In celebrating the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association’s and Title IX’s 50th Anniversary, the IBCA had media and coaches select the 30 most impactful people in Men's Basketball and the 30 most impactful people in Women's basketball during the last 50 years. We will be highlighting in alphabetical order one person a week from each category who our state selected for the Top 30 over the next 30 weeks, beginning on Thursday, January 20th.

Week Twenty-Five (7/7/22)

Jay Shidler
Lawrenceville High School/University of Kentucky

The “Blond Bomber” also knowns as Jay Shidler excited basketball fans in every part of Illinois.  Discussions still take place today in regard to what the “Blond Bomber” could have scored had there been a 3-point line back in the 1970’s.   His shooting range was comparable to the NBA arc today.  Jay played for Lawrenceville High School and legendary coach Ron Felling. In 3 ½ seasons he scored 2,183 points.  During this time period Lawrenceville went 103-15, won several holiday tournaments, 3 regional titles, 2 sectional crowns, one IHSA 3rd place finish and a state championship. As a senior Jay averaged 32.7 ppg and earned all-state honors as both a junior and senior.  Shidler was also a prep All-American.  For an encore he was the MVP of the IBCA All-Star game.  Jay went on to play at the University of Kentucky where he was a member of their 1978 NCAA Championship Team.