The Black Women in Sport Foundation’s 2012 Next Step Women of Color Mini-Forum, hosted at Temple University by the Department of Athletics and the College of Education and supported in part by the NCAA, will be held on April 18 at Ritter Hall, Room 211, located at 1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The mini-forum is a professional development and preparation program to increase the portion of women of color collegiate head coaches and athletic administrators at 4-year NCAA institutions. The mini-forum is an interactive and networking opportunity to discuss and explore strategies to recruit, inspire, educate and retain women of color in the intercollegiate coaching and athletic administration positions with practicing professionals.

The moderator will be Nikki Franke, Temple’s head fencing coach. The panelists will be Marilyn Stephens, Cheyney University, head women’s basketball coach; Margaret Ottley, West Chester University, associate professor of sport psychology; Amanda Janney, Temple head women’s field hockey coach; Lynsey Grace, Community College of Philadelphia athletic coordinator and Kari-Lei Maddox, Delaware State University assistant lacrosse coach.

 

Philadelphia 2012 Unsigned Senior Basketball Shootout

There will be an opportunity for all high school senior basketball players who haven’t signed a letter of intent to showcase their talent at the Philadelphia 2012 Unsigned Senior Basketball Shootout. The games will be played at Imhotep Charter, 21st and Godfrey Avenue, on Sunday, April 15. The games will take place at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. For more information on this event, go to runhouse.net.

 

Phoenix Club announces college players of the year

The Phoenix Club of Philadelphia will recognize the college player of the year, presented to Philadelphia area basketball players (male and female) who have excelled in college during the year. The male award will be given in the name of Wali Jones and the female award will be given in the name of Marilyn Stephens. Both players are products of the Public League. Jones was a great player at Overbrook High and Villanova. Stephens was a star at Simon Gratz and Temple.

This year’s winners are Ramone Moore, Temple, and Gloria Brown (University of Texas – El Paso). The Phoenix Award presentation will be held in June at the Union League of Philadelphia.

 

Philadelphia Big 5 awards

The Philadelphia Big 5 head coaches and media have announced their college basketball awards.

Player of the Year – Zack Rosen, Penn

Most Improved Player – Earl Pettis, La Salle

Rookie of the Year – Jerrell Wright, La Salle

Coach of the Year – Fran Dunphy, Temple

Scholar-Athlete – Zack Rosen, Penn

Team of the Year – Temple

Best Free Throw Percentage – Maalik Wayns, Villanova

Leading Scorer – Zack Rosen, Penn

First team: Zack Rosen, Penn; Ramone Moore, Temple; Maalik Wayns, Villanova; Khalif Wyatt, Temple; Langston Galloway, Saint Joseph’s.

Second team: Tyreek Duren, La Salle; Earl Pettis, La Salle; Carl Jones, Saint Joseph’s; Ramone Galloway, La Salle; C.J. Aiken, Saint Joseph’s, Juan Fernandez, Temple.

 

Shey Peddy Big 5 women’s basketball player of the year

For a second consecutive year, Temple basketball standout Shey Peddy has earned Big 5 Player of the Year honors. Peddy will receive this honor at the annual Big 5 Women’s Basketball banquet on April 25 at Drexelbrook in Drexel Hill.

 

Contact staff writer Donald Hunt at (215) 893-5719 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Wali Jones is one of the city’s greatest basketball players. Jones was a big time player at Overbrook High School and Villanova, along with being a key member of the 1966–67 Philadelphia 76ers NBA championship team.

The sharpshooting guard will be recognized for his basketball exploits. Jones will be inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame. The ninth induction class was announced on Thursday, July 19 at a press conference. The ceremony will take place on November 8 at the Society Hill Sheraton, 1 Dock Street.

“I’ll be there,” Jones said. “This is a real honor for me. It’s great to be inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame. They have a lot of great people in their hall of fame like Wilt (Chamberlain) and Billy (Cunningham) who were my teammates with the Philadelphia 76ers championship team.

“I’m going in with some special people like Doug Collins (Sixers coach). Doug and I played together for a year with the Sixers. I know Debbie Black who played at St. Joe’s and in the WNBA. Harold Johnson was a great fighter. Johnny Callison played for the Phillies. Mike Piazza was a great baseball player, too. So, this is really something for me.”

