24 Mike Flynn

Mike Flynn was born July 31, 1953, in Jeffersonville, Indiana. A high-scoring guard at Jeffersonville High School, he averaged 28.5 points and 14.4 rebounds as a senior, finished with 1,611 career points and earned Indiana Mr. Basketball honors in 1971. Flynn also received prep All-America recognition and lettered twice in football before joining a celebrated Kentucky freshman class that completed a 22-0 season and was rated the nation’s top freshman team.

Flynn developed into one of Kentucky’s most complete guards during three varsity seasons from 1972–73 through 1974–75. After averaging 15.4 points and 6.5 rebounds as a freshman-team standout, he became a dependable varsity starter, playmaker and rebounder who regularly drew the opponent’s most difficult backcourt assignment. As a junior, Flynn started every game, averaged 11.5 points and 5.9 rebounds, and led Kentucky with 87 assists. His defense earned particular recognition, and his speed, timing and willingness to rebound made him unusually effective for a 6-foot-3 guard.

His defining Kentucky performance came during the 1975 NCAA Mideast Regional final against unbeaten and top-ranked Indiana. Flynn scored Kentucky’s first 15 points of the second half and finished with 22 on nine-of-13 shooting as the Wildcats stunned the Hoosiers, 92-90. Earlier in the tournament, he had collected 11 rebounds against Central Michigan, again demonstrating the all-around contribution that did not always appear in the scoring column. Kentucky went on to defeat Syracuse in the national semifinals before finishing as the NCAA runner-up after a 92-85 loss to UCLA.

Following his senior season, Flynn shared Kentucky’s Claude Sullivan Memorial Award as the team’s assists leader and was named the Wildcats’ Best Defensive Player. He joined the Indiana Pacers after leaving Kentucky and spent three seasons with the franchise before later playing professionally in Sweden. Remembered as an unselfish floor leader, determined defender and strong rebounder, Flynn helped guide Kentucky from a difficult 13-13 season to an SEC championship and the 1975 national title game.