What position did you play?

[pizza delivery]

I assume everyone here has at least dribbled a basketball. Perhaps put on a CYO league uniform for a few games. Without bringing up too many painful memories of riding the bench in 7th grade, what position did you play growing up?

Perhaps you dribbled so well you made it to the big time on the JV squad? Maybe your up and under move ascended you all the way to the varsity roster? Were you recruited to keep stats in DIII? DII? DI?

During it all, what position were you? Or, what position did you want to be? Many of us wanted to be the PG (who doesn't?) but couldn't catch the rim on a 18 foot jumper or dribble past the toes.

Seriously, feel free to brag it up if you made a swish one time or another. It is March and everyone should have their One Shining Moment.

What position did you play?

[HuskyMuskie]

Proud Jamel McLean-esque player my entire life. I have been roughly 6 feet tall since 7th grade, so being the big man back then was really nice. However, now I'm just the undersized rec-player with lackluster post moves.

But this was the HuskyMuskie of old, in the glory days: :D

http://www.e-monsite.com/photos/tracy_1570659645_vincejo008%5B1%5D.jpg

[Masterofreality]

The 4 and the 5.

Although I'm only 6:3, which by today's standards is a guard, in the 1960's I was tall enough to play center and PF in High School. Most of the centers in D1 college were only 6:6 to 6:7 and the tallest High School center I ever played against was 6:7 and was a skinny geek. I was blessed with good hops, however, and could dunk with a respectable shot - especially from the baseline- from 15 feet.

That was also the era of Kentucky's "Rupp's Runts" of which Pat Riley was a member. Thad Jaracz played center on that team at 6:5 and every one else, Riley, Louie Dampier, etc were 6:4 or less.

[pizza delivery]

Proud Jamel McLean-esque player my entire life. I have been roughly 6 feet tall since 7th grade, so being the big man back then was really nice. However, now I'm just the undersized rec-player with lackluster post moves.

I guess it's just a matter of time before McLean himself will be getting swatted by uncoordinated 45 year olds as well. Live it up now Jamel, it doesn't last!

The 6 foot 7th grader is a dominant force. You were lucky then and probably still benefit from that mentality, even against bigger players.

[BBC 08]

Combo 3/4 for most of life with a touch of the 5 in 5th and 6th grade.

[blobfan]

Proud Jamel McLean-esque player my entire life. I have been roughly 6 feet tall since 7th grade, so being the big man back then was really nice. However, now I'm just the undersized rec-player with lackluster post moves.

But this was the HuskyMuskie of old, in the glory days: :D

I'd rep you if I could. Thanks for the laugh!

I was not a player and frankly did not excel at team sports. My position is firmly secured on the sidelines, cheering for my team from the spectator section.

[drudy23]

Mostly shooting guard as I grew to 6'2" - 6'3"....point guard before I hit the growth spurt.

[Kahns Krazy]

Mostly shooting guard as I grew to 6'2" - 6'3"....point guard before I hit the growth spurt.

Really? I always figured you more of a catcher than a shooter....

[pizza delivery]

The 4 and the 5.

Although I'm only 6:3, which by today's standards is a guard, in the 1960's I was tall enough to play center and PF in High School. Most of the centers in D1 college were only 6:6 to 6:7 and the tallest High School center I ever played against was 6:7 and was a skinny geek. I was blessed with good hops, however, and could dunk with a respectable shot - especially from the baseline- from 15 feet.

That was also the era of Kentucky's "Rupp's Runts" of which Pat Riley was a member. Thad Jaracz played center on that team at 6:5 and every one else, Riley, Louie Dampier, etc were 6:4 or less.

What did you people do with all the tall people back then? Or will my kids be 6'7"?

Also, I bet no one was allowed to dribble behind the back or between the legs back then. Am I right?

That's good news to hear someone here could dunk. Reps for claiming to be able to dunk. I'm not so bold. It's silly to me that I could get more rim in 10th grade than any other time in my life. At 6'3" now I should be able to dunk, but it's a faded hope.

[HuskyMuskie]

Really? I always figured you more of a catcher than a shooter....

Hey-oh!!!

[pizza delivery]

Combo 3/4 for most of life with a touch of the 5 in 5th and 6th grade.

