BleacherCoaches.com

This was taken from Rocket686's research, I TAKE NO CREDIT EXCEPT THAT I CAN COPY AND PASTE. This was found on the Pennsylvania Sports Board, and I thought some of the guys here would like to look at some of these names. Especially some of our HISTORIANS. ENJOY!! I liked it...especially looking at some of the names like Joe Montana (HE WAS GOOD AT SOMETHING ELSE!!!)


THE LIST - Greatest Western PA. Hoopers Posted 2-3-2004 03:54

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What a journey this has been! Thank God for the Internet.
Western Pennsylvania has even a richer basketball tradition than I was aware of.
Thanks to everyone who submitted names and the memories. I can't tell you how many times I
thought back to channel 13 and Bill Cardille on the floor of the Civic Arena while compiling
my list. My first exposure to high school basketball (other than watching the Union Scotties)
was watching the playoffs on TV. I'll never forget watching the great games of the early 60's with
teams like Uniontown, Norwin, Steelton-Highspire, and Plymouth Whitemarsh and then following that with
the 65 Midland team and the 67 Ambridge team (where the names of DiPasquale and Ostrowski were
just as important as Wuycik, DeVenzio, and Kaufman).

I am listing over 200 names and truth be told, I am probably missing 200 more. I can't begin to
tell you how many web sites I went to following up the names you submitted and then finding other
names that were just as worthy. Feel free to keep adding worthy names.
Again, my list are those from District 7 and 8 because I had to cut it off somewhere. The year
listed is the closest guess of their high school graduation, followed by high school, college,
and pro information. I tried to add other interesting notes when they were available.

1924

Sykes Reed
Braddock
Pitt

Stash Wrobleski
Braddock
Pitt


1926
Chuck Hyatt
Uniontown - 1925 WPIAL & PIAA Champs, 1926 WPIAL Champs
Pitt 3 time NCAA All American Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame

1929
Bernie Leech
Braddock
Pitt

1931
Claire Cribbs
Jeannette
Pitt 2 Time All American

Ralph Ferguson
North Braddock Scott - 1931 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
Pitt


1933
Walt Miller
Homestead
Duquesne
NBA - 1 season Pittsburgh Ironmen

1934

Buddy Jeannette
New Kensington 1934 WPIAL Champs
Washington & Jefferson
NBA - 3 seasons, Baltimore Bullets , NBL, ABL, BAA Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame

Ed Milkovich
Pittsburgh South 1934 PIAA Champs
Duquesne
NBA - 1 season Pittsburgh Ironmen


1935
Red Mihalik
Ford City
No college
NBA - 1 season Pittsburgh Ironmen Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame (referee)

1936

Hank Zeller
W&J / Pitt
NBA - 1 season Pittsburgh Ironmen

Franklin Dunn
North Braddock Scott
Penn State


1937

John (Broom) Abramovic
Etna
Salem
NBA - 2 seasons, Pittsburgh Ironmen and Boston Celtics

Press Maravich
Logstown
Davis & Elkins
NBA - 1 season Pittsburgh Ironmen


1938

Stan Musial
Donora
MLB - St.Louis Cardinals

Stan Noszka
Duquesne
NBA - 3 seasons, Pittsburgh Ironmen and Boston Celtics

Roger Jorgensen
Ohio St./ Pitt
NBA - 1 season Pittsburgh Ironmen and various pre-NBA professional leagues


1943
Noble Jorgensen
Iowa / Westminster (Pa.)
NBA - 5 seasons, Pittsburgh Ironmen, Sheboygen Redskins, & Syracuse Nationals

1944

Chuck Cooper
Westinghouse
Duquesne (1950 All American)
NBA - 6 seasons, Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Hawks, & Fort Wayne Pistons

