington Field in Houston, Texas. He was later assigned to the 68th Bomb Squadron of the 44th Bomb Group at Shipdham Airfield in England, where his unit flew long-range strategic bombing missions over occupied Europe and Germany.

On February 24, 1944, King served as co-pilot aboard the B-24 Liberator *Flak Alley* during a bombing mission against an aircraft assembly facility near Gotha, Germany. After the target had been bombed, mechanical trouble and enemy attacks crippled the aircraft. King bailed out but had been struck by a 20-millimeter shell and died shortly after reaching the ground. He was 24 years old.

The University of Kentucky honored King on November 19, 1944, during a ceremony at the Kentucky-Tennessee football game. His name was placed on a bronze memorial plaque alongside four other Kentucky athletes who lost their lives during World War II. The ceremony concluded with “Taps,” “My Buddy,” “My Old Kentucky Home” and the national anthem.

King’s Kentucky career was remembered not simply for his scoring, but for the leadership and resolve he brought to every team he represented. He captained a tiny rural high school to the state championship, became a trusted and versatile contributor under Adolph Rupp and delivered one of the decisive performances of Kentucky’s 1942 SEC championship run. His life ended before his accomplishments could extend beyond basketball and military service, but his courage and determination left an enduring place in the history of Kentucky athletics.