Clifford O. "Cliff" Hagan

With one of basketball's most devastating hook shots and a dazzling quickness and strength, Cliff Hagan starred at the University of Kentucky, and for 13 professional seasons with the NBA's St. Louis Hawks and the ABA's Dallas Chaparrals. Playing under Hall of Fame coach Adolph Rupp, Hagan led the Wildcats to an 86-5 record, including a 25-0 season in 1954. The Boston Celtics drafted Hagan only to trade him, along with Ed Macauley, to the St. Louis Hawks for the draft rights to Bill Russell. A pure shooter, Hagan scored an amazing 26 points in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in 1958. During his ten-year NBA career, Hagan led the Hawks to five Western Division titles and to the NBA championship in 1958 and was named to the All-NBA Second Team that same year. Hagan averaged 20.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per game when it mattered most during the NBA playoffs.