January 21, 1963 Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, Hall of Fame basketball player, was born in Lagos, Nigeria. Olajuwon came to the United States to play basketball for the University of Houston where he had a standout career, including winning the 1983 NCAA Tournament Player of the Year Award.
Tag Archives | Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Reece “Goose” Tatum – January 18th in African American History
January 18, 1967 Reece “Goose” Tatum, Hall of Fame basketball player, died. Tatum was born May 31, 1921 in El Dorado, Arkansas. In high school, he played baseball, football, and basketball. He played Negro league baseball from 1937 to 1949 and was a co-owner of the Detroit Clowns baseball team in the late 1950s.
Alexander English – January 5th in African American History
January 5, 1954 Alexander English, hall of fame basketball player, was born in Columbia, South Carolina. English played collegiate basketball at the University of South Carolina where he was a two-time All-American and graduated in 1976. He was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1976 NBA Draft. English spent the majority of his 16 […]
July 24th in African American History – Karl Anthony Malone
July 24, 1963 Karl Anthony Malone, hall of fame basketball player, was born in Summerfield, Louisiana. Malone played college basketball at Louisiana Tech University where he earned the nickname “The Mailman” because he always delivered. Malone was selected by the Utah Jazz in the 1985 NBA Draft. Over his 19 season career, Malone was NBA […]
March 23rd in African American History – Moses Eugene Malone
March 23, 1955 Moses Eugene Malone, hall of fame basketball player, was born in Petersburg, Virginia. In 1974, Malone was drafted by the Utah Stars of the American Basketball Association right out of high school, becoming the fifth player to jump straight from high school to the professional leagues. When the ABA merged with the […]
March 16th in African American History – Charlaine Vivian Stringer
March 16, 1948 Charlaine Vivian Stringer, hall of fame college basketball coach, was born in Edenborn, Pennsylvania. In high school, Stringer sued her school for not allowing her to be a cheerleader because of her race. She won the case and was given a spot on the cheerleading squad. Stringer earned her Bachelor of Arts […]
February 27th in African American History – James Ager Worthy
February 27, 1961 James Ager Worthy, hall of fame basketball player, was born in Gastonia, North Carolina. Worthy was an All-American high school basketball player and after graduating enrolled at the University of North Carolina. In 1982, Worthy was an All-American and co-College Player of the Year. That year, he also led UNC to the […]