Another Who's Who List

One day last week we did our version of the all time best basketball players who played basketball in the State of North Carolina.  Today let's look at what I  consider the best all time players who grew up in North carolina but played college or pros some where else.  What you will see is we have an all pro team that grew up in North Carolina.  These are not in any order.

Buck Williams:  We don't have to go out of the city limits to find one of the best ever in Rocky Mount senior High's Buck Williams.  Lead the Gryphons to the 4-A basketball title in 1978 left Rocky Mount to play college basketball At Maryland.  Was voted one of the 50 best basketball players of all time in the ACC giving Rocky Mount High two players on that list.  He lead the ACC in rebounding twice.

His 17 year pro career has two main stops in New Jersey and Portland.  He is 13th best rebounder in NBA History.  He is still the all time scoring leader in New Jersey history.  He averaged for his entire NBA career a double-double 12.8 points and 10 rebounds.  Currently and asssitant coach at Portland.

Dominique Wilkins:  Washington High school  I actually did a high school basketball game in which Washington played Ahoskie a zillion years ago.  Broke the hearts of N C State fans when he chose Georgia over the Wolfpack.  Averaged 24.8 points a game  his entire 15 year pro career.

Pete Maravich:  Broughton High School  He is the all time leading scorer in NCAA history 44.2 points per game  playing for his father Press Maravich who had been an assistant coach for N C State and took over when Everett Case died..  Fired at State and become coach at LSU and so "Pistol Pete" followed his dad south.

Had a ten year pro career and averaged 24.2 points per game.  Had a movie made about his life growing up in Raleigh where he would ride his bicycle to school and dribble the ball as he rode.

Walt Bellemy:  J T Barber High school New Bern N C.  Averaged 20.08 points per game playing at the University of Indiana and when he finished up his playing career in the pros average 20.06 per game.  was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993.

John Lucas:  Hillside High Durham NC  Starting point guard for the University of Maryland.  #1 Draft pick in 1977.  Played 14 years in the NBA.  Dabbled on the pro tennis circuit until going into coaching.

Other great names who either called North Carolina home or went to high school in North Carolina.  Lou Hudson Dudley High- Played University of Minnesota.  Jersey is retired by Atlanta Hawks  Henry Bibby Franklinton High- 3 time UCLA National Champion guard and Eric "Sleepy" Floyd Hunter Huss High school in Gastonia  played on 82' Georgtown Team that lost to Carolina.  Danny Manning Paige High Greensboro.  Lead Kansas to the 1988 National Championship.

In their prime the all star team from North Carolina that played college ball in North Carolina could really have a ball game if they played the best  from North Carolina that left the state.