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Adding to its already stellar Hall of Fame roster, the Dropping Dimes Foundation is proud to announce that Rick Barry has joined its Advisory Board.

Rick shocked much of the basketball world when he made the jump from the NBA to the ABA in 1967. After sitting out that first ABA year due to legal constraints, the sharp shooting NBA Rookie of the Year and All-Star would go on to lead the Oakland Oaks to the ABA title in 1969 and average nearly 30 points a game during his tenure in the ABA—averaging 40.1 points in seven playoff games during the 1969-70 season with the Washington Caps.

After those stints in Oakland and the nation’s capitol, Barry found himself continuing his remarkable ABA career in New York playing for the Nets.

[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTlVuLRqIZE” width=”500″ height=”260″ responsive=”no”]

Eventually, Barry returned to the NBA to continue his unbelievably successful career. Upon retirement, he had cemented himself as a Hall of Fame player, being the only player in history to lead the NCAA, NBA, and ABA in scoring.

The Dropping Dimes Foundation is honored to have Rick Barry join its Advisory Board.

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Over two hundred fans gathered to meet and talk with American Basketball Association legends and Indiana Pacers alumni Darnell Hillman, Bob Netolicky, George McGinnis, Billy Keller, and Coach Bobby “Slick” Leonard.

The Dropping Dimes Foundation joined J&J Allstar Sportscards Shows so fans could get their favorite memorable signed, hear stories about the American Basketball Association, and take pictures with the stars. All proceeds from the autographed memorabilia will go towards Dropping Dimes Foundation’s mission to help former American Basketball Association players and their families.

You can make the ultimate assist by donating today HERE.

 

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Kevin Askeland, Maxpreps (read full story here)

MaxPreps has chosen the top all-time high school players from each of the 50 states with a few simple rules. First, in order for a player to be chosen, he must have played professional basketball. Second, the player had to make some sort of significant contribution at the high school level. As a result, a player like Bill Russell, arguably one of the greatest pro players of all-time with the Boston Celtics, doesn’t qualify because he was mostly a back-up player during his high school career and didn’t come into his own until his college years.

Below are the ABA greats from the high school days. Be sure to check out the full list below.

 

American Basketball Association:

IOWA
Bob Netolicky, Cedar Rapids Washington
– After a stellar high school career, Netolicky went on to become an All-American at Drake University. He became a member of the Indiana Pacers in the fledgling ABA and became one of the upstart league’s all-time best players, earning a spot on the ABA’s 30-member all-time team. He averaged 16 points for his career.

NEBRASKA
Ron Boone, Omaha Tech
– One of the more reliable pro basketball players, Boone played in 1,041 consecutive games during his playing days in the ABA and the NBA during the 1970s. A solid scorer, he averaged 17 points per game in his career. He won a state championship in high school at Omaha Tech and became a big-time scorer his senior year. He also won an ABA title with the Utah Stars and was inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.

NEW JERSEY
Rick Barry, Roselle Park
– In high school, Barry twice earned all-state honors in basketball before embarking on a high-scoring college career at University of Miami. There, he led the NCAA in scoring with 37.4 points as a junior. He played for the Warriors in the NBA and also spent time in the ABA, leading both leagues in scoring at different points in his career. He is the only player in basketball history to lead the NCAA, NBA and ABA in scoring. He scored over 25,000 points in his pro career.

VIRGINIA
Moses Malone, Petersburg
– The first high school player to go straight into the professional ranks, Malone led Petersburg to 50 straight wins and two state titles before heading to play for the Utah Stars in the ABA. Inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2001, Malone was a three-time NBA MVP and was a 12-time all-star.

 

Entire List:

ALABAMA
Charles Barkley, Leeds
– One of the more popular players in the NBA over the past 20 years, and still popular in retirement as a studio analyst on TNT, Barkley was relatively unknown outside of Alabama during his high school days. A one-year wonder at Leeds High School, Barkley reportedly did not make the team at Leeds during his junior year, but grew six inches as a senior and averaged 19.1 points and 18 rebounds in his only varsity season. He led Leeds to the state semifinals and earned a scholarship to Auburn. Barkley went on to a stellar NBA career that included 11 All-NBA selections, an MVP performance in 1993 and a spot on the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.

