C Jerry Lucas (NBA Hall of Fame)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Cincy

Lucas left his mark
Inside dominance, intellect defined Middletown star

BY TOM GROESCHEN | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Jerry Lucas is usually the first name that comes up when old-timers discuss the greatest stars in Ohio high school basketball history.
LeBron James and O.J. Mayo are the latest and greatest. Before that, there were Jimmy Jackson and Clark Kellogg. But the talk inevitably returns to Middletown legend Lucas, who is No. 1 on The Enquirer's list of the 100 greatest players in Greater Cincinnati history.
The short list of Lucas' accomplishments at Middletown:
Led the Middies to a state-record 76 consecutive wins from 1955-58, including two Class AA (big-school) state championships.
Scored 53 and 44 points in consecutive state tournament games as a sophomore. The 97 points are still a tournament record.
Averaged 34 points a game over three varsity seasons. His rebounding statistics are unknown, although estimates say at least 15 a game.
Received multiple awards as Parade magazine All-American and state player of the year.
Scored 2,460 points, No. 3 in state history then, and now No. 9.
"There wasn't the media coverage then that there is now," said Jerry Nardiello, who covered Lucas and is now retired as sports editor of the Middletown Journal. "He got better known as it went along. By the time he was a senior, he was on the Steve Allen TV show from New York City."
Lucas was a sharpshooting 6-foot-8 forward, known for his work habits and phenomenal intellect. He was a straight-A student who, in his NBA days, became known for memorizing entire pages of the Manhattan phone book.
"Those were great days," Lucas said of his Middletown era. "As it was happening, I didn't think very much about it. I look back now and realize how extraordinary it was."
Lucas, 66, remains active doing memory work. He lives in Templeton, Calif., and has published more than 60 books. In recent weeks, he's been back close to home and working temporarily in the Mansfield, Ohio, area, where he was done training with prison inmates at the Marion Correctional Facility.
Lucas was a self-taught sensation.
He was 6-8 by the time he was 14 years old. He became a three-time All-American at Ohio State (one NCAA title), a U.S. Olympic gold medalist (1960) and an NBA champion (New York Knicks, 1973). He spent most of the 1960s with the NBA's Cincinnati Royals, a franchise that is now the Sacramento Kings.
Lucas said he would shoot "12 to 15 hours a day" as a youngster. He sometimes would practice missing on purpose, shooting at different spots on the rim.
"Then, when it was time to make it, it would be like I was throwing it in the ocean," Lucas said.
He had range out to 25 feet, with a somewhat unorthodox "push" one-hand shot that some likened to the form used by a shot putter.
He was mostly an inside player in high school and extended his range when he got to college and the NBA against bigger men.
Middletown under coach Paul Walker was good before Lucas got there, and the school's seven state titles remain a state record. Lucas and friends took it to another level.
"Jerry could have scored 60 points a game if he wanted," said Larry Emrick, one of Lucas' Middletown teammates. "He was a team player. There was never any resentment to him being the star. You almost got to rely on the guy and figure he could win any game by himself."
That was true until Lucas' senior year, when Columbus North upset the Middies 63-62 in the state semifinals. The Middies never won another state basketball title, but the Lucas era retains a life of its own.
Back then, Cincinnati proper did not know much of Lucas beyond the occasional newspaper story. Middletown rarely played Cincinnati teams then, usually seeing them only in postseason tournaments.
One meeting was with Elder in March 1957, when the Middies routed the Panthers 87-63 in a regional final at Cincinnati Gardens. Lucas was held to 23 points by a swarming Elder defense but had 27 rebounds.
"They really killed us from the outside, because everybody was sagging on Lucas inside," said Jerry Drew, a guard who led Elder that night with 18 points.
The Enquirer the next day spoke of "the Middies' incomparable Jerry Lucas ... whose scoring feats have made him one of the most sought-after cage players ..."
Drew said Lucas was a legend come to life that night at the Gardens.
"I'd have to say in a way, we were intimidated," Drew said. "Nobody wanted to take the ball inside against him, he was so dominating."
Lucas has told the Middletown story many times. He never tires of it.
"It still comes up quite often, when I'm traveling in certain parts of the country," Lucas said. "It was a very unique time. I have nothing but fond memories of it."
E-mail tgroeschen@enquirer.com

[ScriptOhio]

Re: F Jerry Lucas (official thread)

This should be titled: C Jerry Lucas (official thread)

Jerry Lucas played "center" for The Ohio State University not "forward". He may have played forward in the NBA, but he was one of the most (if not hte most) dominate center in the NCAA during his era at tOSU.



JERRY LUCAS Ohio State, 1959-60 to 1961-62 He is seriously old school, remembered as something of a mechanical man whose arsenal included a glued-to-the-floor one-handed push shot. But the 6'8" Lucas, the prototypical power forward even though he was listed as a center in college, was the leader of a Buckeyes' brigade (he and John Havlicek and Mel Nowell had made a joint decision to play at Ohio State) that won 78 of 84 games over three seasons, made it to the NCAA championship game every year and took home the title in 1960. Lucas was tournament MVP that year and again in '61 despite the Buckeyes' loss to Cincinnati. He averaged 17.2 rebounds per game for his career and never shot less than 61% from the floor, and he remains the only three-time recipient of the Big Ten player of the year award. He doubtless remembers all of his stats and honors because he later became a nationally known memory expert.