Best of both worlds if you can't dribble. Shoot 3's and call for the ball on the block. Not saying you can't dribble...

[Smails]

I guess I played guard when I sported the green and white nuthuggers from St. James of the Valley. However, for a guard I don't remember shooting many outside shots, but I did end up in many a pile up under the basket. Maybe I was a point center.

Either way, my basketball career came to an end after my freshman year in HS when the JV basketball coach asked me if I had any interest in wrestling.

[pizza delivery]

I'd rep you if I could. Thanks for the laugh!

I was not a player and frankly did not excel at team sports. My position is firmly secured on the sidelines, cheering for my team from the spectator section.

On a night were we will be honoring Hughes, Mazza and Feeney, I think this points to you being a 1 or 2, with the heart of a 5, because 5's are unselfish.

[Smails]

The 4 and the 5.

. I was blessed with good hops, however, and could dunk with a respectable shot - especially from the baseline- from 15 feet.



Swampy Meadows? Dat u?

I kid MOR

[kyxu]

I was a "combo guard" on my high school varsity team, which in my case meant I was equally inadequate at both shooting and dribbling.

[pizza delivery]

I guess I played guard when I sported the green and white nuthuggers from St. James of the Valley. However, for a guard I don't remember shooting many outside shots, but I did end up in many a pile up under the basket. Maybe I was a point center.

Either way, my basketball career came to an end after my freshman year in HS when the JV basketball coach asked me if I had any interest in wrestling.

Chris Farley is coming to mind for some reason...

[pizza delivery]

I was a "combo guard" on my high school varsity team, which in my case meant I was equally inadequate at both shooting and dribbling.

Wouldn't have prevented you from walking on at X, if you would have just DEDICATED YOURSELF!!!!

[ATL Muskie]

I played small forward in HS, when I played. My only claim to fame was I once fed an alley oop to our stud center and he jammed it home. He went on to play at Va Tech and later in Europe until he blew out his knee. The best part was the alley oop, the worst part was we were down about 32 pts at the time.

[pizza delivery]

I played small forward in HS, when I played. My only claim to fame was I once fed an alley oop to our stud center and he jammed it home. He went on to play at Va Tech and later in Europe until he blew out his knee. The best part was the alley oop, the worst part was we were down about 32 pts at the time.

Is that you in your avatar? If so, you look more like a power forward these days. :D

[xavierj]

I wanted to play guard but at 6'3" I was the tallest kid on our high school team and was forced to play center. Had fun guarding guys about 4-5 inches taller than me all the time but we did somehow manage to make it to the state final 4 in Ohio before getting destroyed.

[stophorseabuse]

This is kind of fun. I was kind of a freak athlete for a rural white boy. I'm only 5'7ish, but I was 5-7 in 5th grade. Through Middle school I was a pretty dominant 4/5. Actually in 7th grade I average 15 rebounds a game. It wasn't really fair, I was fully developed at 13. In middle school I could grab the rim flat footed, and in high school I could dunk something I could palm. I actually won MVP at Pete Gillen Camp when I was in 6th grade.

In all honesty I sucked though. I was just bigger/stronger/faster than others my age. I was developed like a UD player. My dad was 5'5, but no one seemed to take notice of that and they kept running me out there with the big guys for skill practice. When your 13 and scoring and rebounding at will, who cares about pesky little skills.

My freshmen year I moved to guard, but it was a disaster. It was just too late and not worth developing guard skills so MAYBE I could have been a varsity role player for one year. I was a very high quality baseball and football player, and after that freshmen year my Dad sent me to Cincinnati and I played summer baseball with JTM and Storm Club. It was a good move, as I ended up playing baseball for 2 years in college, and could have played football.

In hindsight I DO regret not sticking with basketball. I LOVE the game, and did then. It is hard to accept being a role player when you are young. It is still fun to see my students faces when my old short ass takes one step underneath the goal and grabs ahold of the rim to fix the net. I break it out once a year so the 'legend' continues among the kids. I tell them I can dunk easy, but refuse to ever do it. Fact is I don't jump one inch higher on the run than flat footed. The kids need not know that though. :)

[madness31]

I played point. On offense I was primarily a slasher that loved to draw the help D and dump down to the big man or kick out. If left open I'd take the J but preferred to drive because my J was streaky and often broken. Defense is where I made my mark. I loved to get in the grill of my man and wear him down with constant pressure.

