Best Basketball Player from State of CT (played HS in state) | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Best Basketball Player from State of CT (played HS in state)

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CTfanOregon said:
Egan played for the Lakers I believe.
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I'm not from Hartford but I was a basketball Junkie( shock) with a radio.
Johnny was one of my boyhood idols.
His duel will Kenny Tullo and his great Hillhouse team was legendary.
I think Weaver beat Hillhouse as John scored 42 to Kenny's 40
He also made two clutch FT to send the NE tourney final to OT where I believe he scored every point. As Connecticut team won yet another in a tourney they dominated. It was a great event
I listened to the game and he will forever be a hero .
Many high school games especially The New Haven and Hartford schools
Were broadcast. ''
He was an incredible athlete whose jumping ability earned him the nickname
The spaceman.
As a sophomore and Junior he teamed with Lennie Wilkins to put PC basketball on the map.
Wilkens who may be a NBA HOFer was second fiddle to John when they teamed together at PC.
Egan torn his knee badly in college ,and played the rest of his career with a brace.
He lead PC to the NIT title where he averaged over 30 a game.
Playing on a bad knee he managed a ten year NBA career mostly with Houston
Who he also coached.
I have no doubt that if he didn't get hurt he would be mentioned with the all time greats.
Incredible handle , great shooter, and ice water in his veins .
I don't know if he is the best ever but he should never be forgotten.
 
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ford82 said:
Vin Baker should be mentioned not for his High School career but because of his Olympic gold medal in 2000 and he was a multi time NBA All Star before his alcohol troubles. Overall, Calvin Murphy would get my vote.
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Vin's son started his freshman year @ his dad's hometown high school tall but thin.
 
A name that most people never heard of and I never actually saw play was a Waterbury kid named (Billy?)Finn from Sacred Heart,he was killed in an auto accident as a young man.
I only know of him from talking to older guys . His ball handling was so electric,that every city kid try to copy him.. Kind of a Pete Maravich hotdog style that kids love. He may not of been the greatest but was certainly influential in CT BB development.
From a pure shooter standpoint
Bridgeport Centrals Porky Vieira who still holds QC scoring records .
(If you played on the same team as him your only job was to get him the ball.)
New Canaan's Gary Liberatore who scored over 3000 points at UNH (New Haven)before the three point shot .( His normal jump shot was NBA three worthy)
Could hoist them up with the best of them. As could Walt Luckett who was slowed by injury in college,from little Kolbe in Bridgeport.
The point is Ct has produced a lot of good players , Especially although not exclusively the Cities.
I think drugs and violence has stifled the development in the last 20-30 years.
In the 60's and 70's the Dixwell Ave (New Haven )courts were jammed with people.
The young learned from the old. It was kind of an apprenticeship.An NBA player might even drop by.
In 80's and 90's they any many of CT cities breeding grounds for the sport sadly became unsafe. The game has suffered for it.
To allow kids to develop their natural skills playing against good competition is essential.
 
AZHuskiePop said:
I'm not from Hartford but I was a basketball Junkie( shock) with a radio.
Johnny was one of my boyhood idols.
His duel will Kenny Tullo and his great Hillhouse team was legendary.
I think Weaver beat Hillhouse as John scored 42 to Kenny's 40
He also made two clutch FT to send the NE tourney final to OT where I believe he scored every point. As Connecticut team won yet another in a tourney they dominated. It was a great event
I listened to the game and he will forever be a hero .
Many high school games especially The New Haven and Hartford schools
Were broadcast. ''
He was an incredible athlete whose jumping ability earned him the nickname
The spaceman.
As a sophomore and Junior he teamed with Lennie Wilkins to put PC basketball on the map.
Wilkens who may be a NBA HOFer was second fiddle to John when they teamed together at PC.
Egan torn his knee badly in college ,and played the rest of his career with a brace.
He lead PC to the NIT title where he averaged over 30 a game.
Playing on a bad knee he managed a ten year NBA career mostly with Houston
Who he also coached.
I have no doubt that if he didn't get hurt he would be mentioned with the all time greats.
Incredible handle , great shooter, and ice water in his veins .
I don't know if he is the best ever but he should never be forgotten.
Expand ...

Johnny and I had the same high school principal, Ezra Melrose, a truly dedicated hoops fan. Ezra told me that Johnny could dunk flat-footed. Despite this, Bobby Knight was the best ever from Hartford. He left the NBA because the Globetrotters paid him a lot more money. Bob Nash of Hartford Public and the KC Kings was left off the list. Calvin,who had a cousin from Charter Oak Terrace, showed up at our playground and was AMAZING. He's the best.
 
