Johnny Egan passed away

[FriarJ]

One of the all time greats from CT.

Johnny Egan, Hartford legend, NBA star, dies at 83

Johnny Egan, who soared above the playgrounds of Hartford as a teenager, led Weaver High to a New England championship and went on to star at Providence College and play and coach in the NBA, died …

www.courant.com

 

[WhiteKnight]

RIP, Johnny Egan

 

[mauconnfan]

A CT great no doubt.

RIP Johnny Egan

 

[Umami Zen]

One of the pioneers from Ct.. Always maximized his skills with BBIQ.. RIP Johnny

 

[TRest]

He was our neighbor a couple of summers in Old Lyme back in the early 70's I think.

 

[microfich]

As a kid beginning to fall in love with sports I asked my dad who the best players were.
Baseball - Stan Musial, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle
Football - Jim Brown
Basketball - Bob Cousy
I asked my dad "Who is the best basketball player from CT?"
"Johnny Egan"

 

[rbny1]

As a kid growing up in West Hartford, when Johnny was starring at Weaver, I was in awe of his basketball talent. He was a superstar in high school let alone college. RIP, Johnny.

 

[Sphinx]

As a kid growing up in West Hartford, when Johnny was starring at Weaver, I was in awe of his basketball talent. He was a superstar in high school let alone college. RIP, Johnny.

There has never been a better high school PG in Connecticut, and were it not for a injury sustained in college, Johnny would now be safely ensconced in the NBA HOF. Had he chosen to go to UConn in 1957, the arc of UConn basketball would have been changed forever. But Hugh Greer did not seriously recruit him, having freshman Jack Rose already poised to join the varsity. Rose became an outstanding PG -- a savvy ball handler and fine shooter, but he lacked Egan's magical sleight-of-hand and other-worldly athleticism. I saw Johnny play a number of times in the Hartford summer park league in 1957 and 1958. He was always the star attraction.

 

[ucp990411]

I attended the Hilltop basketball clinic at East Catholic during the summers in the 70’s. Never forget Johnny Egan sitting on the floor at half court making I don’t know how many shots in a row. Two handed shots with a simple flick of the wrists. It was incredible. I remember he told me I had the best left hand in camp. Seemed like a great guy.

 

[imno1]

I attended the Hilltop basketball clinic at East Catholic during the summers in the 70’s. Never forget Johnny Egan sitting on the floor at half court making I don’t know how many shots in a row. Two handed shots with a simple flick of the wrists. It was incredible. I remember he told me I had the best left hand in camp. Seemed like a great guy.

We’re you the only lefty?

 

[CTFIRERETIRED]

One of the first College basketball stars I can recall. Watched PC games on old B&W TV, many years ago. Egan, Wilkins, Thompson, Ernst, Hadnot, Flynn, etc. CH-12 WPRO, out of Providence, with Chris Clark. When New England basketball was PC, BC, Holy Cross. UC was an after thought, playing in the second rate Yankee Conference back then. It was what it was in those days.

 

[HCCForever]

As a kid growing up in West Hartford, when Johnny was starring at Weaver, I was in awe of his basketball talent. He was a superstar in high school let alone college. RIP, Johnny.

My father graduated from Weaver and was always taking about Johnny Egan. Johnny and Bob Nash since they came from Hartford. RIP Johnny

 

[CTFIRERETIRED]

My father graduated from Weaver and was always taking about Johnny Egan. Johnny and Bob Nash since they came from Hartford. RIP Johnny

That 1960s Hartford Public team was one of the best. Bob Nash, Steve Waterman. Oddly enough, Public was defeated in the 66-67 state finals by a more powerful Wilbur Cross.

 

[ucp990411]

We’re you the only lefty?

Right handed wise guy. I practiced dribbling with my left hand so much in my younger days that to I am still more comfortable dribbling with my left hand than my right.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

He was a childhood hero of mine in a era when Connecticut HS basketball was one of the hotspots .
His duel with Kenny Tullo when Weaver came to New Haven and beat a great Hillhouse team and his.exploits leading them to the New England Championship pulling it out when all was lost , mesmerized this kid listening on the radio.
He was called he spaceman

 

[dennismenace]

That 1960s Hartford Public team was one of the best. Bob Nash, Steve Waterman. Oddly enough, Public was defeated in the 66-67 state finals by a more powerful Wilbur Cross.

What years did Eddie Griffen play for Hartford Public? Early 60's? I remember him playing in a summer league night game in Bristol growing up. Magician on the fast break.