ALASKA
Carlos Boozer, Juneau-Douglas
– The list of NBA players from Alaska is a short one and Boozer is easily the most talented player to come from the frozen North. A two-time Parade All-American at Juneau-Douglas, Boozer played college ball at Duke and led the Blue Devils to an NCAA championship in 2001. A second round pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boozer has twice made the all-star team and was a member of the all-rookie team in 2003.

ARIZONA
Mike Bibby, Shadow Mountain
– As a high school senior at Shadow Mountain, the son of former Philadelphia 76er Henry Bibby earned nearly every award possible. He was first team All-American by USA Today and he played in the McDonald’s All-American Game in 1996 after leading his team to a state championship. Bibby earned Pac-10 freshman of the year honors and guided the Arizona Wildcats to an NCAA championship as a sophomore before turning pro. A 10-year veteran of the NBA, Bibby is the all-time leading scorer from the state of Arizona with over 13,000 career points, mostly with the Sacramento Kings.

ARKANSAS
Sidney Moncrief, Little Rock Hall
– The former Arkansas Razorback and Milwaukee Buck gets the nod over former Chicago Bull great Scotty Pippen as the best player from Arkansas. While Pippen was just 6-foot-1 and a walk-on at an NAIA school following his senior year, Moncrief was a bonafide star at Little Rock Hall High School in the mid-1970s. Named to several All-American teams, Moncrief went on to become Arkansas University’s all-time leading scorer. Moncrief played 10 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks and was considered one of the top defensive players in the league, twice earning NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors.

CALIFORNIA
Jason Kidd, St. Joseph’s
– the Golden State abounds with legendary basketball talent, including the likes of Bill Russell (McClymonds), Bill Walton (Helix), Reggie Miller (Riverside Poly) and Paul Pierce (Inglewood), but Jason Kidd may have the best all-around career. A two-time state champion and two-time state MVP at St. Joseph’s in Alameda, Kidd was the consummate All-American, dazzling with his scoring and his passing abilities. He is still the state’s all-time assist leader, according to Cal-Hi Sports, and is among the state’s all-time leading scorers. In college, he led a resurgence at Cal before turning pro after his sophomore year. In the NBA, he has been named to the All-Defensive team nine times and the All-NBA team six times. He ranks third in NBA history in assists. Kidd gets the nod over Russell, who did not blossom until his junior year in college, and Walton, who had a great college and high school career but was plagued by injuries at the pro level.

COLORADO
Chauncey Billups, Washington
– Few players have had success at the high school level like Billups. Named Mr. Basketball in Colorado three years in a row, Billups went on to play at Colorado, where he was a first team All-American. In the NBA, Billups bounced around to five teams before finding a home in Detroit in 2002. He led the Pistons to the NBA championship in 2004 and was named the Finals MVP. He’s also been All-NBA three times and has twice been named to the All-Defensive Team.

CONNECTICUT
Calvin Murphy, Norwalk
– A member of the NBA Hall of Fame, Murphy was all-state three times at Norwalk and twice earned All-American honors. A prolific scorer in college at Niagara, averaging 33.1 points over three seasons and was a three-time All-American. In the NBA, Murphy played with the Houston Rockets and scored 17,949 points, which is second most in team history.

DELAWARE
Terence Stansbury, Newark
– The Delaware state player of the year in 1980, Stanbury had an outstanding career at Temple, averaging nearly 25 points his junior year and going to the Dallas Mavericks with the 15th pick in the first round of the 1984 draft. A three-year veteran of the NBA, Stansbury found greater success in Europe, where he played for 16 seasons and was eventually inducted into the French Basketball Hall of Fame.