I didn't get to see Calvin but heard how good he was. Having seen Walter Luckett and Super John Williamson play I know he would have to have been truly special to be better as HS player. We had a lot more good one's than people can imagine from our state that's for sure.
 
mauconnfan said:
I didn't get to see Calvin but heard how good he was.
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Mau thought you and others might like this from my 1966 Norwalk HS Yearbook:

"Murphy was invited to participate in the Dapper Dan Tournament and the Allentown Classic.

Playing with the best high school players in the United States there was some question whether Calvin could compete with boys often a foot taller than him. In Pittsburg Murphy was elected Captain of his team, the United States All-Stars. In their game against the Pennsylvania All-Stars Murphy's performance earned him the
"Most Valuable Player" honors. His shooting was incredable in that he scored 37 points in 29 minutes while sinking 13 of 14 free throws.

But, an even greater thrill awaited those fans who made the trip to Allentown. Calvin left no doubt in anyone's mind why he is the best high school cager in America. Against the best players in the United States. Murphy poured in 62 points to the amazement of college coaches John Wooden of UCLA and Adolph Rupp of Kentucky who hailed the Connecticut star as the best guard in 15 years."

He also scored 59 in the CT class L championship game vs South Catholic. (93-76)
Norwalk's only loss that year was to cross town Brien McMahon, lead by Marvin Spencer who succeeded Calvin the following year as New England top scorer (ppg). The third HS in Norwalk, Central Catholic, had a guy named Joe Pantoya(sp) who lead NE in scoring the year following Marvin. Central Catholic merged with Stamford Catholic to become Trinity Catholic.
 
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Catsailor said:
Mau thought you and others might like this from my 1966 Norwalk HS Yearbook:

"Murphy was invited to participate in the Dapper Dan Tournament and the Allentown Classic.

Playing with the best high school players in the United States there was some question whether Calvin could compete with boys often a foot taller than him. In Pittsburg Murphy was elected Captain of his team, the United States All-Stars. In their game against the Pennsylvania All-Stars Murphy's performance earned him the
"Most Valuable Player" honors. His shooting was incredable in that he scored 37 points in 29 minutes while sinking 13 of 14 free throws.

But, an even greater thrill awaited those fans who made the trip to Allentown. Calvin left no doubt in anyone's mind why he is the best high school cager in America. Against the best players in the United States. Murphy poured in 62 points to the amazement of college coaches John Wooden of UCLA and Adolph Rupp of Kentucky who hailed the Connecticut star as the best guard in 15 years."

He also scored 59 in the CT class L championship game vs South Catholic. (93-76)
Norwalk's only loss that year was to cross town Brien McMahon, lead by Marvin Spencer who succeeded Calvin the following year as New England top scorer (ppg). The third HS in Norwalk, Central Catholic, had a guy named Joe Pantoya(sp) who lead NE in scoring the year following Marvin. Central Catholic merged with Stamford Catholic to become Trinity Catholic.
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Great story thanks. Almost could say he "only" made 13 of 14 FT's? He was automatic right?
 
cohenzone said:
Most of you are too young for him, but a guy who went to my high school - Weaver in Hartford - John Egan wasn't too shabby. Led them to an undefeated season his last year including winning the great old New England tournament, was an AA at Providence and then played several NBA seasons as well as coaching in the NBA.

The best player not to play in the NBA was probably Eddie Griffin from Hartford Public. Great high school player.

But I'd give Murphy the vote. Pound for pound the best. Williamson would be a close second.
Expand ...
And for the older guys... Doug Wardlaw, Wilbur Cross, then Loyola Ramblers in mid-60s just after they were national champs in 1963. 5'11" forward. One of my favorites, never did much, but man he could play... Ted Hathaway, Middletown, early 70s.
 
uconnfan68 said:
And for the older guys... Doug Wardlaw, Wilbur Cross, then Loyola Ramblers in mid-60s just after they were national champs in 1963. 5'11" forward. One of my favorites, never did much, but man he could play... Ted Hathaway, Middletown, early 70s.
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Ted Hathaway - was trying to think of him. Lived a town over and he was a legend in hoops, a guy who never touched his potential from what many said.
 
WhiteDressWes said:
Johnny and I had the same high school principal, Ezra Melrose, a truly dedicated hoops fan. Ezra told me that Johnny could dunk flat-footed. Despite this, Bobby Knight was the best ever from Hartford. He left the NBA because the Globetrotters paid him a lot more money. Bob Nash of Hartford Public and the KC Kings was left off the list. Calvin,who had a cousin from Charter Oak Terrace, showed up at our playground and was AMAZING. He's the best.
Expand ...

