Bubba Hill

From 8-16-14

Luke, better known as "Bubba" Hill, was one of our most exciting (& colorful) players! His senior year, he led us to a 27-3 record, as our leading scorer (20 ppg), and was the leading rebounder (11 rpg).

During the 4 years he was on the team, the Rams won 3 Region Championships, and was the State Runnerup his senior year. Bubba's stellar play helped him be named All-State his senior year, as he was listed #10 in the state's Top 25 Best Players. He was also All-Region 2 years. Later, Bubba said he had never had so much fun in a basketball game as when we beat Carver, (and he scored 37 points). Bubba's "most famous" shot came against Druid Hills when he hit (from behind the mid-court line as time was running out on the clock), giving the a Rams the lead they never relinquished! The next day, sportswriter Bob Greer & Sheriff Henry Odum came to the gym and measured the shot at 55'6"! Mr. Greer said it was the longest shot he had ever seen made in the Newton High gym! After games or practice, our players would undress, go to our laundry room to get a towel, and take a shower. Our bottom dressing room windows were painted, but the top of the windows were so high that they didn't need to be painted. After one game, Bubba went into the dressing room, got a towel, & came out screaming! I ran into the laundry room, thinking he had touched something which had shocked him. Then--I realized that the visiting team's bus was parked outside our dressing room--& one of the mountain girls hung out the window and yelled, "Hey, Coach! Tell #30 we've seen it all!" In one region semi-final game, something happened that is hard to believe. Bubba "walked" toward our team huddle, which was a "No,No", (as our rule was that a player must "hustle" inside the playing court)! I acted instinctively and said, "Bubba, get down at the end of the court and run--until you learn to 'hustle'!" The ball was put in play on the opposite end of the court, but when the ref saw Bubba running, he stopped the game! The referee hustled down to a Bubba & said, "Son, you can't run here during the game!" Bubba pointed at me and said, "If you'll tell that man over there, I'll be glad to stop!" Bubba says that people still recognize him & say, "Weren't you the guy running on the end of the court during the region tournament game??" Bubba's outstanding high school basketball career earned him a 4-year scholarship to LaGrange College, where he scored 1,044 points in his 4-year career! He was honored there by being named to the LaGrange College Sports Hall of Fame (& also, later, one of our other outstanding players, Dr. Todd Whitsitt was also awarded this high honor!). Newton County basketball fans will long remember Luke, better known as "Bubba" for his outstanding play--& his colorful antics!