Fred Paine
Westminster (Pa.)
NBA - 1 season, Providence Steamrollers

1946
Don Asmonga
Homestead 1946 WPIAL Champs
California (Pa.)
NBA - 1 season Baltimore Bullets

1948
Dick Groat
Swissvale
Duke (1951 & 52 All American)
NBA - 1 season, Fort Wayne Pistons & MLB

1951

Ed Fleming
Westinghouse
Niagara
NBA - 5 seasons, Rochester Royals and Minn. Lakers

Maurice Stokes
Westinghouse
St. Francis
NBA - 3 seasons Rochester/Cincinnati Royals


1952

Dave Piontek
Bethel Park
Xavier
NBA - 7 seasons, Rochester/Cincinatti Royals, St. Louis Hawks, & Chicago Zephyrs

Jack Twyman
Central Catholic
Cincinnati
NBA - *HALL OF FAME* 11 seasons, Rochester/Cincinnati Royals

Julius McCoy
Farrell 1951 WPIAL Champs 1952 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
Michigan St.


1953

Barney Cable
Rochester
Bradley
NBA - 6 seasons, Detroit Pistons, Syracuse Nationals, St. Louis Hawks, & Baltimore Bullets

Joe Stepusin
Rankin
Wake Forest


1954
Joedy Gardner
Ellwood City
West Virginia

1955

Jim McCoy
Farrell 1954 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
Marquette
ABL-Pittsburgh Rens

Don Hennon 2376 pts.
Wampum 1955 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
Pitt (1958 & 59 All American)
NBA - Royals (6th Rd,declined)


1956
Walt Mangham
New Castle (National High School Record for High Jump)
Marquette
NBA - NY Knicks (10th Rd) ABL-Pittsburgh Rens

1957
Lee Shaffer
Baldwin
North Carolina
NBA - 3 seasons, Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers

1958
Cal Fowler
Oliver
St. Francis
ABA - 1 season , Carolina Cougars

1959
Sam Sims 2138 pts
German Twp.

Richie Allen
Wampum 1958 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
MLB

Warren Sallade 2075 pts.
Wilmington
Westminster (Pa.)

1960
Willie Somerset
Farrell 1959 WPIAL & PIAA Champs 1960 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
Duquesne
NBA - 1 season Baltimore Bullets & ABA - 2 seasons Houston Mavericks

Brian Generalovich
Farrell 1959 WPIAL & PIAA Champs 1960 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
Pitt
NBA - Knicks (3rd Rd. declined)

Calvin Sheffield
New Brighton
Pitt

1962
Stew Johnson
Clairton
Murray State
ABA - 9 seasons, New Jersey Americans, Houston Mavericks, Pittsburgh Pipers, Memphis Sounds, San Diego Sails, Carolina Cougars

Tim Edwards
Duquesne
UMass (On UMass All Time Scoring List)

Bill Ryczaj
Elizabeth
West Virginia

Jack Marin
Farrell 1960 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
Duke (1966 All American)
NBA - 11 seasons, Bullets, Rockets, Braves, & Bulls

Don Yates
Uniontown 1962 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
Minnesota
NBA - Cleveland Cavalier tryout


1963

Ron Sepic
Uniontown 1962 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
Ohio State
NBA - Royals (9th Rd Declined)

Walt Ayers
Turtle Creek
Clemson

Eddie Biedenbach
Edgewood
NC State
NBA - 1 season Phoenix Suns

1964
Bennett Gregory
Uniontown 1962 WPIAL & PIAA Champs 1964 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
Nebraska
AFL-Buffalo Bills

Stu Lantz
Uniontown
1962 WPIAL & PIAA Champs 1964 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
Nebraska
NBA - 8 seasons, San Diego/Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, LA Lakers

1965
Chad Calabria
Aliquippa
Iowa

Norm Van Lier
Midland 1965 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
St. Francis
NBA - 10 seasons, Royals, Bulls, & Bucks

Simmie Hill
Midland 1965 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
West Texas St.
NBA - Chicago Bulls(2nd Rd) ABA - 4 seasons, Miami Floridians, Dallas Chaparrals,San Diego Conquitadors, & San Antonio Spurs