FLORIDA
Vince Carter, Mainland
– A McDonald’s All-American coming out of Mainland High in Daytona Beach, Carter had three strong seasons at the University of North Carolina before being taken with the fifth overall pick in the 1998 draft by the Golden State Warriors. Carter is an eight-time All-Star and has been named to the All-NBA team twice in his 11 years in the league.

GEORGIA
Walt Frazier, Howard
– A talented playmaker and the leader of two NBA championship teams with the New York Knicks in the 1970s, Frazier got his start in Georgia at Howard, which was an all-black school during the early 1960s. Howard excelled at Howard and went on to an outstanding career at Southern Illinois University before going to the Knicks with the fifth pick in the 1967 NBA draft. Frazier was a seven-time all-star and made the All-Defensive team seven times.

HAWAII
Red Rocha, Hilo
– Basketball Reference lists only one NBA player who played his high school ball in Hawaii, and that is Red Rocha. One of the pioneers of the sport, Rocha began with the St. Louis Bombers in 1947 before finally joining the Syracuse Nationals. Rocha carved out a nine-year career that included 6,362 career points.

IDAHO
Steve Hayes, Aberdeen
– Only one NBA player from Idaho has played more than 100 games, and that is Steve Hayes, a 7-foot center who played 212 games from 1982 to 1986 with six different teams. Hayes scored a grand total of 545 points in his NBA career, but he had an outstanding high school career at Aberdeen. He still holds the record for most points in a state tournament (3 games) with 98, as well as the record for free throws in a tournament with 32. He is Idaho State’s all-time leading rebounder and second all-time leading scorer.

ILLINOIS
Isiah Thomas, Saint Joseph’s
– Thomas was playing on the Pan-Am team right out of high school and qualified for the 1980 Olympic team during his freshman year at Indiana. At St. Joseph’s High School in Westchester, Thomas led the team to the state finals as a junior. At Indiana, he led the Hoosiers to the NCAA championship in 1981 during his sophomore season before heading to the NBA. He played his entire career with the Detroit Pistons, leading them to a pair of championships in 1989 and 1990.

INDIANA
Oscar Robertson, Attucks
– Before embarking on a spectacular college career at Cincinnati, where he led the nation in scoring three years in a row, and a Hall of Fame NBA career, Robertson led Crispus Attucks to an undefeated state championship and 45 straight wins in 1956. Attucks became the first all-black team to win a state championship. Robertson was named the NCAA player of the year three years in a row and finished his career as the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer. In the NBA, Robertson was a 12-time All-NBA player and averaged 25.7 points for his career.

IOWA
Bob Netolicky, Cedar Rapids Washington
– After a stellar high school career, Netolicky went on to become an All-American at Drake University. He became a member of the Indiana Pacers in the fledgling ABA and became one of the upstart league’s all-time best players, earning a spot on the ABA’s 30-member all-time team. He averaged 16 points for his career.

KANSAS
Danny Manning, Lawrence
– A consensus All-American at Lawrence High School in Kansas, Manning attended University of Kansas and led the Jayhawks to an NCAA championship in 1988. He finished his career as the school’s all-time leading scorer and was the No. 1 pick in the 1988 draft. He had a 15-year career with seven different teams and finished with 12,367 points.

KENTUCKY
Wes Unseld, Seneca
– The eventual Washington Bullets standout led Seneca High School to two state championships in the early 1960s. In three years at Louisville, he averaged 20.6 points and 18.9 rebounds per game for the Cardinals. He took the NBA by storm in 1969, earning Rookie of the Year and MVP honors. A member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, Unseld was the MVP of the 1978 finals when he led the Bullets to the championship over the Seattle Supersonics.

LOUISIANA
Elvin Hayes, Eula D. Britton
– One of the all-time leading scorers in NBA history, Hayes led Britton to a state championship his senior year, averaging 35 points a game. At the University of Houston, Hayes led the Cougars to an upset win over UCLA in 1968, snapping the Bruins’ 47-game win streak. As a rookie in the NBA, he led the league in scoring. He eventually led the Bullets, along with Unseld, to an NBA championship in 1978.