Jones had quite a basketball career. He led Overbrook High to two Public League championships in 1958 and 1959. He played with some great players like the late Walt Hazzard, Ralph Heyward and Wayne Hightower.

The former Public League star played some great basketball at Villanova. He shared the Geasey Awards as Big 5 MVP (1963 and ’64) with Jim Lynam and Steve Courtin, respectively. He was named to the NCAA tournament’s All-East Region team. He finished his college career with 1,428 points. He is a member of the Big 5 Hall of Fame.

Jones played 10 seasons in the NBA with the Baltimore Bullets, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons. Jones was a starter on the Sixers championship team, which included Chamberlain, Cunningham, Chet Walker, Hal Greer and Luke Jackson. Jones also played one season with the ABA’s Utah Stars.

For more than 20 years, he worked in community relations with the Miami Heat. He still does basketball clinics for kids around the country. Every year he has the Little Bobby Jones Memorial Basketball Clinic at the Carousel House in Fairmount Park. The Phoenix Club of Philadelphia presents high school basketball awards on an annual basis to some of the area’s top players. The club established the Phoenix Award College Player of the Year in honor of Wali Jones. Michael G. Horsey, who organized the Phoenix Awards, started this award in 2011.

“I really appreciate all these things,” Jones said. “I had a great time at the Phoenix Awards. Mike Horsey does a wonderful job with the high school basketball awards. We had another good year with the Bobby Jones Memorial Basketball Clinic. It’s nice to be recognized by so many good people. I’m looking forward to the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame. I’m sure I’ll see a lot of people from Philly there. It should be a wonderful event.”

 

Contact Staff Writer Donald Hunt at (215) 893-5719 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Team celebrates half century in Philadelphia

 

The Philadelphia 76ers are celebrating their 50th season in Philadelphia this year. Before coming to Philly and becoming the 76ers in 1963, the franchise was known as the Syracuse Nationals and played there for 14 seasons, winning an NBA title in 1955.

Since then, the Sixers have won two NBA championships in Philadelphia in 1967 and 1983. The franchise has produced a lot of outstanding players such as Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Billy Cunningham, Charles Barkley and Allen Iverson.

The Philadelphia Tribune has selected 50 players over the last half century who should bring back some great memories for fans.

Wilt Chamberlain

7-1, 275 pound center

Chamberlain was undoubtedly one of the greatest players of all time. He led the 76ers to an NBA championship in 1966-67. He averaged 24.1 points a game that season. That team was voted one of the top 10 greatest teams in NBA history.

Julius Erving

6-6, 200 pound forward

Erving was one of the game’s most spectacular players. He guided the Sixers to the 1983 NBA title. Fans will always remember his spectacular dunk over Lakers guard Michael Cooper.

Moses Malone

6-10, 275 pound center

Malone was the missing piece to the Sixers championship puzzle in 1983. He was a great scorer and rebounder. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.

Billy Cunningham

6-6, 220 pound forward

Cunningham was one of the greatest sixth men in NBA history. He averaged 18.5 points a game for the 76ers 1966-67 championship team. He won a championship as a player and coach in the Sixers organization.

Hal Greer

6-2, 175 pound guard

Greer was a tremendous shooter from 15 feet. Once he got his feet set he rarely missed a shot. He was a key player on the Sixers 1966-67 championship team.

Chet Walker

6-61/2, 215 pound forward

Walker was recently inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was a great player on the Sixers 1966-67 championship team. Walker was known for backing his man down and shooting the fade away shot.

Charles Barkley

6-5, 250 pound forward

Barkley was a special player with his size. He had the ability to get position around the basket against anybody. Barkley could really jump and dunk the basketball and was a great rebounder. During the 1985-86 season, he grabbed 1,026 rebounds.

Allen Iverson

6-0, 175 pound guard

Iverson was a scoring machine. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. He could break his man down and take the ball to the basket like no other. Iverson led the 2001 Sixers to the NBA Finals. He was an MVP and four-time NBA scoring champion.

