Thefts force Franklin to take down Luke Kennard ‘Mr. Basketball’ signs

However, in the past few weeks, two of those five signs have been stolen, forcing the city to take down the other signs.

“The one thing Luke did wrong was that he’s too popular,” City Manager Sonny Lewis said during a council meeting Monday.

City officials believe the signs were stolen sometime after Kennard declared his intentions to enter the NBA draft and forgo his final two years at Duke University.

Steve Inman, city public works director, said there were five signs made for various city entrances. He said the two that were pilfered were located in the north area of the city, at the point where River and Main streets meet and on North Dixie Highway.

Inman said the signs cost about $155 each to make.