![](/sites/default/files/imported/Photos/161019_Wilburn_2H.jpg)
River Rouge Star Wilburn Remembered
By
John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director emeritus
October 19, 2016
One of the captains from the legendary boys basketball teams of the early 1960s at River Rouge passed away earlier this month.
Ken Wilburn, 72, a forward on the 1961 and 1962 teams that were part of a since-unequaled streak in Michigan high school basketball – five consecutive MHSAA championships – accomplished what was thought to be the first triple-double in Finals history in the 1962 Class B championship game against East Grand Rapids.
Wilburn scored 26 points – 13 in the third period – to go with 15 rebounds and 11 steals in a 69-39 win, a game Coach Lofton Greene said “was his best ever.”
Wilburn would go on to lead Central State University (Ohio) to a 30-0 record and the NAIA national championship in 1965, when he was named the title game’s Most Valuable Player. He earned All-America honors and finished his career as the school’s scoring leader.
During a 13-year journeyman professional career, Wilburn played in the NBA, the ABA and in the Eastern Pennsylvania Basketball League/Eastern Basketball Association. He played on three championship teams in the EPBL/EBA and was a league MVP on two occasions.
PHOTOS: (Top) Ken Wilburn (25) poses with his teammates after the 1962 Class B championship game victory. (Middle) Wilburn works to gather a loose ball from an East Grand Rapids player.
State Champs! Michigan: Hangtime 3-3-23
March 3, 2023
Join Lorne Plant, TJ Kelley and Scott Burnstein for the ninth episode this season of STATE CHAMPS! Hangtime.
0:00 – Open
0:42 – Farmington’s Greg Grays ‘26
2:58 – Mr. Basketball predictions
7:22 – Games on SC! recaps
8:48 – CHSL Bishop Championship, #3 Brother Rice vs #5 UofD Jesuit
13:15 – CHSL Cardinal Championship, Detroit Loyola vs Riverview Gabriel Richard
15:24 – North Farmington clinches OAA Red vs Ferndale
19:16 – BCAM Chalk Talk clip with Brother Rice Head Coach, Rick Palmer
21:54 – Scott and TJ explain the impact of Coach Palmer at Brother Rice
26:22 – Top 20 rankings
29:09 – Weekend preview
33:27 – TJ on Division 2 Districts
36:30 – Scott on Division 1 Districts
41:04 - Close