| School: Jefferson | Graduation Year: 1979 |
Sport Played: Basketball
Year Inducted: 2023
High School Honors: 2 Basketball letters. On PIL Championship Team as Junior, 3rd in State. 1st Team All-PIL as Senior, averaged 25 points per game and 12 rebounds per game, 2nd Team All-State and 2nd Team All-Tourney at State as a Senior. Metro-State All-Star and Game MVP as Senior. Received Jefferson’s “top male athlete” award.
Post High School Career: Four-year starter for the University of Idaho team that played in two NCAA tournaments and the Sweet 16. Team Captain Junior and Senior years, All-Big Sky Team, 1980-1983, Big Sky Champions and Far West Classic Champs 1981 and 1982. Finished career at University of Idaho in Top 10 statistically in nine categories. Drafted by Portland Trailblazers, 1983; played professionally in Australia and Argentina, coached High School basketball in Moscow, Idaho. Coached traveling AAU basketball in Portland, 1992-2004. Youth basketball referee in Oregon, Washington, and Arizona, 2010-Present.
Commentary:
I am blessed to be receiving this prestigious honor from PIL Hall of Fame. I was first introduced to the game of basketball as a 4th grader when someone asked a few us if we wanted to participate in Golden Ball basketball. I had played on the neighborhood playgrounds and watched my older brothers play ball but I had never been in an organized game or on a basketball team.
Growing up, I was a huge fan of Jefferson High School’s basketball. The 1971 team and also the 1972 team had won the state championships and my brother, Tony, had played on that team. I was so inspired at 11 years old that I wanted nothing more than to one day play high school basketball and to play in the big tournament. Every holiday season, while playing with Golden Ball, we were given tickets to attend the consolation games of the Far West Classic college basketball tournament at Memorial Coliseum. This ticket became my favorite reoccurring Christmas present. By the time I entered high school at Jefferson, I had the opportunity to attend the championship rounds of the Far West Classic.
I realized that the thought of playing basketball in the State Championship and playing college basketball at the Memorial Coliseum in the Far West Classic were my dreams. My dreams did come true. As a high school player at Jefferson, I played in two state tournaments. I played college basketball at the University of Idaho, playing in three Far West Classic tournaments, winning two of them. Topping it all off with this PIL Hall of Fame honor has made me very proud.
My heartfelt thanks go out to my middle school coach Cedrick Crowell, who not only taught me the fundamentals of basketball, but demonstrated that teammates are family on and off the court; to Jack Bertell, my JV coach who taught me how to apply these fundamentals and the importance of team work; to Bobby Harris, my Jefferson H.S. coach who taught me the work ethic required and who fueled my life-long love of the game. Thank you.