Which was the "Best High School Basketball Team" in the history of the state of Pennsylvania? 

When trying to weight which team might have been the best in the history of basketball in the Pennsylvania or any other state, you must take a number of things into consideration.  What type of star power did they have?  When things needed changed, or adjustments were necessary, did they have a coach who had both the ability and the courage to make them?  Did they have a solid bench?  What was the team chemistry?  Was the community a factor?  Only teams that won the championship are considered in the Hall of Champions.

 1955,  Overbrook Hilltoppers.  Led by Wilt Chamberlain was considered by many to be the best team ever to come from Philadelphia. Overbrook won the City title in 1954 (Wilt had 32 in the 74-50  win over South Catholic), and 1955 (Wilt had 35 in the 83-42 win over West Catholic) at the Penn Palestra.  6'5 Vince Miller had 31, the other starters were Marty Hughes, Howard Johnson, and Dave Shapiro.  Wilt averaged 47 points per game in league play. Cecil Mosenson was the coach.  Incidentally, Overbrook lost the 1953 title in Wilt's sophomore year 54-42 when the winners unveiled a defense that surrounded Wilt with four defenders.  He still had 29 including 11 for 19 from the foul line.

1958, Overbrook Hilltoppers. They won three consecutive Philadelphia City Championships from 1957 through 1959.   The 1958 team went 22-0, won the Johnstown Tournament, and beat Jack Kraft's Bishop Neumann squad 71-54 in the city title game.  Starters at the beginning of the season were 6'8 Sr. Wayne Hightower (Kansas), 6'3 Jr. Ralph Heyward (Kansas, Seattle), 6'1 So. Walt Hazzard (UCLA), 5'11 Sr. Richie Richman (Villanova) and 5'8 Sr. Howie Horenstein (Temple).  Horenstein graduated at mid-term and was replaced by 5'11 So. Wally Jones (Villanova).

1960, Farrell High School. They won back to back state titles in 1959 and 1960. They were led by Brian Generalovich (Pitt) and Willie Somerset (Duquesne), both drafted by the NBA.  But along with Generalovich and Somerset, Farrell had the state's top basketball  strategist in Coach Eddie McCluskey!  Following Farrell's 60-41 win over Radnor for the 1960 title, the Sharon Herald said, "their dramatic victory established them as one of the greatest teams to perform for McCluskey.  Box score of the state championship game found  HERE

1962-63, Darby-Colwyn  Undefeated class B state champions two years in a row. Had 54 game winning streak. Many thought that they were the best team in the state in 1963. Leading scorer was 6'0"  Parade All-American Charles Coleman (Villanova). Big man was 6'8 JR Hal Booker (Cheney State, ABA, Parade All-American in 1964.)  (http://www.jimmychitwood.com/High_School_Hoops.php)

1964, Uniontown Red Raiders. They went undefeated (28-0) and are considered one of the top  teams in Pennsylvania High School basketball history.  They beat the vaunted Midland team with Norm Van Lier and Simmy Hill in 1964 to win the WPIAL Championship (46-43). It featured All-Stater Stu Lantz (Nebraska-LA Lakers, San Diego Clippers and Detroit Pistons), Ben Gregory (Nebraska football), Pat Yates, Ray Parson (Minnesota, football), and Jim Rae.  They defeated Plymouth-Whitemarsh at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Arena (62-51). 

 1965, Midland High School. The 1965 team led by Norm Van Lier and Simmie Hill won the state championship defeating Steelton 90-61. Hank Kuzma of Steelton was the Midland coach. They interviewed his mother who still lived in Steelton at the time of the game to find out who she would be rooting for.  She said she rooted for Steelton every game, except when her son was involved, then she rooted for Midland.  Midland finished 28-0. Midland High School no longer exists today as it vanished in the educational merger mania.

