5 Mike Ballenger

Mike Ballenger was born on October 11, 1962, to Hugh A. and Shirley A. Ballenger. Raised in Jasper, Indiana, he became a three-sport standout at Jasper High School, excelling as a basketball guard, football quarterback, and baseball pitcher. Playing basketball under coach Rex May, he scored 1,433 career points, averaged 24.8 points as a senior, and established numerous school scoring records. A two-time All-State selection and 1981 Indiana Basketball All-Star, he also earned baseball All-State recognition three times and received a football scholarship offer from Indiana University. Arkansas, Kansas State, Michigan, and Purdue recruited him for basketball, but he signed with Kentucky on April 8, 1981.

Ballenger’s confidence was evident in Jasper’s 1981 sectional championship victory over Southridge. Recalling the game years later, he described scoring 18 points in the opening quarter before double teams held him scoreless through the next two periods. He responded with 20 points in the final six minutes, making all 10 of his fourth-quarter free throws. His 38-point performance helped deliver the sectional title in a rivalry where community pride filled the gym.

Ballenger arrived at Kentucky for the 1981–82 season as a 6-foot-3 guard wearing No. 5. Coach Joe B. Hall praised his passing, shooting, and leadership potential, while teammate Jim Master noted his confidence and accurate shooting. Like many accomplished freshmen, Ballenger faced a difficult adjustment from high school stardom to college competition. He identified defending bigger, stronger opponents as his greatest challenge. With opportunities limited in Kentucky’s experienced backcourt, he appeared in 12 games, scoring six points in 31 minutes.

His Kentucky experience extended beyond the basketball season. An arts and sciences major, Ballenger joined the UK baseball team in spring 1982 and pitched well on several occasions despite his late start, according to Kentucky’s basketball media guide. That summer, he appeared in all eight games on the Wildcats’ tour of Asia, including a 12-point outing against the Hong Kong All-Stars. The trip provided a memorable opportunity to contribute more extensively than he had during the regular season.

Ballenger returned to Lexington for his sophomore fall semester, and Hall anticipated that a year’s experience would help him contribute with his passing, outside shooting, and athletic ability. In October 1982, however, Ballenger left Kentucky seeking more playing time. He subsequently transferred to Western Kentucky, ending his UK basketball career after one season of competition.

At Western Kentucky, Ballenger appeared in 20 games as a sophomore in 1983–84 before earning a larger role during his junior season. In 1984–85, he started 24 of 28 games and averaged 8.2 points and 2.6 assists, establishing himself as a regular in the Hilltoppers’ backcourt. His senior basketball season in 1985–86 consisted of two appearances. He also continued pitching for Western Kentucky, leading the baseball team in earned-run average in 1985 and 1986 with marks of 3.19 and 3.74, respectively.

Ballenger was selected for Jasper High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023, honoring the versatility that had distinguished him long before his arrival in Lexington. His Kentucky tenure was brief, but it included participation in two varsity sports and an overseas basketball tour. His broader college career carried that same athletic versatility from Kentucky to Western Kentucky.