MAINE
Brad Miller, Maine Central Institute
– Miller actually attended high school in Indiana, but played at Maine Central Institute before heading to Purdue. Undrafted out of college, Miller played with several teams before turning in an all-star performance with the Indiana Pacers in 2003. He also made the all-star team as a member of the Sacramento Kings.

MARYLAND
Adrian Dantley, DeMatha
– A prolific scorer throughout his career, Dantley led DeMatha to a 57-2 record in his varsity career. He later earned All-American honors at Notre Dame and was a member of the 1976 Olympic team that won the gold medal. A six-time NBA all-star, he finished his career with 23,177 points and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.

MASSACHUSETTS
Patrick Ewing, Rindge and Latin
– One of the most coveted big men in high school basketball history, Ewing was the No. 1 recruit in the nation in 1981. He attended Georgetown and led the Hoyas to an NCAA title in 1984. The No. 1 pick in the 1985 NBA draft, Ewing is a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team and is the all-time leading scorer and rebounder for the New York Knicks.

MICHIGAN
Magic Johnson, Everett
– In a four-year span, Johnson won a high school state championship, an NCAA title and an NBA championship. He led Everett to the state championship in Michigan, averaging 28.8 points a game. In his second year at Michigan State, Johnson and the Spartans defeated Indiana State and Larry Bird for the NCAA crown. The No. 1 pick in the 1979 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, Johnson led the team to an NBA title in 1980. The championship was the first of five in Johnson’s career that spanned 13 years.

MINNESOTA
Kevin McHale, Hibbing
– One of the great power forwards in NBA history, McHale led Hibbing High School to the state finals as a senior. He had a stellar career at Minnesota, making all-Big Ten his junior and senior year. In the NBA, he was a seven-time all-star and was named to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.

MISSISSIPPI
Purvis Short, Blair
– A member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, Short was a standout at Blair before becoming a three-time All-American at Jackson State. With his signature rainbow jump shot, Short became a prolific scorer for the Golden State Warriors in the NBA and averaged 17.3 points for his 12-year career.

MISSOURI
JoJo White, McKinley
– A highly-sought after guard coming out of McKinley High School in St. Louis, White reportedly received 250 college offers. He chose Kansas and earned All-American honors there in the late 1960s, also earning a gold medal with the 1968 Olympic Team. He joined the Boston Celtics in 1969 and became a seven-time All-Star while helping the Celtics win two NBA championships.

MONTANA
Larry Krystkowiak, Big Sky
– In a nine-year career in the NBA, mostly as a backup for six different teams, Krystkowiak averaged just over 8 points per game. One of only four Montana high schoolers to play in the NBA, Krystkowiak starred at Big Sky High School before attending Montana, where he was a three-time Big Sky Conference MVP while averaging over 20 points per game.

NEBRASKA
Ron Boone, Omaha Tech
– One of the more reliable pro basketball players, Boone played in 1,041 consecutive games during his playing days in the ABA and the NBA during the 1970s. A solid scorer, he averaged 17 points per game in his career. He won a state championship in high school at Omaha Tech and became a big-time scorer his senior year. He also won an ABA title with the Utah Stars and was inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.

NEVADA
Lionel Hollins, Rancho
– A member of four Halls of Fame – the Arizona State University, Nevada High School Basketball, Southern Nevada Sports and Pac-10 – Hollins was the sixth overall pick in the 1975 NBA draft by the Portland Trailblazers. He played in three NBA finals, winning one title with the Trailblazers and one with the 76ers. He played college ball at Arizona State where he was a first team All-American as a senior.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Matt Bonner, Concord
– Bonner had his best season as a pro this year, proving to be a valuable reserve player for the San Antonio Spurs. In high school, Bonner led Concord to three state championships. He played at Florida University and finished among the school’s all-time scoring leaders.

