Yes, they played high school
basketball!!
High School Basketball Players who distinguished themselves in areas other than
basketball in their later career and yet they were connected to basketball and
to PENNYLVANIA.
| Player's Name | Pennsylvania High School | None Basketball Distinction |
 RichieAllen (1965 Topps baseball card) |
Wampum H. S. | Played major league baseball for 15 seasons, nine with the Philadelphia Phillies |
| Fred Blitnikoff | Erie Tech | Became an All-Pro receiver for the Oakland Raiders football team |
| Jim Bradley | Johnstown Bishop McCort | He was a starting point guard in high school for the "Crimson Crushers." He became the team doctor for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 21st century |
 Bob
Casey (Photo: from book cover, Fighting for Life by Robert P. Casey) |
Scranton Prep | On January 20, 1987, he was elected the Governor of Pennsylvania |
| Galen Hall | Williamsburg, a senior on the 1958 team, scored a game-high 19 points in the state championship win over Jenkintown. | an illustrious college football coaching run that included the University of Florida, 18 years as an assistant coach at the University of Oklahoma, and later the offensive coordinator at Penn State. |
| Jim Kelly | East Brady H. S. (District 9) 1980, the Kelly brothers one being Jim won the PIAA State Basketball title defeating Darby Twp (District 1) 72-66. | His football career with the Buffalo Bills earned him enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002 |
 Charlie Manuel (Photo credit: AP) |
Parry McCluer H.S., Buena Vista, VA-He was offered a basketball scholarship to attend the U of Pennsylvania coming out of high school. (Credit: Rob Maaddi, Associated Press) | He managed the Philadelphia Phillies into the 2008 World Series. |
| Tom McMillan | Mansfield H. S. | Was elected to the U.S. Congress from the State of Maryland |
 Gene
Mikelonis (AP Photo) |
DuBois H. S. | First team all-state football in 1953, a fantastic football player who played at the U. S. Military Academy before an injury cut his career short. |
| Joe Montana | Ringgold H. S. | Won four Super Bowls quarterbacking the San Francisco 49ers |
| Joe Namath | Beaver Falls H. S. | Was named the MVP of the 1969 Super Bowl leading the New York Jets |
 Jack
Palance (IMDb Movie Database) |
Hazleton H. S. | Became a Hollywood movie star. He won an Oscar in 1991 for "City Slickers." |
 Joe Paterno (Centre Daily Times photo) |
played his high school basketball in Brooklyn, NY, then at Brown University where as the point guard on the freshman team, where he was matched up in a game against NBA great Bob Cousy from Holy Cross. | In 2007, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as the legendary Penn State coach. |
| John Rauch |
scored 47 points against Chichester in 1945.
|
went on to Georgia winning "4" bowl games at quarterback and one all American. Also coached the Oakland raiders to the super bowl game. |
Send your nomination to: wgaffey@pa.net
Credits: John Hartsock (Altoona Mirror)