[paulxu]

Fact is I don't jump one inch higher on the run than flat footed. The kids need not know that though. :)

Played forward at 6 feet...so you can imagine how long ago that was. Could "barely" dunk if everything went right; but that didn't last long.

Horse, try that jumping off one foot thing to see what happens.

[nuts4xu]

I put up an 8 1/2 foot dunk hoop in my backyard and I must say, I woulda went pro if they made the rim that size (and only allowed average to bad short white guys to play. I also held absolute authority and had final say on all fouls or violations.

I had some hops, and XavierJ and I would run the pick and roll all day long and couldn't be stopped!

The last time I attempted to dunk was 2 years ago. I snapped my patella tendon and promptly retired after a long successful jam hoop career.

[MADXSTER]

I guess I played guard when I sported the green and white nuthuggers from St. James of the Valley.

Played PG and we St Clement Cardinals done learned them St James valley boys a lessen or two every time we took the court. :D

[Porkopolis]

I alternated between PG and SG. I was a decent three point shooter but apparently not decent enough!

[XUOWNSUC]

I too alternated between PG & SG. However, I mostly rode the bench on the St. Ignatius "select" team.

I got two technicals within the first two years of my playing career. The first time I got a technical was for running on to the court to sub for another player (I didn't know we had to wait at the scorers table for a time out - it was my first year) and the second technical was for yelling "Miss it!" to an opponent while he was shooting a free throw (I was lined up outside the box).

I did dunk on a regulation 10 foot rim once (though not in a game). That was the highlight of my career. No way I could do that now.

[waggy]

I got cut 6th or 7th grade, and never tried again. Took my frustration out at lots and lots of pick up games. I'm 6'-1" and could board like Jason Love, and was great at pressure D and forcing TO's. Really liked the free for all of 21. One time doing community service in the ghetto, I skunked those boys 3 straight games. They started actually trying about midway thru game 2. To no avail.

[Snipe]

I was second team All City and I blew my knee out. I had scholarship offers from bigs.

That is what I tell my kids.

I played the point in grade school behind the guy who does the Frisbee Dogs at the halftime show. He was our best player and I never played. I was a point-bench warmer. I did get to run the point in practice though against the first team. In those days all the kids didn't need to play. Coach didn't care for me either. Apparently he thought I was a pain in the ass, if you can believe that.

The high point in my career was making the cut for the A team. I was better than all those other kids who went on to actually play on the B team. My brother got cut, made the B team and then ended up starting and scoring a bunch in high school. I wish I could have played. I would get in in the last minute or so of the game. If I could do it over I would have choosen starting on the B team to making the A team. I remember kids crying when they got cut and I was so proud that I made the big leagues. What the heck is that good for if you never play.

My son plays for a team with 6 players and 5 on most days. He gets to play the whole game. They get blown out but he loves playing. I told him he doesn't know how good he has it. The only scholarship he could ever get would be academic, but it is still fun to play. I just wish he would hit the boards more and mix it up in the paint. You get five fouls so you better use some of them.

I am not a good basketball player today, and I never really was one. We played in a YMCA rec league after college and the other team was short so our team loaned them me. I did this running flayling sky hook that missed the mark widely and the captain of the other team stopped the game and looked at me and said "ARE YOU SERIOUS?". Fred Garvin still relishes bringing up that moment in time.

I shoot hoops with my kids every now and again and all the old moves came right back. It is still a mountain of suck and it isn't pretty. I want to play on Drudy's team if we ever get together because I know for a fact he can beat anyone on this board.

[Masterofreality]

Swampy Meadows? Dat u?

I kid MOR

Oh, the pain.:p

When I was at Father Ryan in Nashville, Vanderbilt was decent. Their center was named Ron Griffiths- he was 6:6. The first guy they got who was over 6:8 was Clyde Lee.

Bill Russell was listed at 6:8 but was really 6:7. Wilt Chamberlain and Lew Alcindor were the true exceptions back then.