1966
Glenn Vidnovic
McKeesport
Iowa
NBA - Cleveland (4th Rd) ABA - Dallas Chaparrals (6thRd.)

Bill Zopf
Monaca
Duquesne
NBA - 1 season Milwaukee Bucks

Ray Parsons
Uniontown 1964 and 1966 WPIAL Champs
Minnesota
WFL

1967

Jarrett Durham
Aliquippa
Duquesne
NBA - Detroit Pistons (4th Rd) ABA - 1 season, New York Nets

Dick DeVenzio
Ambridge 1967 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
Duke

Frank Kaufman
Ambridge 1967 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
Purdue

Bill Downes
Baldwin
Pitt

Jim Dashield
Ellwood City
Penn State

Barry Nelson
Fox Chapel
Duquesne
NBA - 1 season, Milwaukee Bucks

Garry Nelson
Fox Chapel
Duquesne
NBA - Buffalo(5th Rd)

Mickey Davis
Monaca
Duquesne
NBA - Milwaukee (7th Rd) ABA - 1 season Pittsburgh Pipers

Kenny Durrett
Schenley 1966 PIAA Champs
LaSalle (1971 All American)
NBA - 4 seasons, Royals/Kings & 76ers

Walt Szczerbiak
St. Casimir (Pgh.)
George Washington
ABA - 1 season Pittsburgh Pipers

Tim Bradley
Churchill
Duquesne

Barry Driscoll
Turtle Creek 1967 WPIAL Champs
Marshall


1968

Dennis Wuycik
Ambridge 1967 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
North Carolina
NBA - Boston (2nd Rd) ABA - 3 seasons Carolina Cougars & St. Louis Spirits

Steve Previs
Bethel Park
North Carolina
ABA - 1 season Carolina Cougars

Ken Griffey Sr
Donora
MLB


Will Robinson
Laurel Highlands 1968 WPIAL & PIAAChamps
West Virginia
NBA - Houston(4th Rd) ABA - 1 season Memphis Tams


1969

Dave Johnson
Farrell 1969 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
Cincinnati

George Karl
Penn Hills
North Carolina
NBA - 2 seasons, San Antonio Spurs ABA - 3 seasons, Spurs

Jerome Flowers
Rankin
Maryland

Darrell Brown
Westinghouse
Maryland

1970

Mickey Martin
Baldwin
Pitt
NBA - Pistons(4th Rd)


Al Hmiel
Beaver Falls 1970 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
Cincinnati

Ken Wagoner
Beaver Falls 1970 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
Pitt

Carl Morris
Braddock
Pitt

Tom Clements
Canevin
Notre Dame (football)
NFL

Jonathan Marshall
Clairton
Penn St.

Randy Crowder
Farrell 1969 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
Penn St (football)
NFL

Dwight Clay
Fifth Ave.
Notre Dame

Rich Porac
Gateway
Maryland

Keith Starr
Quaker Valley
Pitt
NBA - 1 season Chicago Bulls

1971

Dan Bonner
Avonworth
Virginia
TV Announcer

Oscar Jackson
Beaver Falls 1970 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
Duquesne
NBA - AtlantaHawks (8th Rd)

Billy Knight
Braddock
Pitt (1974 All American)
NBA - 9 seasons, Indiana Pacers, Buffalo Braves, Boston Celtics, KC Kings, & SA Spurs. ABA - 2 seasons,Pacers

Jim Bolla
Canevin
Pitt

Gus Gerard
Laurel Highlands
Virginia
NBA - 5 seasons, KC Kings, Detroit Pistons, Buffalo Braves, ABA - 2 seasons, St. Louis and Denver

George Green
Midland 1971 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
Ohio U.