When were you at Weaver?

I had a friend back in ha who was 7 years younger than Space. A decent but not great player, he challenged Egan who was in college to a one on one. The rule was Egan had to play one handed with his off (left) hand and his right hand always behind his back. Egan destroyed him.
 
.-.
AZHuskiePop said:
A name that most people never heard of and I never actually saw play was a Waterbury kid named (Billy?)Finn from Sacred Heart,he was killed in an auto accident as a young man.
I only know of him from talking to older guys . His ball handling was so electric,that every city kid try to copy him.. Kind of a Pete Maravich hotdog style that kids love. He may not of been the greatest but was certainly influential in CT BB development.
From a pure shooter standpoint
Bridgeport Centrals Porky Vieira who still holds QC scoring records .
(If you played on the same team as him your only job was to get him the ball.)
New Canaan's Gary Liberatore who scored over 3000 points at UNH (New Haven)before the three point shot .( His normal jump shot was NBA three worthy)
Could hoist them up with the best of them. As could Walt Luckett who was slowed by injury in college,from little Kolbe in Bridgeport.
The point is Ct has produced a lot of good players , Especially although not exclusively the Cities.
I think drugs and violence has stifled the development in the last 20-30 years.
In the 60's and 70's the Dixwell Ave (New Haven )courts were jammed with people.
The young learned from the old. It was kind of an apprenticeship.An NBA player might even drop by.
In 80's and 90's they any many of CT cities breeding grounds for the sport sadly became unsafe. The game has suffered for it.
To allow kids to develop their natural skills playing against good competition is essential.
Expand ...

I saw Finn against my school, Weaver. I don't recall that he had a great game, but he was very highly regarded

There were so many great hs players from my era,, 2 of whom I gat to know in later years. Lloyd Hinchey was a 3 time high school all stater from Norwich. He was a great shooter, about 6'2". He went to college at Holy Cross when they were good. Fresh had to play on a freshmen team. He broke their scoring records, a school that produce Cousy, Heinsohn and Jack Foley. Then he hurt his knee and was never quite the same. I guarded him for a few minutes in our law school league. I was not very successful.

The other was Gene Reilly from Bulkeley. Great ball handler and shooter, great baseball pitcher. He went to Central which was aDivision II power and became a Littlle All Anerican. We Weaver kids didn't like him. As the world is small, my son married Reilly's niece. He was in my home a few times. Gene, known from little league days as"Chucker" died 2 years ago after a long illness. He coached the Portland CT high school hoops for many years.
 
UCweCONN said:
Anthony Harris was the best high school player I ever saw. . . . He made a bad decision to go to Syracuse, got out if shape, got in trouble with some other teammates including a bar fight, went to Juco then Hawaii. I will always say it was the greatest waste of talent I've seen. The kid could handle the rock, was deadly from three and beat anyone to to rim (great hops too).
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I was a few years older than Harris, but I played against him in some pick up games on the Balmforth avenue courts. Easily the quickest player I was ever on the court with. A guy named Donnel Diggs was at Danbury at the same time. The two of them had the quickest jump I have ever seen. Diggs had bad knees, as I recall, and ended up at Hartford. Saw him in DC many years later. Guy was doing close-grip (hands touching) bench presses with 225 - for a warm up.

Anthony was done before he ever got to college. Boeheim recruited him on talent alone. What Anthony was missing was any sort of work ethic or team awareness. A close friend of mine, who was close to Valvano back in the day, watched Anthony with me one time at DHS. Within 5 minutes he said, "I don't like him." Kid came out wearing different colored sneakers than everybody else on the team, which, back then, was not the norm. Had a big shot attitude. Didn't show leadership, effort, and so on. But man, could he score and sail and such.

I think there is no way Calhoun could have straightened him out. What he needed was a better HS coach. I played for the same couch at DHS as Anthony. Can't recall his name, but he was tall (maybe 6/4), and a really nice guy. But he was a terrible coach. Absolutely terrible. No structure. Practices were disorganized. Very little skills training. Just awful. After 3 years of that, Anthony's habits were probably set.
 
TasteofUConn said:
I was a few years older than Harris, but I played against him in some pick up games on the Balmforth avenue courts. Easily the quickest player I was ever on the court with. A guy named Donnel Diggs was at Danbury at the same time. The two of them had the quickest jump I have ever seen. Diggs had bad knees, as I recall, and ended up at Hartford. Saw him in DC many years later. Guy was doing close-grip (hands touching) bench presses with 225 - for a warm up.