NEW JERSEY
Rick Barry, Roselle Park
– In high school, Barry twice earned all-state honors in basketball before embarking on a high-scoring college career at University of Miami. There, he led the NCAA in scoring with 37.4 points as a junior. He played for the Warriors in the NBA and also spent time in the ABA, leading both leagues in scoring at different points in his career. He is the only player in basketball history to lead the NCAA, NBA and ABA in scoring. He scored over 25,000 points in his pro career.

NEW MEXICO
Bill Bridges, Hobbs
– Bridges had one of the more balanced NBA careers of any player, averaging exactly 11.9 points and 11.9 rebounds in his 13-year career. A three-time NBA all-star, Bridges starred at the University of Kansas in the early 1960s and was a standout for Hobbs under legendary coach Ralph Tasker.

NEW YORK
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Power Memorial
– Known as Lew Alcindor in high school, Jabbar led Power Memorial High School to 71 straight wins in the mid-1960s. From there he went to UCLA and led the Bruins to three straight NCAA titles and was named the nation’s best player three years in a row. The all-time leading scorer in the NBA, Jabbar led the Milwaukee Bucks to a championship in 1971 and helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers to five titles.

NORTH CAROLINA
Michael Jordan, Emsley Laney
– Although he is generally considered the greatest player in NBA history, Jordan was virtually unknown heading into his senior year. However he led Laney to 19 wins and was recruited by North Carolina. There, he helped the Tar Heels win an NCAA title in 1982. In the NBA, Jordan won six titles with the Chicago Bulls.

NORTH DAKOTA
Phil Jackson, Williston
– Although known more as one of the winningest coaches in NBA history, Jackson was a solid player in the NBA, playing on two NBA title teams with the New York Knicks. In high school, Jackson led Williston to a pair of state titles. He played at the University of North Dakota and led the Fighting Sioux to a pair of top four finishes in the NCAA Division 2 tournament.

OHIO
John Havlicek, Bridgeport
– While there is a temptation to choose LeBron James for his remarkable career at St. Vincent-St. Mary’s, it’s hard to overlook the remarkable career of Hondo, John Havlicek. A three-sport start at Bridgeport, Havlicek earned all-state honors in football, basketball and baseball. He was an All-American on the great Ohio State teams of the early 1960s and became a 13-time all-star and 8-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics. He retired as the third all-time leading scorer in NBA history and still ranks 14th with 26,395 points.

OKLAHOMA
Wayman Tisdale, Booker T. Washington
– A first team All-American in high school, Tisdale became a three-time All-American at Oklahoma. He was the second overall pick in the 1985 NBA draft and had a solid 12-year career averaging over 15 points a game.

OREGON
Danny Ainge, North Eugene
– Ainge ranks as one of the greatest all-around athletes in high school sports history. He is reportedly the only player to earn first team All-American honors in football, basketball and baseball. He led North Eugene to two state titles before heading to Brigham Young on a basketball scholarship. He was named the NCAA’s best player his senior year but decided to pursue a baseball career. He eventually returned to the NBA and won three NBA titles with the Boston Celtics during a 14-year career.

PENNSYLVANIA
Wilt Chamberlain, Overbrook
– NBA owners had their eyes on Chamberlain when he was just a junior at Overbrook in the early 1950s. He set the state scoring record with 90 points in one game as a prep star before heading to Kansas, where he led the Jayhawks to the 1958 championship game. He later joined the NBA and became the league’s all-time leading scorer. Perhaps his most amazing feat, aside from scoring 100 points in one NBA game, was averaging over 50 points per game during the 1962 season.

RHODE ISLAND
Ernie DiGregorio, North Providence
– DiGregorio was a ballhandling wizard who led his high school to a state championship and then led Providence College to a Final Four appearance in 1973. A No 3 overall pick in the NBA draft, DiGregorio had a short-lived NBA career, but he did lead the league in assists and was the Rookie of the Year.

SOUTH CAROLINA
Alex English, Dreher
– Always a prolific scorer, English averaged 31 points per game in high school, became the all-time leading scorer at the University of South Carolina (1,972 points) and became the first player in NBA history to score over 2,000 points in eight consecutive seasons. He was an eight-time NBA all-star and was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997.