Steve Sherbak
New Castle
Georgia Tech

Maurice Lucas
Schenley 1971 PIAA Champs
Marquette
NBA - 12 seasons,Trailblazers,Nets,Knicks,Suns,&Sonics ABA - 2 seasons St.Louis Spirit and Kentucky Colonels

Kirk Bruce
South Hills
Pitt

1972

Bob Shrewsbury
Avalon
Pitt

Bernie O'Keefe
Baldwin
Duquesne

Stan Sligh
Hopewell
McNeese St.

Tom Richards
Moon
Pitt

Jess Hutson
Uniontown
West Virginia


1973

Larry Slappy
Midland 1971, 1973 WPIAL Champs
Ohio U. / Richmond

Ulyce Payne
Ringgold 1973 WPIAL Champs
Ohio U/Marquette
NBA - Detroit(9th Rd) MLB Exec

Scott Nedrow
Ringgold 1973 WPIAL Champs
Pitt

Jeep Kelly
Schenley 1971 PIAA Champs
UNLV

Rick Kuhn
Swissvale
Boston College
Pro - Europe

Jim Smith
General Braddock 1973 PIAA Champs
George Washington


1974

Terry Knight
Braddock St. Thomas
Pitt
NBA - San Antonio(6th Rd)

Ralph Still 40 points in WPIAL final (Record)
German Twp. 1974 WPIAL Champs

Sid Bostick
Jeannette
West Virginia

Brad Davis
Monaca 1972 WPIAL Champs
Maryland
NBA - 15 seasons, Lakers, Pacers, Jazz, & Mavericks

Melvin Bennett
Peabody
Pitt
NBA - 4 seasons, Pacers,Jazz, Cavs, & ABA 1 season, Virginia Squires

Joe Montana
Ringgold 1973 WPIAL Champs
Notre Dame (football)
NFL

Chuck Fusina
Sto Rox
Penn St.(football)
NFL

Hosea Champine
General Braddock
Duquesne/ Robert Morris


1975

Dana Perno
Uniontown 1975 WPIAL Champs
West Virginia

Kelvin Smith
Schenley 1975 PIAA Champs
Pitt

Nathan "Sonny" Lewis
Schenley 1975 PIAA Champs
Pitt

Wayne Williams
Schenley 1975 PIAA Champs
Pitt


1976

Ed Scheuermann
Baldwin
Pitt

John Moore
Clairton
Duquesne

David "Puff" Kennedy
Fifth Ave. 1976 PIAA Champs
Cincinnati

Bill Clarke
Fifth Ave. 1976 PIAA Champs
Duquesne

Joe Fryz
Moon
West Virginia

B.B. Flenory
Valley
Duquesne

Jeff Baldwin
Braddock
Duquesne


1977

Donnie Gipson
Aliquippa
West Virginia

Sam Clancy
Brashear 1976 PIAA Champs
Pitt
NBA - Suns (3rdRd) NFL

Dennis Hosey
Midland 1975, 76, 77 WPIAL Champs 1976 PIAA Champs
West Virginia

Pete Harris
General Braddock
Northeastern
CBA


1978

Tom Cvitkovic
Ambridge
Duquesne

Darrell Gissendaner
Clairton 1978 WPIAL Champs
Pitt

John Calipari
Moon
UNC-Charlotte
NBA Coach

Rod Scott
Northgate
Duquesne

Doug Arnold
Norwin
Duquesne / TCU
NBA - Utah (4th Rd.)

Bruce Atkins
Wilkinsburg
Duquesne


1979

Larry Anderson
Schenley 1978 PIAA Champs
UNLV
NBA - Cleveland (3rd Rd.)

Bill Varner
Valley 1979 PIAA Champs
Notre Dame
NBA - Milwaukee Bucks (9th Rd.) Pro - Europe


1980

Marc Marrotta
Central Catholic
Marquette
NBA - New York Knicks (9th Rd.)

