Jerry Lucas was one of the greatest power forwards to ever play college basketball. In 1960, besides playing on the Olympic team, he led his Ohio State team to the NCAA championship as a sophomore center He played mostly center in college and made All-America in 1960, 1961, and 1962 as well as twice being named College Player of the Year He also led the nation in rebounding in his junior and senior years, and in field goal percentage all three of his varsity years, setting a collegiate career mark in that category He was drafted by Cincinnati of the NBA in 1962 but instead signed with the Cleveland Pipers of the soon-to-be-defunct American Basketball League. Cleveland folded before playing a game and Lucas sat out a season before beginning his NBA career. Lucas had a solid 11-year pro career, starting out with a Rookie of the Year award in 1964. He three times was named to the NBA first-team All-Stars, and three times was named second-team. In 1965 he was the MVP of the NBA All-Star game and he finished his career with the New York Knicks by helping them win an NBA title in 1973. After his basketball career ended, Lucas was involved in several entrepreneurial pursuits, the most well known of which are his books and schools of memory training. Lucas’ own memory is phenomenal and he and partner, Harry Lorayne, have devised a system of memory which they have marketed into a big business.
United States