SOUTH DAKOTA
Mike Miller, Mitchell
– One of only three NBA players from South Dakota, Miller was the NBA Rookie of the year in 2001 and was named the Sixth Man of the Year in 2006. He has averaged 13.9 points in his NBA career. In high school, Miller led Mitchell to state titles in 1996 and 1997.

TENNESSEE
Anfernee Hardaway, Treadwell
– While players like Shawn Marion and Bailey Howell have had slightly better NBA careers, Anfernee Hardaway gets the nod here for his overall body of work. Named the National Player of the Year by Parade in 1989, Hardaway scored 3,039 points in his prep career. He played two standout years at Memphis State, averaging 23 points a game as a junior. He was the No. 3 overall pick in the NBA draft in 1993 and was a four-time all-star with the Orlando Magic before injuries slowed his career.

TEXAS
Shaquille O’Neal, Cole
– O’Neal had an outstanding prep career, leading Cole High School in San Antonio to a 68-1 record his final two years with a state championship his senior season. After two All-American seasons at LSU, O’Neal was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1992 draft by the Orlando Magic. A four-time NBA champion, O’Neal is a 15-time All-Star with over 27,000 career points.

UTAH
Shawn Bradley, Emery County
– Although the 7-foot-4 center had a rather pedestrian 10-year NBA career, he was a much sought after recruit coming out of Emery County High School in Castle Dale. After serving a Mormon mission, Bradley played just one season at BYU before turning pro. He ranks among the NBA’s all-time leaders in blocked shots and led the league in that category in 2001.

VERMONT
Basketball-Reference does not list any Vermont high school graduates as members of the NBA.

VIRGINIA
Moses Malone, Petersburg
– The first high school player to go straight into the professional ranks, Malone led Petersburg to 50 straight wins and two state titles before heading to play for the Utah Stars in the ABA. Inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2001, Malone was a three-time NBA MVP and was a 12-time all-star.

WASHINGTON
John Stockton, Gonzaga Prep
– The NBA’s all-time assist leader, Stockton was a solid high school player, but blossomed at the University of Gonzaga where he eventually earned a spot on the 1984 Olympic Team. He was selected with the 16th pick of the NBA draft by the Utah Jazz and played 19 years for the team. He is the NBA’s all-time leader in assists with 15,806, and steals, with 3,265.

WEST VIRGINIA
Jerry West, East Bank
– The West Virginia high school player of the year as a senior in 1956, West averaged 32.2 points per game and was an All-American. He enjoyed a spectacular college career at West Virginia, twice earning All-American status. He played on the gold medal Olympic team in 1960 and went on to a 14-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers that included 14 all-star performances and 25,191 career points.

WISCONSIN
Fred Brown, Lincoln
– While future NBA standouts like Latrell Sprewell, Terry Porter and Nick Van Exel had modest high school careers, Fred Brown had a spectacular career at Milwaukee Lincoln, leading the school to two state championships. He averaged 21.3 points per game his freshman year in college at Southeastern and posted 26.8 as a sophomore. He transferred to Iowa and averaged 28.9 points as a senior while earning All-American honors. A three-point specialist in the NBA, Brown averaged 14.5 points over 13 seasons and helped the Sonics win the NBA title in 1979.

WYOMING
Kenny Sailors, Laramie
– Considered by some to be the originator of the jump shot, Sailors was a three-time All-American at Wyoming and was the NCAA player of the year in 1943 while leading the Cowboys to the NCAA championship. He played in the early years of the NBA, playing for seven teams in seven years.

 

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American Basketball Association All-Star Darnell Hillman and Dropping Dimes Foundation President Scott Tarter sat down with Ricky Cobb for The Super 70’s Sports podcast.

Throughout the conversation they move from the story that Hillman – also known as Dr. Dunk – could grab money off the backboard, to his ABA championships with the Indiana Pacers. The three also discuss the many important activities that the Foundation is involved in and the former players Dropping Dimes is helping.