Michael King
Fairchance Georges
West Virginia

Hal Bentley - 40 points in WPIAL final (Record)
New Brighton 1980 WPIAL Champs


1981

Ron Rowan
Beaver Falls 1979, 1980 WPIAL Champs
Notre Dame/St. John
NBA - 1 season, Portland Trailblazers


1982
Armon Gilliam
Bethel Park
UNLV
NBA - 13 seasons, Suns,Hornets,76ers,Nets,Bucks, Jazz

Rick Suder
Center
Duquesne


1983

Darryl Shepherd
Peabody
Pitt / Duquesne

Darin Poindexter
Swissvale
Robert Morris

Ron Reynolds
Swissvale
Lafayette


1984

Brian Davis HS Football Parade All American
Washington
1984 WPIAL & PIAA Champs


1985

Major Harris
Brashear
West Virginia 3rd in Heisman Trophy balloting

Pete Freeman
Rochester
Duquesne
Pro - Europe

Brian Shanahan
Hampton
Duquesne


1986

Dan Aloi
Ellwood City
St. Bonaventure

Tony Petrarca
Kiski Area
Duquesne


1987

Mark Gilbert
Alliquippa 1987 WPIAL Champs
Duquesne

Sean Miller
Blackhawk 1986 WPIAL Champs
Pitt

Mike Yoest
North Hills
West Virginia

Darrelle Porter
Perry
Pitt
Coaching

Myron Brown
Sto Rox
Slippery Rock
NBA - 1 season Minnesota Timberwolves


1988

Jim McCoy
Central Catholic
UMass (On UMass All Time Scoring List)

Keith Tower
Moon
Notre Dame
NBA - 4 seasons Orlando Magic, LA Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks

Joe Falletta
South Park
Robert Morris

Will Herndon
Taylor Alderdice

UMass

1989

Sean Gilbert
Alliquippa
1987, 1988 WPIAL Champs 1989 PIAA Champs
Pitt Football
NFL

Myron Walker
Alliquippa 1987, 1988 WPIAL Champs 1989 PIAA Champs
Robert Morris
Pro - Europe

Chris Pipkin
New Brighton
Eastern Michigan
Pro - Europe

Kevin Salvadori
Seton LaSalle 1988 PIAA Champs 1989 WPIAL Champs
North Carolina
NBA - 2 seasons Sacramento Kings


1991

Gabe Jackson 2011 pts.
New Brighton
Robert Morris
Pro - Europe

Chipper Harris
Valley
Robert Morris


1992

Dante Calabria 2252 pts
Blackhawk 1990, 91, 92 WPIAL Champs
North Carolina
Pro - Europe

Leon Agnew
Greensburg
West Virginia

Eric Roslonski 2192 pts.
Southmoreland


1993

Nick Bosnic
Laurel Highlands
Maryland/Duquesne

David Kwiat 2085 pts.
Neshannock
Westminster (Pa.)

Tom Pipkins 2838 pts.
Valley 1993 WPIAL Champs
Duquesne

Mike Keyes
Woodland Hills
Towson State


1994

Danny Fortson 2331 pts.
Altoona/Shaler
Cincinnati (1996 & 97 All America)
NBA - 7 seasons, Nuggetts, Celtics, & Warriors

Kevin Price 2635 pts.
Duquesne
1992, 93, 94 WPIAL Champs
Duquesne


1995

Vince Graham 2429 pts.
Belle Vernon

Kevin Covert 2612 pts.
Neshannock
Akron

Pete Sauer
Shady Side Acad. 1995 PIAA Champs
Stanford
Pro - Europe


1996

Jim Cantamessa
Blackhawk 1995 PIAA Champs 1996 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
Siena
Pro - Europe

Chris Kirkland
Sto Rox 1995 WPIAL Champs
UMass

Shaun Asbury
Union
Bucknell


1997

Ryan Miller
Blackhawk 1995 PIAA Champs 1996 WPIAL & PIAA Champs
NC State

Mike Colbert 2022 pts.
Chartiers Valley 1997 WPIAL Champs

Matt Barker
Woodland Hills
Duquesne


1999

Brad Midgley
Canevin
Duquesne

David Young 2198 pts.
Union/New Castle 1997, 98, 99 WPIAL Champs
Xavier/NC Cent.