Anthony was done before he ever got to college. Boeheim recruited him on talent alone. What Anthony was missing was any sort of work ethic or team awareness. A close friend of mine, who was close to Valvano back in the day, watched Anthony with me one time at DHS. Within 5 minutes he said, "I don't like him." Kid came out wearing different colored sneakers than everybody else on the team, which, back then, was not the norm. Had a big shot attitude. Didn't show leadership, effort, and so on. But man, could he score and sail and such.

I think there is no way Calhoun could have straightened him out. What he needed was a better HS coach. I played for the same couch at DHS as Anthony. Can't recall his name, but he was tall (maybe 6/4), and a really nice guy. But he was a terrible coach. Absolutely terrible. No structure. Practices were disorganized. Very little skills training. Just awful. After 3 years of that, Anthony's habits were probably set.
Expand ...

Coaching is HS is so so important and with that some kind of structure/discipline for these kids to take with them. Interesting post - didn't he end up at Hawaii? Or am I thinking of another real great CT scorer in Phil Lott out of Waterbury?
 
cohenzone said:
I saw Finn against my school, Weaver. I don't recall that he had a great game, but he was very highly regarded

There were so many great hs players from my era,, 2 of whom I gat to know in later years. Lloyd Hinchey was a 3 time high school all stater from Norwich. He was a great shooter, about 6'2". He went to college at Holy Cross when they were good. Fresh had to play on a freshmen team. He broke their scoring records, a school that produce Cousy, Heinsohn and Jack Foley. Then he hurt his knee and was never quite the same. I guarded him for a few minutes in our law school league. I was not very successful.

The other was Gene Reilly from Bulkeley. Great ball handler and shooter, great baseball pitcher. He went to Central which was aDivision II power and became a Littlle All Anerican. We Weaver kids didn't like him. As the world is small, my son married Reilly's niece. He was in my home a few times. Gene, known from little league days as"Chucker" died 2 years ago after a long illness. He coached the Portland CT high school hoops for many years.
Expand ...

Didn't Reilly play on that Buckley team that played the passng game (slowdown) to perfection.
When they played in the New England Tourny one Boston writer suggested that team set basketball back 20 or 30 years.
Didn't they finish as runner-up in Ct
,but have won the New England's.

For you young guys the two finalist in each state's top division went to Boston Garden to Compete.
In the New England Tourney.
Connecticut teams dominated even a few CT runner ups won when our State Champ was upset.
 
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AZHuskiePop said:
Didn't Reilly play on that Buckley team that played the passng game (slowdown) to perfection.
When they played in the New England Tourny one Boston writer suggested that team set basketball back 20 or 30 years.
Didn't they finish as runner-up in Ct
,but have won the New England's.

For you young guys the two finalist in each state's top division went to Boston Garden to Compete.
In the New England Tourney.
Connecticut teams dominated even a few CT runner ups won when our State Champ was upset.
Expand ...

I think you're right about that championship game. I think slow down wasn't their usual style, bit I think the team they were playing was overall much taller and heavily favored. so they did what they needed to win. Their coach was Lou Bazzano who was a counselor at the camp I went to as a kid. Many coaches in the Hartford and New Britain systems were counselors event though it wasn't really a sports camp.
 
cohenzone said:
When were you at Weaver?

I had a friend back in ha who was 7 years younger than Space. A decent but not great player, he challenged Egan who was in college to a one on one. The rule was Egan had to play one handed with his off (left) hand and his right hand always behind his back. Egan destroyed him.
Expand ...
cohenzone said:
I saw Finn against my school, Weaver. I don't recall that he had a great game, but he was very highly regarded

There were so many great hs players from my era,, 2 of whom I gat to know in later years. Lloyd Hinchey was a 3 time high school all stater from Norwich. He was a great shooter, about 6'2". He went to college at Holy Cross when they were good. Fresh had to play on a freshmen team. He broke their scoring records, a school that produce Cousy, Heinsohn and Jack Foley. Then he hurt his knee and was never quite the same. I guarded him for a few minutes in our law school league. I was not very successful.

The other was Gene Reilly from Bulkeley. Great ball handler and shooter, great baseball pitcher. He went to Central which was aDivision II power and became a Littlle All Anerican. We Weaver kids didn't like him. As the world is small, my son married Reilly's niece. He was in my home a few times. Gene, known from little league days as"Chucker" died 2 years ago after a long illness. He coached the Portland CT high school hoops for many years.
Expand ...
Mr Melrose had to step down as Weaver principal because of heart problems. When his health improved, he took over at Bulkeley for the '68 - '69 school year. Just before he passed away, I talked to him at a Civic Center game.

