Feb. 20, 2013 —
Everyone always hears the saying, “Records are made to be broken.”
For West Carter senior guard Kyle Brown, this particular record means more than most.
In the second quarter of West Carter’s final home game of the regular season, Brown released a 23-foot rainbow that sunk the bottom of the net for his eighth point of the contest.
But that mark gave him the record of most points scored in West Carter boys basketball history, passing former Comet great Casey Lowe.
“After I scored five early, it was in my head a little bit,” Brown said after Thursday’s game. “I shot that third three and I thought it was down and it came out. The next one I shot, I knew what it was.”
It was also fitting that on his senior night, his last career game on Jon “Hop” Brown Court (named for Kyle’s father) in Olive Hill that his name will be placed in the rafters with the most points scored by a Comet boys basketball player.
“It’s crazy how that worked out,” Brown said. “Just to get it here in front of my family and friends and on my dad’s court, it’s extra special.”
“I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve been in this gym,” Brown said. “I grew up in here. It feels good to know all the hard work pays off.”
Kyle was Hop’s only son. He was pride and joy. Not only was he a father, he was a coach for him, both on and off the basketball court and the golf course.
In August 2003, Hop, who guided the Lady Comets to a State Championship in 2000 and is considered basketball royalty in Olive Hill, died of brain cancer. Kyle is positive his father had a front row seat.
“He always told me I was his favorite son, but I was his only son so he didn’t have a choice, ” Brown said.
His father's words of wisdom: “Winning isn’t everything and to keep my head up and do what you love and that I love you.”
The only boy out of four siblings, basketball runs through all their veins. His sister Kandi has her name hanging on a banner.
She is second on West Carter girls’ career scoring list with 2,599 points, only behind former Kentucky Miss Basketball Penny Gearhart, who scored 2,711 points in her time in the maroon and blue. Kandi was also the MVP of the 2000 State Tournament as a senior for her dad. All four siblings, including Kim and Karla, wear No. 41 on their jersey, just like their dad.
For his career, Kyle has 1,868 points. He also owns school records in most games played at 125 (counting Tuesday’s district tournament game against East Carter), and steals at 224. If he can knock down four three-point shots on Tuesday, he will own the record of most three’s made in a career.
While he is focused on bringing a district championship to West Carter (which would be the first time since 1999), Kyle admitted he is still weighing his options about where he will go to college.
Transylvania is on his radar as one possible destination.
Coach Jeremy Webb’s name is also on that list of points scored and he knows how special it is to be on that banner and knows Kyle appreciates the magnitude of his accomplishment.
“I couldn’t be any prouder of Kyle breaking the record,” Webb said. “The Brown family means so much to West Carter basketball and they are so well thought of and looked up to and he definitely deserved the record.”
Sometime before the start of next season, the hardwood on Jon “Hop” Brown Court will be taken apart and replaced with a new floor. Kyle said he did not think about it at first, but will likely make sure he gets the spot where he broke the record.
“That would be pretty neat,” Brown said. “I might have to talk to somebody about that and see if I can get that worked out. It’d be pretty cool.”
MacKenzie Bates can be reached at mbates@journal-times.com or by telephone at 1-800-247-6142.
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Kyle Brown is now the all-time leading scorer in West Carter boys basketball history. Photo by MacKenzie Bates
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