[Steve19]

He was an incredible gentleman. As a boy, I sat with him for an hour at the opening of his first Jerry Lucas Beef and Shake fast food restaurant on Huy Road near Cleveland Avenue and adjacent to the rear of the Northern Lights Shopping Center. The launch, and ultimately the chain, was a flop. Not really competitive to McDonald's etc.

Although few people came, he accepted it with dignity. I remember him talking to the people who he was with, probably agency guys and managers, and saying that the important thing was to keep trying, etc. He was trying to teach me memory tricks in-between people so it must have been something he was really interested in even back then.

[lasmo]

Jerry Lucas was the best amateur basketball player of all-time and he proved it the 1960 Olympics playing alongside of Oscar Robertson Jerry West,, Terry Dischinger, and Walt Bellamy...all superb basketball players and later great pro players. Yet it was Lucas who taught the world how to play the pivot position better than anyone had played it before. Where he stood out the most??? (1) rebounding...pound per pound the best ever...(2) tipping of the basketball on missed shots...he had the greatest hands and touch I ever saw and he often would tap, tap, tap, until it simply went in. (3) Shot selection and percentage...he knew well the value of shot selection before it became popular and his percentage was so high compared to the average of the day he simply ushered in the new style of big man in basketball. Quoting John Wooden, the best low post basketball player of all-time was Jerry Lucas. Over-all his record fro the 5th grade forward to the Olympics is probably the best compliation of wins vs losses ever and he did it as a consumate team player, ever unselfish, and always performing at his best dduring the most difficult games.

To this day I contend that the NBA used him incorrectly and should have played him at his natural position rather than forward. Lucas would have adjusted and been dominate and just the smallest center in the league but near the best and his team would have won which was his hallmark until the NBA. Further, if he had played center I truly believe he would have averaged more than 20 points per game and 20 rebounds per game...something only Wilt Chamberlain did more than 2 seasons in the NBA other than Jerry Lucas...one of if not the most near perfect basketball player I ever saw. Big Luke was something to behold...and I miss his play and style a lot.

[Steve19]

Originally Posted by lasmo

Jerry Lucas was the best amateur basketball player of all-time and he proved it the 1960 Olympics playing alongside of Oscar Robertson Jerry West,, Terry Dischinger, and Walt Bellamy...all superb basketball players and later great pro players. Yet it was Lucas who taught the world how to play the pivot position better than anyone had played it before. Where he stood out the most??? (1) rebounding...pound per pound the best ever...(2) tipping of the basketball on missed shots...he had the greatest hands and touch I ever saw and he often would tap, tap, tap, until it simply went in. (3) Shot selection and percentage...he knew well the value of shot selection before it became popular and his percentage was so high compared to the average of the day he simply ushered in the new style of big man in basketball. Quoting John Wooden, the best low post basketball player of all-time was Jerry Lucas. Over-all his record fro the 5th grade forward to the Olympics is probably the best compliation of wins vs losses ever and he did it as a consumate team player, ever unselfish, and always performing at his best dduring the most difficult games.

To this day I contend that the NBA used him incorrectly and should have played him at his natural position rather than forward. Lucas would have adjusted and been dominate and just the smallest center in the league but near the best and his team would have won which was his hallmark until the NBA. Further, if he had played center I truly believe he would have averaged more than 20 points per game and 20 rebounds per game...something only Wilt Chamberlain did more than 2 seasons in the NBA other than Jerry Lucas...one of if not the most near perfect basketball player I ever saw. Big Luke was something to behold...and I miss his play and style a lot.

Welcome. Good post. I share your sentiment entirely.

[Oh8ch]

Jerry Lucas was the best amateur basketball player of all-time and he proved it the 1960 Olympics playing alongside of Oscar Robertson Jerry West,, Terry Dischinger, and Walt Bellamy...

Lucas won championships at the HS, College, and Pro level. But when asked which championship means the most to him his answer is the Gold Medal from the Olympics. That is who Jerry Lucas is.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Link

Men's basketball: Ohio State's 1960 champs still idolized


Web Posted: 03/23/2007 11:49 PM CDT


Tim Griffin
Express-News

Jerry Lucas can never really get away from his most memorable basketball season.
The former three-time All-American has a faded picture of his Ohio State 1960 team as one of the most cherished keepsakes of his basketball career.
I've still got that picture of that team hanging at my home," Lucas said. "It's a special group that I still remember to this day."
That team has a similarly special place in the hearts of Buckeye fans who still revere the only national championship team in the school's 108-season basketball history.

Continued....