Gene came close to being a Weaver guy. The family moved to the south end just before he started high school. His great team lost 4 times to Eddie Griffin's Hartford High team. Ironically, Eddie coached Bulkeley to two State Championships.
 
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AZHuskiePop said:
Didn't Reilly play on that Buckley team that played the passng game (slowdown) to perfection.
When they played in the New England Tourny one Boston writer suggested that team set basketball back 20 or 30 years.
Didn't they finish as runner-up in Ct
,but have won the New England's.

For you young guys the two finalist in each state's top division went to Boston Garden to Compete.
In the New England Tourney.
Connecticut teams dominated even a few CT runner ups won when our State Champ was upset.
Expand ...
They lost to Hartford Public in the NE Championship game. My first day at Bulkeley, they showed the video to all of the freshman boys.
 
1. Calvin Murphy
2. Corny Thompson
3. Anthony Harris
4. Walter Luckett
5. John Williamson
 
WhiteDressWes said:
They lost to Hartford Public in the NE Championship game. My first day at Bulkeley, they showed the video to all of the freshman boys.
Expand ...
Attached is a great web site on The New England tourney
Unfortunate I couldn't copy it as a link on my I Pad
Buckley beat Cambrige Ridge High school in their first game before losing to Public
The Mass team was lead
by a kid named Mike Jarvis
Egan scored 36 in the 1957 final 12 in OT including two free throws with no time remaining.
Barring injury I believe he would have been NBA HOF

https://sites.google.com/site/frankspanky/thenewenglandhighschoolchampionshi
 
Husky Dad said:
Was pondering this earlier today. Then I thought who would know such answers. It could only be found in the boneyard. Andre Drummond? Michael Adams, Marcus Camby? I hope no one mentions Ryan Gomes.
Expand ...


I love this post and read all of the comments with delight. I learned a lot! So many terrific players! Ted Hathaway's name brought back memories. Did Wilbur Pope get a mention?

I think Albert Weston deserves a shout out. I think he was All-State all 4 years in HS. Smoothest player ever. Ever. Went on and had a good career at UConn and then became a physician.
 
Al Weston was All State for each of his four years at Cromwell High.

If there are others who achieved this, I don't know who it may be, but this is a darn rare feat.
 
.-.
Waquoit said:
A few years ago I found myself driving through Las Cruces, NM on the way to El Paso. I noticed New Mexico State had a home game that night and stopped in. Super John has his retired jersey up in the rafters. All I could think the entire time I was there was how the hell did a kid from New Haven end up here? Well? Can anyone help me?
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Was living in New Haven in 68-69 and followed Super John Sr HS season-was amazing player. Later I worked with a guy from NMS who saw his college career there and was in awe of his bb skills. Later still I had surgery at Yale NH hospital and a pretty nurse took care of me-said she was his daughter!
 
mauconnfan said:
Coaching is HS is so so important and with that some kind of structure/discipline for these kids to take with them. Interesting post - didn't he end up at Hawaii? Or am I thinking of another real great CT scorer in Phil Lott out of Waterbury?
Expand ...
They both ended up at Hawaii, Lott is one of their all-time leading scorers.
 
AZHuskiePop said:
The point is Ct has produced a lot of good players , Especially although not exclusively the Cities.
I think drugs and violence has stifled the development in the last 20-30 years.
In the 60's and 70's the Dixwell Ave (New Haven )courts were jammed with people.
The young learned from the old. It was kind of an apprenticeship.An NBA player might even drop by.
In 80's and 90's they any many of CT cities breeding grounds for the sport sadly became unsafe. The game has suffered for it.
To allow kids to develop their natural skills playing against good competition is essential.
Expand ...

Summers in the early 60s, I played every day at Washington Park in Bridgeport. In the 80s and 9s, that park became an open drug mart. The court had big holes in it. Only one basket even had a rim on the backboard. The neighborhood was known for drugs and murders.

Drove through there last year on my way to a funeral. The place is gorgeous! There were families spending time in the park, kids in the playground, actually playing, and the basketball court was a thing of beauty. Only saw about 20 seconds of basketball, but it looked like a game, not a bunch of kids standing around shooting. It was good to see!
 
H-daddy said:
Thanks! I thought for sure Walter Luckett played NBA ball. Cavaliers? Was he injured before ever playing?
Expand ...

Drafted by Detroit in the 2nd round. Arthritis stopped him, not an injury per se.
 
Surprised Jack Kvancz hasn't even been mentioned in passing.

Or Al Clinkscales, for that matter. Although there may not be anyone here old enough to have seen him play -- other than with the Globetrotters.
 
.-.
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