Jerry R. Lucas

A dominant force in high school, college, and the NBA, Jerry Lucas was the consummate team player. He had the unique experience of winning championships at every level of competition - high school, college, professional, and even the Olympics. Under Hall of Fame coach Fred Taylor at Ohio State, Lucas teamed with Hall of Famers John Havlicek and Bob Knight to produce a 78-6 record and three Big Ten championships. Lucas led the Buckeyes to three straight NCAA Finals (1960-62), and the 1960 national championship. In 1960 and 1961, Lucas was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player. His distinctive over-the-shoulder shooting style helped him amass 1,990 college points, but Lucas was an equally tenacious rebounder, grabbing 1,411 for his collegiate career. During 11 NBA seasons with Cincinnati, San Francisco, and New York, Lucas was a three-time All-NBA First Team selection. Named to seven NBA All Star teams, including his rookie season, he was the MVP of the 1965 game. Lucas was honored as Rookie of the Year at the end of the 1964 season. When Lucas was traded from San Francisco to New York, he helped orchestrate the Knicks 1973 NBA championship.