The list: Middletown High School's greatest basketball players

Wade E. Miller Gym, home of the Middletown High School boys basketball team since it opened on Dec. 5, 1952, will host its last basketball game Dec. 8 when the Middies face Butler County rival Hamilton.

MORE: 5 things to know about Middletown’s storied Wade E. Miller Gym

The next night, Middletown will unveil its state of-the-art arena when the girls host Colerain, followed by the boys against Lima Senior.

Here is an alphabetical list of the greatest Middletown High School basketball players who spent their careers at Wade E. Miller Gym.

This list, which includes first-, second- and third-teams and honorable mention, was compiled after interviewing former coaches, players and longtime fans.

MORE: Middies great Jerry Lucas shares memories of Wade E. Miller Gym

This list doesn’t include players who played in the Middletown High School gymnasium during the 1970s — which eliminated two great Middies, Archie Aldridge and Butch Carter, among others.

::FIRST TEAM::

Cris Carter: No. 7 in career scoring with 1,299 points. A member of NFL Hall of Fame.

Vince Edwards: Scored 1,628 points, trailing only Jerry Lucas. A senior at Purdue University.

John Fraley: Scored 1,329, placing him sixth in scoring. He was Ohio Player of the Year. He played at Georgia.

Cliff Hafer: He scored 910 points and is No. 16 overall. He played at North Carolina State.

Jerry Lucas: School's No. 1 scorer with 2,460 points in three seasons. Led Middies to 76-1 record and two state titles. Member of the NBA Hall of Fame.

MORE: Memories of Wade E. Miller Gym: ‘It was the place to been seen’

::SECOND TEAM::

Bob Cole: Arguably one of the greatest shooters in school history.

Bill Edwards: Scored 1,129 points, placing him No. 8 overall. Played at Penn State.

Ryan Fletcher: After a standout high school career, played at the University of Cincinnati.

Owen Lawson: Scored 901 points, placing him No. 17 overall. Played at Western Kentucky.

Rick Martin: After a great high school career, played at Wright State where he was third leading scorer when he graduated. Later changed his name to Abdul Shakur Ahmad

::THIRD TEAM::

Greg Akers: Scored 969 points, placing him No. 15 overall.

Bud Bierly: Scored 1,078 points, putting him No. 9 in school history.

Ken Cohen: A standout at Middletown, he played at Pennsylvania.

Mark Current: No. 5 overall in points, he scored 1,344 points.

Gene Snow: Regarded as a great defender and shooter.

::HONORABLE MENTION::

Jim Gillis, J.J. Lucas, Charlie Mack, Jalen Marshall, Geovonie McKnight, A.C. Mitchell, Allen Roberts.

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