Coach Luckett began his love for basketball playing at White Station Middle where he played up as an 8th grader seemingly destined to be the next Bill Cook. After moving, he transferred to Christian Brothers
High School, but had to sit out his freshman year for eligibility. In the next 3 years, he began to change the culture of CBHS basketball – a school formerly only known for football and baseball.
While playing at Christian Brothers High School (1975-1979) he was AllDistrict (77-78, 78-79), All-Region (77-78), All-City (78-79), All-County (77-78, 78-79), All-State (78-79) and Honorable Mention All-American (78-79). He led the school to its first ever 20-win season in history his senior year.
After his final game at CBHS in 1979, he set school records for:
➢ Points scored in a career – 1,677
➢ Points scored in a season – 601
➢ Points scored in a game – 44
➢ Field goals scored in a career – 918
➢ Field goals scored in a season – 262
➢ Field goals scored in a game – 20
➢ Assists in a career – 284
➢ Steals in a season – 49
➢ Seasonal scoring average – 21
➢ Free throw percentage for a career – 82
➢ Free throw percentage for a season – 83
➢ Games played in a career – 90
To this day, Coach Luckett still holds the record for most points scored in a game and most field goals in a game, he also has his jersey (#43) retired. His Points scored in a career record stood for 43 years until broken by Chandler Jackson in the State Championship game in 2022.
After many suitors, Bubba followed his dream to play (on full scholarship) at the University of Memphis (Memphis State at the
time) from 1979-1983 with notable teammates: Keith Lee, Hank McDowell, Andre Turner, Doom Haynes. The Tigers were
ranked number 1 in the country his senior year. A notable moment was hitting a buzzer-beater to beat St. Louis and advance in the Metro
Conference Tournament. He graduated with his bachelor’s in business administration.
Bubba then got the “itch” to try out coaching and went back to his alma mater as an assistant coach under Charlie Leonard at CBHS from 1983- 1990, helping lead the Brothers to their first ever State Title in 1987.
He became Head coach in 1990. Since then, has accumulated a record of 701-300 (making him top 12 in wins in Tennessee all time, top 3 in active coaches in Tennessee). As a head coach, Bubba has won the Region 10 times, taken teams to the State Tournament 14 times and to the State Championship game in 2004, 2008, 2010, 2015 & 2022 (State Champs). The 2022 season was an Bubba Luckett
Head Coach, Christian Brothers High School undefeated (28-0) State Championship and was just the 3rd team in Memphis basketball history to go undefeated and win a State Title.
In both the 2015 and 2021 season, Coach Luckett’s teams went undefeated in the regular season. In both 2021 and 2022 the teams were ranked as high as #16 and #15 in the nation, respectively. He’s now led the basketball program to twenty-two 20-win seasons and is easily the winningest coach in school history. In the Spring of 2024, he was named the Billy J. Murphy Award winner as part of the University of Memphis’ Hall of Fame Awards – given to a former Memphis athlete that has gone on to excel in their profession.
He’s been named:
➢ The Daily Memphian Coach of the Year
➢ The Commercial Appeal Coach of the Year
➢ Region Coach of the Year (11 times)
➢ Basketball Coaches Association of Tennessee – Coach of
the Year
➢ TSSAA Coach of the Year
➢ Catholic Diocese of Memphis Coach of the Year
➢ Memphis Amateur Sports Hall of Fame
➢ Christian Brothers High School Hall of Fame
➢ Key to the City of Memphis
➢ Billy J. Murphy Award – U of M Hall of Fame
➢ John R Wooden Legacy Award
➢ Coaching Record: 707-303
He coached 61 players that went on to play college basketball.