Listen to the full podcast HERE

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GilmoreHookSojournerNiceArtis Gilmore, the 7-foot-2 “A-train” who imposed his will on the American Basketball Association during the first stage of his Hall of Fame career, has joined the rapidly growing Dropping Dimes Foundation with a similarly forceful mission: to help his ailing brothers.

“There are a lot of guys out there who really need an assist, players who helped change the game who are now hurting,” Gilmore said from his home in Florida. “This Foundation is making a difference, and I wanted to lend my support.”

Gilmore’s addition brings to 16 the number of Advisory Board members of the 2-year-old Foundation, including nine other Hall of Famers: Bob Costas, Louie Dampier, Mel Daniels (in memoriam), George Gervin, Spencer Haywood, Dan Issel, Bobby Leonard, Reggie Miller and Peter Vecsey. Other ABA legends on the board are Mack Calvin, Bob Netolicky, David Craig, Nancy Leonard, George McGinnis and Brian Taylor.

“We’re incredibly honored to welcome Artis to our advisory board. The extent to which these great Hall of Famers and basketball legends are stepping up to help former players in need is truly humbling, and it says a lot about the brotherhood of the ABA”, said DDF President Scott Tarter, who is joined on the Operating Board by Dr. John Abrams and film producer Ted Green. “Artis told me he’d seen some of the things we’ve been doing for former ABA players in need and that he really wanted to join in and do what he could to support us in those efforts,” said Tarter.

GilmoreStuffJonesCower2After leading little-regarded Jacksonville University to the 1970 NCAA title game, Gilmore played his first five seasons in the ABA, all with the Kentucky Colonels. His impact was immediate and dramatic: He led the league in total rebounds every year and in blocked shots three times, won the league’s MVP his rookie season, won the All-Star game MVP in 1974 and led the Colonels to the championship in 1975.

He went on to play 12 seasons in the NBA, mostly with Chicago and San Antonio, and retired as that league’s career leader in shooting percentage at .599. He averaged 22.3 points per game in the ABA, 17.1 in the NBA. He was the first player enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame by the ABA committee, in 2011.

 

 

Around the Web:
Artis Gilmore Official Website
Remember the ABA – Artis Gilmore
Artis Gilmore Career Retrospective
From college to the ABA and NBA, Artis Gilmore was a monster star
Artis Gilmore Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Speech

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DampierDriveErvingNiceThe Dropping Dimes Foundation is excited to announce Louie Dampier, former American Basketball Association Kentucky Colonel and Basketball Hall of Famer, has joined the Dropping Dimes Foundation Advisory Board.

After high school Louie Dampier went on to become an All-American at the University of Kentucky. He continued his success as a member of the first Kentucky Colonels team. To name just a few of his accomplishments, Dampier was the ABA All-Time Leader in points scored, three pointers made, assists, games played, and minutes played. His stamina and hard work earned him several all-star nominations and a national championship. Dampier’s accomplishments rightfully led to his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame in the fall of 2015.

 

Please be sure to read more about Louie Dampier and his many contributions to the game of basketball:

 


 

McGinnis1HanderSimonMountIBJ – Mickey Maurer

Last month Indianapolis Star reporter Nate Taylor made a case for election of George McGinnis to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The assertion was based on statistics—an excellent body of work achieved by a deserving candidate. Nonetheless, the efforts to elect McGinnis have failed each year since his eligibility in 1988, and time is running short. Perhaps the voters should know more. Who is George McGinnis?

Read more here.


 

 

Pro Basketball Hall of Famer – Community Leader – Mentor – Devoted Husband & Father – Loyal Friend….. Since Mel Daniels’ passing Friday, October 30th, all those whose lives were touched by the 6’9” former center have showered their love and appreciation in a manner that should only be expected for such a wonderful man. Mel was celebrated for his raw toughness on the court, and deeply loved for the unwavering passion and commitment he had for those fortunate enough to have been in his large circle of family and friends. As a longtime supporter and champion of his peers in the American Basketball Association, and so many others in his community, he will be greatly missed.

