BEN WILEY IN THE LIMESTONE COUNTY HALL OF FAME

Ben Wiley’s basketball career began in Elkmont, took him to southeast Alabama, east Tennessee and back to Limestone County where he finished at Athens State. For an outstanding basketball career, Wiley is part of the 2015 class to be inducted into the Limestone County Sports Hall of Fame June 20 at the Limestone County Event Center.


Wiley played at Elkmont from 1985-87 during a time when Limestone County basketball was at an all-time high. The competition was so good, Elkmont’s area and county opponents — Tanner and East Limestone — played one another in the 3A state championship game in 1986.
“He was a hardworking basketball player,” said former Elkmont teammate Garth Garris. “He really didn’t turn it loose until his senior year (at Elkmont). There were lots of good basketball players in the county at that time and he could play against any of them.”

Tanner went on to win the state championship that season along with the area tournament, but not without a fight. Wiley and the Red Devils pushed Tanner in a 62-59 loss in the area semifinals.
“I remember that night he stepped up against Tanner,” said Garris. “He dominated the game inside the paint. That’s really when Ben became a dominant force. He was blocking shots, taking it to the glass. He was such a hard worker, he didn’t think anything about it.”
After he was named Elkmont’s first All-State first-team selection his senior year, Wiley signed with Southern Union Community College. Wiley excelled at Southern Union, averaging 26 points and 11 rebounds per game and was named the Alabama Junior College Player of the Year in 1989. After junior college, he signed with the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga where he played one season for the Mocs before finishing his career at Athens State College.

Wiley lives in Athens where he is director at Athens Parks and Recreation.

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