2000

Jon Pawlak
Highlands
Duquesne


Drew Schifino 2318 pts.
Penn Hills 2000 WPIAL Champs
West Virginia

Yuri Demetris 2221 pts.
Shaler
Pitt


2001

Brandon Fuss-Cheatham
Blackhawk 1999, 2000 WPIAL Champs 1999 PIAA Champs
Ohio State

Tyler Bluemling
Mt. Lebanon
Duquesne

Allan MacQuarrie 2247 pts.
Pine Richland

Jack Higgins
Schenley
Duquesne

Nate Gerwig
Schenley
Kent State


2002

Bryant McCallister
West Mifflin
Duquesne


2004
James Hairston 2000 pts. And counting
Connellsville

I saw this list on another message board. I saw most of the players from the late-80s to the present play. It's a very good list.

WT

Yes, I found it on the pennsylvaniasportsboard forums...I TOOK NO CREDIT FOR IT....just a great list to read over

I can remember a lot of these players from back as far as '70...Fabulous list and brings back tons of memories...I've been fortunate to see so many of those guys play and so many state title games (nearly every one since '70)....A couple notables missing upon first reading include:

Warner Macklin from that loaded Fifth Ave. team of '75 and '76....BB Flenor at Valley around '75....and Darrell "Rocky" White who was the star player that singlehandidly destroyed Doug West, Craig Curry, and Mike Iuzzolino in an unforgettable Western final upset at the War memorial when Altoona had its most talented team ever. White was that teams stud, Major Harris was basically a role player.

Some very interesting trivia for Bedford County fans...particularly Everett...The Nelson twins (Garry and Barry both on above list) nearly ended up at Everett HS as their dad was to take a job at Caro Trucking. These two Fox Chapel stars, both about 6-5, would have coupled with the likes of Mike Conner at Everett to create a situation that could have led the Warriors very deep into the Class B state tournament. My source for this info is former Everett coach Dan Shaffer who tells the story and was in touch with the Nelson family before somebody in Fox Chapel offered the father a better job.

I saw this list on that board as well, pretty interesting.

My favorite wpial star of all time had to be armon gilliam from bethel park came from altoona i believe played 13 great years but the sad thing was that he never won a nba championship but he was one good player

He is now the coach at PSU-Altoona I believe.

The best hoop stars needs a review! Press Maravich Aliquippa, Logstown is the neighborhood in which he lived. He also played with the Youngstown Bears of the NBL, Detroit Eagles of the NBL, and the Pittsburgh Ironmen of the BAA. He was the leading scorer on his college team Davis and Elkins with a four year total of 1250 points. All this aside from eventually being Pistol Pete's father. In 1961, George Suder should be added to the list, from Aliquippa he later played at Maryland. John Calipari, for his coaching yes, playing no. In the mid to late 1970's I would add the starting five from 1976 Fifth Avenue,(ranked at the time, second in the nation) then Brashear: yes, Puffy Kennedy, Sam Clancy, WARNER MACKLIN, Bill Clarke. When you watched Warner Macklin you got a true lesson in what it is to be a Point Guard. Absolute true leader, and quick moves but ran an offense with the very best of them. In 1951, I would also add Mikey Belich from Duquesne, and later Pitt. In 1951, at Pitt he scored 153 points in 10 games. In 1949, Mickey Zernich at Aliquippa and later Pitt. Led Aliquippa to 29 straight victories in the 1949 PIAA class A State Championship in Philadelphia at York. The team went undefeated and also had James Frank as a starter. He went to Lincoln University and was the first black President of the NCAA.

Love to see a 10+ year old thread bumped!!!

Logstown = Aliquippa