[cincibuck]

1. I ran in a track meet at Troy in 1957 as a freshman miler. At the same meet Lucas won the discus and Bob Ferguson won the 100 and 200 yard (not meters in those days) dash. It was scary to watch Ferguson run sprints and imagine yourself trying to bring him down. One of my friends went back to the starting line and looked at the spot where Ferguson took off. He'd pushed the starting block back about 4 or 5 inches in the cinders!

2. If Joe Roberts had been a sophomore with Lucas, Nowell and Havlicek I have no doubt the Buckeyes would have been the first three time NCAA champs. Bobby Knight and McDonald were simply no replacement for Roberts.

[RLC65]

Two things I remember most from that era. First was the championship game agains Newell's California team which had a really tough game beating Oscar Robertson's Cincy team the night before. (I'm pretty sure there was not a day in between, but I could be wrong.) Ohio State absolutely dominated them. Ohio State fans were amazed as I was, I am sure. While the score may not indicated the totality of the dominance it was such, nevertheless.

Second, among many things Lucas was noted for was for the fairly unique ability he had to go up for a rebound and while still in mid-air, fire the ball to someone fast breaking down the floor. It drew frequent comment at the time. Perhaps there are several players today who can do that, but then it was quite a talent and drew much attention.

After the senior season, most of the team played some exhibitions for pay, and I got to see them in person (only time) when they came over to Granville and played a very good AAU/industrial league team from Licking County in the fieldhouse at Denison. Big crowd, reasonable price to watch. The Industrial League guys made their first three or so shots, as I recall, and you could see them puff up a little, thinking they were going to be competitive. Well, that lasted about two minutes and then the Bucks decided to take care of business and the domination was total. You could only shake your head in amazement.

Good times to be a central Ohioan and Buckeyes fan...in the olden days.

Go Bucks!

[cincibuck]

My freshman year, 1961, was probably one of the best any freshman could have had. The football team finished undefeated and ranked #1 led by "Iron Mike" Ingram on defense and Ferguson and Warfield on offense.

The basketball Bucks were even better. Taylor did a great job of coaching them. He put Havlicek on Indiana's Jimmy Rayle, a kid who was willing to put the ball up from half court if he thought he was open. Rayle still scored more than 20, but Hondo had a hand in his face every time he launched. Lucky there was no 3 point line in those days 'cause Rayle could sure light it up. Then he put Hondo on Purdue's Terry Dishinger. Dish had one of the quickest first steps of any big man playing in the 60s but Hondo was faster and forced him out further to get the ball.

The team played extremely well in the tourney and then with the semi-final game all but over, Len Chappel of Wake forest took Lucas's legs out from under him. I'm not sure Ohio state could have won with a healthy Lucas. Cincinnati's guards were much quicker than Nowell and Dick Resibeck. But Lucas did not play the whole game. Gray Bradds, soon to be a star in his own right, was OSU's high scorer that night.

Probably the worst I've felt for an OSU team until this past Jaunary.

[BB73]

Happy 67th Birthday to a true Buckeye legend.

[SanAntonioBuck]

Happy Birthday Mr. Lucas!

[osugrad21]

DDN

Father of basketball great Lucas dies

By Staff Reports

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

ERLANGER, Ky. ? Jerry "Mark" Lucas, father of Middletown's Jerry Lucas, the city's greatest basketball player, died Monday morning at Village Care Center. He was 88. Mr. Lucas was born July 17, 1918, in Pike County, Ky., to Jeremiah and Virgie Lucas. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Cont...

[Buckskin86]

Jerry Lucas back in town to talk about his memory system
Raising funds for Christian school

By LOREN GENSON
Gazette Staff Writer

Former NBA and Ohio State University basketball star Jerry Lucas plans to spend this week in Ross County helping to raise money for the Ross County Christian Academy. After a visit one month ago, the former Cincinnati Royals player said he is committed to raising money for the private school.

Lucas also touched on his basketball career and talked about how he used the Lucas Memory System to help tutor football students at Ohio State after Coach Woody Hayes asked for his help.

"Woody Hayes came up to me and said, 'I understand you have a memory learning system that works pretty well,'" Lucas said. "I told him I did and he asked me if I'd help some of his athletes who were struggling."

Lucas also joked about his friend and former teammate Bobby Knight, current head coach of Texas Technical University. Knight is known in the sports world for his sideline antics including throwing chairs and verbal confrontations as a coach for Indiana University.

"Bobby was supposed to come on a fishing trip with me," Lucas said. "Imagine that, Bobby Knight on a fishing trip with 12 Christian men."

Chillicothe Gazette - www.chillicothegazette.com - Chillicothe, OH

[CookyPuss]

The esteemed Mr. Lucas will be sharing his testimony and speaking on his memory program at Crosswoods United Methodist Church in Marion, Ohio on August 12th and 13th. He will be speaking during both church services on the 12th at 9 & 11, speaking on family at 6:30 on the 12th and remembering names at 6:30 on the 13th. My parents attend the church and said the event has not been advertised. It's free and they don't expect very many to attend (dad said they'll be lucky if 10 people show up). I can't make it, but it would be a great opportunity to meet him. The church is located at the Carousel Convention Center, 2209 Marion-Waldo Road Marion, Ohio 43302.