Aren't growth hormones in chicken and beef grand?

[smileyy]

F/C in freshman basketball. It's the only organized basketball I've ever played, and boy was I bad. I was 6'1" then and awkward as hell with the ball. I went the whole year without scoring...

[XU-07]

water boy, bench warmer, and manager. I am awful at sports.

[stophorseabuse]

Okay, everybody is just waiting for that guy to come on here and tell how good he was so we can give him shit.:D

Waiting for Swampy now.

[Smooth]

I played the non-shooting 2 in intramurals. A proud member of team Rambis. We bought cheap sunglasses, popped the lenses out and put tape on them.

[BiggieXU]

Always a 5, but only played 3 years of organized bball every other year in grade school.

Ran a decent pick-and-roll with dto for 4 years in X intramurals.

[ballyhoohoo]

I am a 5'8 power forward with post moves and no left hand. I am very charles barkley-esqe.

[BlueGuy]

I've played 0 minutes of organized basketball. My winter sport (turned into year round as I got older) was hockey. Started playing hockey soon after learning how to walk.

[X-band '01]

Look at my name and ask me that again with a straight face.

[xu2010]

It was the point for me as it was for every member of my family. Being from Northern IN, the basketball was planted firmly in my hand at birth. My favorite first communion gift was the driveway extension and basketball hoop that was put in for me. I went to a tiny high school in South Bend and played some varsity and a lot of JV ball. Finally started senior year, but my basketball career at that level never really took off. I did have one shining moment though with a huge win over a nearby public school to guarantee us a winning season.

Played four years of IM ball with the Bad Newz Kennelz. Never won a championship with that team, but we came close both semesters junior and senior year. Its sad, but my shot today (after graduating HS and college) is much better than at any point in my life. I'm a lefty in a lot of things, but shoot with my right hand, so I often confuse defenders with which way they should shade me.

[LutherRackleyRulez]

LUTHER RACKLEY ('69) --- 1982 Inductee --- lettered three years in basketball. Member of the XU Basketball Hall of Fame. Team MVP in 1969.

"Big Luther" was one of the finest big men in the country in the big games. When he came to play, he held his own with the likes of St. Bonaventure's Bob Lanier and Detroit's Spencer Haywood.

Rackley was a well-built, athletically talented player at 6-11 and 210. And he could easily palm the basketball in either of his big hands.

Rackley began displaying his physical tools for Xavier as a sophomore, averaging 15.0 points and a team high 12.6 rebounds a game. He posted season highs of 25 points against Utah and St. Bonaventure (Bob Lanier). Two of his better all-around games included a 24-point, 19-rebound effort against Detroit and a 25-rebound game against Dayton. He added a 17-point, 15-rebound effort against Marquette. Whenever the big game came up, the big Xavier center was ready.

Problems in the classroom limited Rackley's play to only seven games his junior year. He averaged 9.1 points and 8.4 rebounds for the seven games.

Rackley came back his senior year determined to have a great season. He did, averaging team highs of 17.5 points and 14.0 rebounds. He also led the team in minutes played (938), field goal percentage (.552), rebound total (363), and point total (455). He pumped in 29 points twice that year, and hit the 27 mark once.

In all, he led the Musketeers in scoring one year and led them in rebounding twice. (Fellow Hall of Famer Bob Quick won the scoring race the other two years and the rebounding race the other year.)

Although he stands 10th on the Xavier All-Time Rebounding List with 750 rebounds, his career rebound average of 12.7 rpg. is second only to Bob Pelkington.

After graduating from Xavier, Rackley was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals in the third round, 37th player chosen overall, in the 1969 NBA Draft. Rackley enjoyed a good rookie season, averaging 7.6 points and 5.7 rebounds in 66 games.

Rackley found himself in Cleveland, New York, and Philadelphia for his final four seasons. His only productive year in the last four was his second year in the NBA, as he averaged 7.6 points and 5.3 rebounds in 74 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1970-71 season.

Overall, Rackley scored 1,337 points (6.0 a game) and pulled down 1,003 rebounds (4.5 a game) in 221 NBA games during a five-year career.

