By RICK PETERSON 
TopSports.news
EDITOR'S NOTE: Over the coming weeks, TopSports.news will recognize Shawnee County's all-time coaching greats in 14 sports as part of our Best of the Best project. Readers will have the opportunity to vote through July 15, with the Top 10 in all categories announced in July and August. To cast a vote for the Best of the Best Men's Basketball Coach click on https://linkto.run/p/2CHKQYK7 while email votes/nominations will be also accepted at
-------------------------------------------------------
Who is the greatest men's basketball coach in Shawnee County history?
Former Hayden coach Ben Meseke coached Hayden to 12 state titles in basketball and cross country. [Macfeesports.com]
Ken Darting has coached five teams to state boys basketball championships, including four at Highland Park. [File photo/TSN]
Current Seaman basketball coach Craig Cox has led five teams to state championships in basketball and baseball, including the Class 5A basketball title this past season. [File photo/TSN]
The late Willie Nicklin compiled over 500 career basketball wins and led Topeka High to a pair of state titles. [Submitted photo]
Is it former Hayden coach Ben Meseke, who led the Wildcats to six state titles, including a perfect season in 1983, or is it former Silver Lake and Highland Park coach and current Shawnee Heights coach Ken Darting, who coached five state championship teams, including a 25-0 season at Hi Park in 2007?
It's also impossible to overlook Hall of Fame legends like Willie Nicklin (Topeka High) and Ken Bueltel (Hayden) or Randy Springs (Highland Park), who coached the Scots to a pair of state titles and a win in the only Grand State Tournament.
Current Seaman coach Craig Cox has three career boys basketball titles, including the first boys crown in school history this past season, while both Cox and Bob Bodenheimer won a pair of state championships at Shawnee Heights.
There are 11 candidates listed to pick from at https://linkto.run/p/2CHKQYK7 while readers also have the option of writing in a name.
Vote as many times as you wish, with the only requirement that eligible candidates must have been a head or assistant coach in Shawnee County at one of the county's 10 high schools.
Final selections will be based on reader vote as well as input from TSN contributors and current and past local sports media professionals.
Votes will be accepted through July 15 before TSN publishes our Best of the Best lists in July and August.
NEXT UP: Bowling (Poll will be posted on June 30).