 

[DaddyChoc]

What years did Eddie Griffen play for Hartford Public? Early 60's? I remember him playing in a summer league night game in Bristol growing up. Magician on the fast break.

Griffin was tough too

 

[CTFIRERETIRED]

What years did Eddie Griffen play for Hartford Public? Early 60's? I remember him playing in a summer league night game in Bristol growing up. Magician on the fast break.

I think he played on that club. That's the player I couldn't remember.

 

[Sphinx]

He was a childhood hero of mine in a era when Connecticut HS basketball was one of the hotspots .
His duel with Kenny Tullo when Weaver came to New Haven and beat a great Hillhouse team and his.exploits leading them to the New England Championship pulling it out when all was lost , mesmerized this kid listening on the radio.
He was called he spaceman

I was by my radio that Saturday night also. Weaver vs Lawrence Catholic. Johnny score 24 in regulation, then took charge in overtime scoring 12 more, including the two clutch free throws that won it at the end. It was full page stuff in the Courant Sunday morning. Some memories don't fade.

 

[cohenzone]

Weaver High, Providence and NBA player and coach has died. I didn’t know him, he lived several blocks up my street and was several years older. One of the best players in CT history. Ball handler and shooter. Led Weaver to an undefeated State tithes and led then to the win of the old great New England championship with a spectacular game including both ends if a one and one after a steal to send the game into OT where Weaver won going away with Egan scoring a dozen in 5 minutes. He was a great athlete and Hollywood handsome. RIP.

 

[Waquoit]

When New England basketball was PC, BC, Holy Cross. UC was an after thought, playing in the second rate Yankee Conference back then. It was what it was in those days.

That afterthought went to the Big Dance 5 times in the 60's and the Elite 8 once. PC would never play UConn in the regular season until the Big East came around.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

There has never been a better high school PG in Connecticut, and were it not for a injury sustained in college, Johnny would now be safely ensconced in the NBA HOF. Had he chosen to go to UConn in 1957, the arc of UConn basketball would have been changed forever. But Hugh Greer did not seriously recruit him, having freshman Jack Rose already poised to join the varsity. Rose became an outstanding PG -- a savvy ball handler and fine shooter, but he lacked Egan's magical sleight-of-hand and other-worldly athleticism. I saw Johnny play a number of times in the Hartford summer park league in 1957 and 1958. He was always the star attraction.

There was this guy named Calvin Murphy from Norwalk that was 2x HS All American, 3x college All American and is in the Basketball HOF.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

There was this guy named Calvin Murphy from Norwalk that was 2x HS All American, 3x college All American and is in the Basketball HOF.

What’s your point ? That Egan was huge didn’t diminish Murphy.
The reality was Murphy didn’t play for a power town. So he was always a guy from way down Fairfield County ,Playing opponents not as well regarded . So he never was a huge figure that transcended the Basketball Community while he was in HS . Nor did he get to play on a huge stage like the Boston Garden.A lot of guys go under the radar.
HS basketball was New Haven , Hartford and later Bridgeport

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

What’s your point ? That Egan was huge didn’t diminish Murphy.
The reality was Murphy didn’t play for a power town. So he was always a guy from way down Fairfield County ,Playing opponents not as well regarded . So he never was a huge figure that transcended the Basketball Community while he was in HS . Nor did he get to play on a huge stage like the Boston Garden.A lot of guys go under the radar.
HS basketball was New Haven , Hartford and later Bridgeport

I wasn't around during Murphy's high school days but I imagine being a two time high school All American made him pretty transcendent as well - even if he didn't play in one of the 3 biggest cities. My point was that Murphy was the best point guard to ever come out of CT and using any metric/facts available I think it's hard to argue otherwise... Do you know if Murphy went head to head against the power teams of Hartford, New Haven, or Bridgeport? Those would've been incredible matchups, I would imagine.

 

[SCHH Fan]

Those were great years. To this day I have a copy of the “Connecticut Basketball “ magazine for 1960. Featured players were Eddie Griffen (Hartford), Stan Poole (Hartford), Gene Reilly (Buckley),Dave Nash (Hillhouse) large schools and maybe Bob Lougee out of E.O. Smith and Dave Lingua from Windsor Locks (small schools) and probably a few more. In those days the state champs from New England would meet in Boston to determine a New England champ. I believe Buckley won in 1960. Great High School Basketball.