1966, Schenley Spartans.  Led by juniors Ken Durrett and Pete Gibson, this was the middle of three Schenley teams to play in the PIAA final four (beating Chester for the title in the 1966 title game).  As sophomores, Durrett and Gibson lost to Midland and as seniors they lost to Ambridge.  An impressive three year run, that probably would have been matched by the 2007 state champs, except that DeJuan Blair was injured in a 3rd round PIAA game vs Erie Prep when Blair, Kennedy and Bryant were sophomores.  The 2008 Schenley squad is within one win of completing their fourth straight undefeated Pittsburgh City League season.   Remember, Schenley has defeated Chester the two time they've played for the state championship (1966 and 2007).   (Nominated by Ed DeMarco, Pittsburgh, PA.)

 1967, Ambridge High School. The 1967 team of Dick DeVenzio, Dennis Wuycik, Frank Kauffman, Walt Ostrowski, and Phil DePasquale is considered one of the all-time best teams in Pennsylvania high school basketball in an 3/5/99 article by Ron Cook in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Chuck DeVenzio was the Ambridge coach. In the state championship game that year, Ambridge defeated the Chester Clippers 93-61. Both teams entered the game undefeated!

1971, Schenley High School.  Pittsburgh. Ron Cook writing for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette (3/5/99) rates the 1971 Schenley team with Maurice Lucas, Rickey Coleman, and Jeep Kelly as one of the best high school teams to play in Pennsylvania basketball history. That Schenley team, representing District 8 and the Pittsburgh City League, defeated Norristown for the AAA Championship 77-60.

1977, West Philadelphia. Coach Joe Goldenberg's Speedboys strung together three incredible seasons: 25-0, 24-2, 30-0,(79-2 overall) capturing three consecutive Philly Public and City league titles. A Philly sportswriter labeled '77 squad (30-0) as "Gene Banks' Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings". The 6'6 Banks was named national Co-Player of the year. Other members of the starting five: 6'7 Clarence Tillman (2nd team All-State), 6'7 Vincent Ross, guards Mike Nichols and Daryl Warwick (All-State hon. mention).  This team was ranked the No. 1 prep team in the country.

1984, Williamsport Millionaires.  They defeated  Erie Cathedral Prep 68-61 in state final to cap 30-0 season. The team dined at Gornik's Fieldhouse, a well know spot for sports fans  in Steelton prior to the State Championship game at Hersheypark Arena.  The starting lineup: 6'6  Jim Mexdorf (17.6 ppg), 6'3 Jeff Churba (7.1 ppg), 6'  Peter White (14.1 ppg), 5'8  Marc Graves (13.0 ppg) and 5'11  Seth Burch (5.4 ppg).  The keys to the Williamsport team during these years were their ambitious scheduling  of top teams and the first class ability of their coach Pete White to manage the game. 

1988, Carlisle High School. Won four consecutive AAAA state championships-1985, 1986, 1987, and 1988. In their fourth in 1988, they defeated Pittsburgh Central Catholic 80-54.  Billy Owens was a starter on all four championship teams before going off to Syracuse. Dave Lebo was the coach. Four straight state titles is in itself unparalleled.

1991, Lourdes Regional Raiders from Coal Twp., they defeated Kennedy Christian in the state championship game and finished 32-1.  Their only loss came to Schuylkill Haven. (Nominated by Ed Bendas Jr).

1993, Simon Gratz High School, Philadelphia. The 1993 team led by Rasheed Wallace, 6 '11 and 223 pounds, compiled a 31-0 record and the earned the 1993 USA Today National Championship. Rasheed, who once blocked 27 shots in one summer camp game later went on to fame at North Carolina and the NBA.

2007, Pittsburgh Schenley.  D.J. Kennedy and DeJuan Blair propelled Schenley to the 2007 PIAA Class AAAA championship. The Spartans defeated Chester in the championship game, 78-71, and finished 29-3. Their only three loses were in a tournament in Fort Myers, Fla.  Hello Big East: Kennedy signed to play with St. John's and Blair signed to play for Pitt.
Send any comments or nominations to wgaffey@pa.net
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Credits for this page: the Ted Silary (Philadelphia Daily News), Ron Cook (Pittsburgh Post Gazette), Jim Raykie (Sharon Herald), Edward A. Owens (Uniontown), Bud Tangert (Lititz), Gary Olinger (Hickory, NC).