Les Hunter (basketball) facts for kids
Hunter in Loyola's 1963 yearbook
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 16, 1942 Nashville, Tennessee, US |
| Died | March 27, 2020 (aged 77) Overland Park, Kansas, US |
| High school | Pearl (Nashville, Tennessee) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Loyola Chicago (1961–1964) |
| NBA Draft | 1964 / Round: 2 / Pick: 9th overall |
| Selected by the Detroit Pistons | |
| Pro career | 1964–1973 |
| Career history | |
| 1964–1965 | Baltimore Bullets |
| 1967–1969 | Minnesota Muskies / Miami Floridians |
| 1969–1970 | New York Nets |
| 1970–1972 | Kentucky Colonels |
| 1972–1973 | Memphis Tams |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA and ABA statistics | |
| Points | 5,735 (12.3 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 3,224 (6.9 rpg) |
| Assists | 752 (1.6 apg) |
Leslie Henry Hunter (born August 16, 1942 – died March 27, 2020) was a talented American basketball player. He played professionally in two major leagues: the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the American Basketball Association (ABA).
Hunter played college basketball for the Loyola Ramblers. He was the starting center on their NCAA championship team in 1963. He was also chosen as an ABA All-Star twice during his professional career.
Contents
Early Life and High School Success
Hunter was born in Nashville, Tennessee. He was a tall player, standing 6 feet 7 inches (201 cm) tall. He played as a forward and center.
He went to Pearl High School in Nashville. There, he played basketball with Vic Rouse. They later went to Loyola University Chicago together. Hunter and Rouse helped Pearl High School win 54 games in a row. They also won black national high school championships in 1958, 1959, and 1960.
College Basketball Career
At Loyola University, Les Hunter was the starting center for the team. In 1963, his team famously beat the University of Cincinnati in overtime. This victory won them the 1963 NCAA University Division Basketball Championship. Hunter and the other four Loyola starters played the entire championship game without any breaks.
Record-Breaking Victory
In 1963, Hunter and the Ramblers played against Tennessee Tech. They won with a score of 111–42. This huge difference in points is still a record for the biggest win in an NCAA men's basketball tournament game.
Sophomore Season (1961–1962)
In his second year, Hunter played his first varsity games. He scored about 12.8 points and grabbed 8.7 rebounds per game. Loyola finished the season with a great record of 23 wins and 4 losses. They reached the Final Four in the 1962 National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
Junior Season and NCAA Championship (1962–1963)
As a junior, Hunter was a key player. He averaged 17.0 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. Loyola had an amazing season, finishing 29 wins and 2 losses. They won the 1963 NCAA Championship. Hunter was the second-highest scorer on the team. He was also named to the NCAA All-Tournament team.
In the semi-final game against Duke, Hunter scored 29 points and had 18 rebounds. Loyola won that game 92–75. In the championship game against Cincinnati, Hunter scored 16 points and had 11 rebounds. Loyola won 60–58 in overtime.
The Championship-Winning Shot
In the final moments of the championship game, Vic Rouse scored the winning basket. Hunter had taken a shot, and Rouse rebounded it. He then tipped it in just as time ran out. Hunter later said, "Vic and I had played on the same team in high school. I told him, 'We stayed together just for this moment.'"
Senior Season (1963–1964)
In his final year, Hunter led Loyola to a 22–6 record. He averaged 21.4 points and 15.3 rebounds per game. The Ramblers also made it to the 1964 NCAA tournament. In his last college game, Hunter scored 27 points and had 18 rebounds. Loyola won 100–91 against Kentucky.
Overall, Hunter helped Loyola win 74 games and lose only 12 during his college career. He scored 1472 points and grabbed 1074 rebounds in total. He averaged 17.1 points and 11.8 rebounds in his 86 college games.
Professional Basketball Career
Les Hunter was chosen by the Detroit Pistons in the 1964 NBA draft. He was the 11th player picked overall.
NBA Career
In 1964, Hunter was traded to the Baltimore Bullets. He played one season (1964–1965) in the NBA with the Bullets. He averaged 1.8 points and 2.4 rebounds in 24 games.
ABA Career Highlights
After playing for a minor league team, Hunter joined the newly formed ABA in 1967. He was signed by the Minnesota Muskies. In his first ABA season, he averaged 17.6 points and 9.6 rebounds.
Hunter was chosen to play in the first ABA All-Star Game in January 1968. He scored 7 points and had 8 rebounds in that game. The Muskies had a great season, winning 50 games.
The Minnesota team later moved and became the Miami Floridians. Hunter continued to play well, averaging 16.7 points and 9.6 rebounds. He also played in the 1969 ABA All-Star Game, scoring 12 points.
He then played for the New York Nets from 1969 to 1970. There, he averaged 16.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists.
Hunter played six seasons in the ABA in total (1967–1973). He played for the Minnesota Muskies/Miami Floridians, New York Nets, Kentucky Colonels, and Memphis Tams. In his professional career, Hunter scored 5,735 points. He was a two-time ABA All-Star.
He played in the first ABA All-Star game in Indianapolis, Indiana. He played alongside famous players like Larry Brown and Connie Hawkins. In his 444 ABA games, Hunter averaged 12.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.
Life After Basketball
After he stopped playing basketball, Les Hunter moved to Kansas City in 1976. He owned a restaurant for ten years. He also worked as an instructor. He helped students who hadn't finished high school take online classes.
In 2018, Hunter was teaching math at a community college. He lived in Overland Park, near Kansas City. He passed away on March 27, 2020, at the age of 77, due to cancer.
Awards and Honors
- On July 11, 2013, Hunter and his former Loyola teammates met with President Barack Obama. They met at the Oval Office in the White House. This was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their 1963 national championship. It is still the only NCAA Division I basketball championship won by a university from Illinois.
- In September 2013, the entire 1963 Loyola Ramblers NCAA Championship basketball team was inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame.
- The 1963 Loyola Ramblers team was also inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in November 2013. They were the first team ever to be inducted.
- In 2016, Hunter and his Pearl High School teammate Vic Rouse were inducted into the Metro Nashville Public Schools Sports Hall of Fame.
- In 1991, Hunter was inducted into the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame. His jersey number, 41, was also retired by Loyola.
Images for kids
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Hunter shoots a layup against Iowa on February 2, 1963.
See also
In Spanish: Les Hunter para niños