Mel was a man who put duty, and the interests and needs of others before himself. His longtime ABA coach and fellow Hall of Famer Bobby “Slick” Leonard has often been quoted saying Mel gave everything he had when he was between the lines for his team. The same can be said of Mel in all aspects of his life. It’s no wonder Mel was the team captain of our Dropping Dimes Foundation family, and an extremely active member of the advisory board. Even in his 2012 introduction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Mel spoke out in support of all the other ABA greats he played with and against. He consistently touted the importance of recognizing the talent and achievements of the players and coaches from around the American Basketball Association, and what they did for the game of basketball. In the video below from the Basketball Hall of Fame, you can watch Mel’s acceptance speech:

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On the court, Mel was known for his ferocious play. He was a true big-man, even at only 6’9”, something rarely seen in today’s professional basketball game. Posting up, back to the basket, he ignited the crowd by dunking over opponents. Mel did not succeed because he was tall, or simply because of his natural talent; he absolutely earned his recognition and success. A work-horse for his team, he was honored with the ABA’s first Rookie of the Year Award in 1968, when he played for the Minnesota Muskies, contributing an average of 22.2 points and 15.6 rebounds a game.

He wouldn’t stop there, however. As an Indiana Pacer, Mel was a pivotal cog in the team’s drive to win league championships in 1970, 1972 and 1973. In 1969 and 1971, the American Basketball Association named Mel the Most Valuable Player. Check out the clip below where Mel scored 19 points (an average game for him) in the 1973 American Basketball Association’s Final against the Kentucky Colonels, who themselves featured 3 future Hall of Famers — Artis Gilmore, Dan Issel and Louis Dampier:

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The league’s all-time leading rebounder, Mel was also named a five-time all-ABA team member and was a seven-time All-Star. He was revered by his teammates and fans, and intimidating to his opponents. As a player, his contemporaries, such as Julius “Dr. J” Erving, have spoken out with great respect as to Mel’s work ethic and tenacity. Later, as a coach, he continued to shape the game, including at Indiana State where he coached a young forward from French Lick, Indiana – Larry Bird. After coaching, his commitment to the Indiana Pacers continued throughout his life, serving as an assistant coach, Director of Player Personnel, and scout for many years. Check out the NBA’s collection of memorable highlights from Mel’s career, along with insights from various basketball stars on what kind of player and person Mel was:

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In his final years, the Dropping Dimes Foundation was extremely honored to have Mel leading the charge in helping former American Basketball Association players, coaches, and families who have become disadvantaged and are falling on hard times. Mel was surrounded by many of his former teammates and ABA peers in Dropping Dimes Foundation initiatives, including one memorable event when Mel and former teammate Bob Netolicky reflected on a particular time when Mel got into a “fight” with Wilt Chamberlain:

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Most recently, Mel demonstrated once again the personal integrity and kindness he brought to the world through a very simple but very significant act of kindness for former ABA Pacer player Charlie Jordan. Jordan, who has been battling a series of medical complications, had one wish: a new suit so he could go to church. At 6’8”, the 61 year old was unable to find an affordable solution, so Mel spearheaded a Dropping Dimes Foundation “assist” to help Jordan get a new tailored suit.

Mel Daniels helps Charlie Jordan try on a new suit.

Mel was truly beloved by everyone around him. Mel was so many things to so many people. It was his relentless commitment to living life to fullest that made him so successful, respected, and most importantly loved. We should all aspire to his unyielding drive to serve others less fortunate than himself. Mel once told us that he believed when a person is born blessed, particularly blessed with good health, size and strength, it is absolutely incumbent upon that person to help those smaller, weaker or less healthy. In a world where the news is too often filled with stories of people making the opposite choice, we hope Mel’s courage, wisdom, strength and kindness will be carried on by those who have been touched by him, directly and indirectly.

Mel, you will be deeply and forever missed.

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