RACKLEY'S XAVIER CAREER STATS

Yrs. Gms FGM-FGA PCT. FTM-FTA PCT. REB AVG PTS AVG

66-67 26 151-295 .512 89-153 .582 328 12.6 391 15.0

67-68 7 24-53 .453 16-39 .410 59 8.4 64 9.1

68-69 26 169-306 .552 117-175 .669 363 14.0 455 17.5

Career 59 344-654 .526 222-367 .605 750 12.7 910 15.4


HIGH POINT GAME:
29 vs. West Florida (12-27-68) at the Mobile Classic
29 vs. Air Force (1-25-69) at Schmidt Fieldhouse

[waggy]

I pick Luther.

[nuts4xu]

I bet Waggy had game, but I am guessing he had a tough time passing the drug test.

[waggy]

Depends on what you mean by pass. It's all in the context.

[ItsAllAboutTheX]

I mostly played the 4 and I loved it, never wanted to be the point guard. The best feelings for me were blocking shots and getting steals, I wasnt much of a offensive scorer, but I was killer on defense. Still play the same way for the most part now.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I played 4/5 always. Going to St. X and being a 6'2 "big man" with no dribbling skills didnt give me much of a chance to play high school ball. The highlight of my basketball career was scoring 27 points in 8th grade. After that it was all intramurals where I was so/so. Play in a rec league now, scoring is not my big contribution though as my post moves have greatly dimished over the years.

[dto]

Kind of weird for me. I was always really short until my mid-high school growth spurt, so it worked out well for me that I was forced to play PG from a young age, but was always more of a natural SG/spot-up shooter. I'm 6'1" now, and was in college, so it was nice to be able to play guard during intramurals, especially when BiggieXU (6'5") and I played together. Also played intramurals with XU05and07, who was a solid slasher and a hell of a defender. We had a nice team back at X.

[dto]

Always a 5, but only played 3 years of organized bball every other year in grade school.

Ran a decent pick-and-roll with dto for 4 years in X intramurals.

Damn skippy we did

[Masterofreality]

LUTHER RACKLEY ('69) --- 1982 Inductee --- lettered three years in basketball. Member of the XU Basketball Hall of Fame. Team MVP in 1969.

Overall, Rackley scored 1,337 points (6.0 a game) and pulled down 1,003 rebounds (4.5 a game) in 221 NBA games during a five-year career.

RACKLEY'S XAVIER CAREER STATS

Yrs. Gms FGM-FGA PCT. FTM-FTA PCT. REB AVG PTS AVG
66-67 26 151-295 .512 89-153 .582 328 12.6 391 15.0
67-68 7 24-53 .453 16-39 .410 59 8.4 64 9.1
68-69 26 169-306 .552 117-175 .669 363 14.0 455 17.5
Career 59 344-654 .526 222-367 .605 750 12.7 910 15.4

HIGH POINT GAME:
29 vs. West Florida (12-27-68) at the Mobile Classic
29 vs. Air Force (1-25-69) at Schmidt Fieldhouse


Having lived right down the hall in Kuhlman from Luther and Perry Ashley, and witnessing Luther's prodigious skills-especially at that Air Force game- I would say that there is no one on this board who could match up- even now.
Not even Mark "3' Poynter.

Mr. Luther looked pretty sleek when I saw him at the Fordham game last year.

[xavierj]

I put up an 8 1/2 foot dunk hoop in my backyard and I must say, I woulda went pro if they made the rim that size (and only allowed average to bad short white guys to play. I also held absolute authority and had final say on all fouls or violations.

I had some hops, and XavierJ and I would run the pick and roll all day long and couldn't be stopped!

The last time I attempted to dunk was 2 years ago. I snapped my patella tendon and promptly retired after a long successful jam hoop career.

Ahhh good times Nuts. Miss those days. I was like Shaq on that hoop and it was always fun to watch BM lose his cool om that court and try to take it out on the rim. Couldn't stop the pick and roll.

[Muskie91]

I was a 2 in a point guards body without the handle. Made my buckets by beating people to the hoop cause I couldn't shoot a lick. Seriously, I was a soccer player that had quicks and they would put in to pester the he'll out of the other team. Get a few steals and feed the real players. That was my game.