Fairdale High School

Lloyd Gardner's Bulldogs, Kentucky champions in 1990, 1991 and 1994 and sixth in the state's preseason poll, played nine and pressed full court. Senior guard Antonio Short (18.6 points), the lone returning starter and recruited by Louisville and LSU, led 6-5 senior Troy Brown (14.7 points, 10.5 rebounds), Ron House (18.7) and senior guard Will Williams (11.1). Gardner, once trainer of the ABA's Kentucky Colonels, was a long-time friend of Dale Burns, whose idea for the tournament came from Fairdale's King of the Bluegrass in 1981. 6-1 coming in.