John Havlicek Then John Havlicek was born on April 8, 1940, in Martins Ferry, Ohio. Growing up in a small town, Havlicek developed a passion for sports at an early age, excelling in both basketball and football.  His athletic talents were evident throughout his high school years, leading him to pursue higher education at Ohio […]

George Gervin Then George Gervin was born on April 27, 1952, in Detroit, Michigan. From a young age, Gervin displayed a natural talent for basketball, which he honed while growing up in the tough neighborhoods of Detroit. He initially committed to play college basketball at California State College, Long Beach (now California State University, Long

Walt Frazier Then Walt Frazier, born on March 29, 1945, in Atlanta, Georgia, displayed his athletic prowess early on at David Tobias Howard High School. There, he was not only the quarterback of the football team and the catcher on the baseball team but also learned to play basketball on the school’s dirt playground.  This

Hal Greer Then Hal Greer, born on June 26, 1936, in Huntington, West Virginia, emerged as a trailblazer in both collegiate and professional basketball during a pivotal era of racial integration. Raised in Huntington and educated at Douglass Junior and Senior High School, an all-black institution, Greer honed his basketball skills early on as a

Patrick Ewing Then Patrick Ewing, born on August 5, 1962, in Kingston, Jamaica, is a legendary figure in basketball. At the age of 11, he moved to the United States, where he was first introduced to the sport while attending school in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  Despite starting basketball relatively late, Ewing quickly adapted to the game,

Clyde Drexler Then Clyde Drexler, born on June 22, 1962, in New Orleans, Louisiana, spent most of his formative years in the South Park area of Houston, Texas. Growing up in Houston, he attended high school where he initially played baseball and struggled to join the basketball team.  It wasn’t until his senior year that

Dave DeBusschere Then Dave DeBusschere was born on October 16, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan, to parents Peter Marcell and Dorothy DeBusschere.  His early athletic prowess became evident during his time at Austin Catholic Preparatory School, where he inspired the “White Shirted Legion,” a tradition of fans wearing white shirts to boost visibility at school games. 

Billy Cunningham Then Billy Cunningham was born on June 3, 1943, in the Parkville section of Brooklyn, New York.  His basketball journey began in Brooklyn, where he excelled at St. Rose of Lima and later at Erasmus Hall High School. Cunningham quickly gained recognition, becoming the MVP of the Brooklyn League in 1961.  He was

Dave Cowens Then Dave Cowens was born on October 25, 1948, in Newport, Kentucky, growing up in a large family as one of six children. He attended Newport Catholic High School, where he quickly distinguished himself as a talented basketball player.  His skills on the court attracted attention, laying the foundation for his future career