LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Bellarmine University Head Coach Scott Davenport is one of seven honorees that will be inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame, it was announced this morning at a news conference at the KFC Yum! Center.

Joining Coach Davenport in the 2016 induction class are Shaun Alexander, Darel Carrier, Kyra Elzy, Phillip Haywood, Joel Utley and the Lakeside Swim Club.

"This honor is second to none," Davenport said, "because it represents an organization that covers every facet of sports—every facet throughout the bluegrass—and the goal is to help young people.  The more people we have helping young people like Kosair Charities, the better we're going to be."

Davenport, a native of Louisville's South End where he was an all-district player at Iroquois High School, is ingrained in the Commonwealth's basketball culture. Davenport is the only head coach to win both the KHSAA and NCAA Championships. In ten seasons at Louisville's Ballard High School (86-96), Davenport compiled a 258-69 record, which included the 1988 State Championship. Davenport's collegiate coaching includes VCU (1985-86), UofL (1996-2005), and Bellarmine University (Beginning in 2005), where he won the 2011 National Championship.

Davenport also spoke of the personal significance represented in inscription of the Hall of Fame plaque. "This was a thrill," he said.  "I could have gone to a hall of fame journalist, I could have gone to our S.I.D. at Bellarmine, but my sons Russ and Doug and daughter-in-law Ashley wrote mine and that was special."   

The Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame honors athletes and sports figures who were born in or who played their respective sport in the State of Kentucky. Each inductee receives a bronze plaque that will hang inside Louisville's Freedom Hall. Past inductees include Muhammad Ali, Pee Wee Reese, Pat Day, Denny Crum and many more.
 
The Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame celebrates its 53rd anniversary in 2016 and will hold the annual banquet to induct the 2016 Class on June 2 at the Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport Exposition Center. This semi-formal event includes a silent auction, dinner, and a program. All proceeds from this event benefit Kosair Charities. For tickets: http://www.KAHF16.eventbrite.com.
 
Bios of remaining six inductees:
 
Shaun Alexander began his football career as the running back for Boone County Rebels Legendary Coach Owen Hauck. Shaun was 1994 Kentucky  Mr. Football, 1993/1994 All State, was an All American, and was the ESPN #1 HS Recruit his senior year. His senior year at Boone County, Alexander has 3501 yards and 54 TDs. In his HS career he scored 110 TDs and rushed for 6657 yards. Alexander attended the University of Alabama he was named 1998/1999 All SEC, 1999 SEC Player of the Year, and NCAA All American. He left Alabama as the all-time rush and touchdown leader. In 2000, Alexander went first round to the Seattle Seahawks. He played in the Pro Bowl three times, was named All Pro twice, was named to the NFL 2000 All decade team and was 2005 NFL MVP. Alexander was the first football player to grace the cover of EA Sports College and NFL video games. Alexander's nickname is Mr. Touchdown because he is the only person to score 110 TDs in High School, 50 in college and 112 in the NFL.

Darel Carrier- Scored 3148 pts (64 point game) in HS. All American at WKU (50 point game). Broke WKU scoring record 26 ppg. In ABA, averaged 20 ppg (53 point game), led 3-point percentage, best Free Throw percentage(89.19 in 1969-70),three-time All Star Team member, and made Top 30 All-Time Team. Voted 6^th Best Backcourt (with Louie Dampier), Top 25 Shooting Guards, and Top 50 Free Throw Shooters in the history of the professional game. Leading scorer in World Tournament. 1967 Gold Medal winner in Pan American Games (scored 32 pts -a record that has not been broken).

Kyra Elzy- One of the best girls' basketball players from Kentucky, Kyra Elzy earned Eighth Region Player of the Year and All-State honors each of her final three seasons at Oldham County.  A two-time All-America selection by Parade Magazine and Street & Smith, Elzy led the Lady Colonels to four district titles, two regional championships and a semifinal appearance at the 1993 KHSAA Girls' Sweet 16®. Elzy went on to star at the University of Tennessee following he prep career and was a pair of two national championship teams.
 
Philip Haywood is the head football coach at Belfry High School. After 41 seasons, he is the winningest coach in Kentucky history with a record of 403-129. Since moving to Belfry in 1984, he has a record of 331-97 in 32 seasons, including 5 state championships and 6 runners-up finishes. Philip has been named the C-J Coach of the Year 4 times, was USA Today's National Coach of the Year in 2013, received the Blanton Collier National School Coach of the Year in 2014, and will be inducted into the National High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2016.
 
Lakeside Swim Club, located in the highlands neighborhood of Louisville was founded in 1924 . Lakeside began its first swim team in 1928 and has provided a rich history and tradition of high level competitive swimming, boasting 10 Olympians (1940-2012), numerous champions and qualifiers in the World Games, Pan Am Games, Olympic Trials, NCAA, Nationals, and Kentucky Championships. The swim team continues to host the Ohio Valley Championships, the oldest annual swimming meet held in the USA, as well as one of the longest hosted Masters Swim Meet's (adult competition) in the USA.  Numerous swimmers, divers and coaches have earned local, state, and national accolades in their respective discipline while representing Lakeside. Lakeside's reputation as one of the most unique swimming facilities is well-known throughout the country.
 
Joel Utley: This play-by-play broadcaster began describing the action of the Kentucky Wesleyan College Basketball games in 1961and by the time of his induction had called more than 1600 KWC games. Over those 55 year, Utley broadcast all 8 NCAA D-II title games won by KWC; 12 NCAA D-II Championship games and six straight title games all involving the Owensboro school. All were records. In addition to KWC basketball, Utley called high school football and basketball, plus KWC football until he began concentrating on basketball in the 1980s. A native of Madisonville, Utley's love for basketball evolved by attending games officiated by his father, William Utley , a 1996 inductee to the KHSAA Hall of Fame.