Maurice Cheeks

6-1, 180 pound guard

Cheeks was a great floor general. He looked for the open man. He didn’t turn the ball over. A lot of fans will remember the dunk he had in the final game of the Sixers NBA championship series victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in 1983.

Andrew Toney

6-3, 185 pound guard

Toney had a great first step off the dribble. He could shoot from long range. Unfortunately, injuries to both feet shortened his career. Toney was a big part of the Sixers 1983 championship team. In 1982 he scored 34 points against the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals to lead the Sixers to victory.

Wali Jones

6-2, 180 pound guard

Jones played in the backcourt with Hal Greer on the Sixers 1966-67 NBA championship team. He was a great ballhandler, shooter and defender. Jones was a hometown favorite. He was a big star at Overbrook High and Villanova.

Bobby Jones

6-9, 210 pound forward

Jones was a tremendous defensive player. He usually guarded the opposing team’s best scorer. He was the sixth man on the Sixers 1983 NBA championship team.

Luke Jackson

6-9, 250 pound forward

Jackson was a rugged rebounder. If Wilt Chamberlain didn’t get the rebound, that meant Jackson usually had it. He was the starting power forward on the Sixers 1966-67 NBA championship team.

Archie Clark

6-2, 175 pound guard

Clark was known for his shake and go moves. He used to make some terrific moves to the basket. Clark also played in the Baker League during the summer months.

Doug Collins

6-6, 180 pound guard

Collins was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1973 NBA Draft. He did a great job of getting open for his shots. He moved well without the ball. He was a good shooter. He played on the Sixers 1976-77 team that reached the NBA Finals. He’s now the Sixers head coach.

George McGinnis

6-8, 235 pound forward

McGinnis helped put the Sixers back on the NBA map. McGinnis and Julius Erving led the Sixers to the NBA Finals in 1977. He was known for his one hand push shots. He could handle the ball, too.

Andre Iguodala

6-6, 207 pound guard

Iguodala was traded to the Denver Nuggets this past summer. He spent eight seasons with the Sixers. Iguodala had arguably his best season last year, leading the Sixers to a first round playoff series win over the Chicago Bulls. He was named to the all-star team and won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic basketball team.

Aaron McKie

6-5, 209 pound guard

McKie played eight years with the Sixers. He was a real fan favorite growing up in Philly playing at Simon Gratz and Temple. In 2001, he was named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year. He also helped the Sixers get to the NBA Finals. He’s now an assistant coach with the Sixers.

Dikembe Mutombo

7-2, 260 pound center

Mutombo was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2001. He was a great shotblocker and rebounder. He played on the Sixers team that reached the 2001 NBA Finals.

Caldwell Jones

6-11, 217 pound center

Jones was a terrific defender. He had great timing in terms of shotblocking. He played on three Sixers teams that went to the NBA Finals.

Darryl Dawkins

6-11, 250 pound center

Dawkins was known for his spectacular dunks. In fact, he had names for some of his dunks like Chocolate Thunder, Spine-Chiller Supreme and Sir Slam. He played on some of the Sixers best teams.

World B. Free

6-2, 185 pound guard

When he first came to Philly, he was known as Lloyd Free. He’s now World B. Free. He used to shoot those rainbow jumpshots. He was a magnificent scorer. He scored 17,955 career points.

Ron Anderson

6-7, 215 pound forward

Anderson was one of the great sixth men in the Sixers organization. He played with Charles Barkley and Rick Mahorn.

Fred Carter

6-3, 185 pound guard

Carter played on the Sixers 1972-73 team that had a horrible 9-73 record. He was the best player on that team. He averaged 20.0 points a game that season. Carter also played with Doug Collins and George McGinnis on the Sixers 1975-76 playoff team that lost to the Buffalo Braves in a best of three games series.

Rick Mahorn

6-10, 260 pound center

Mahorn and Charles Barkley formed one of the toughest frontcourts in the NBA. They were known as “Thump and Bump.” Mahorn was a very physical player around the basket.

Armen Gilliam

6-9, 250 pound forward

Gilliam was a great low post player. He was a good scorer. He played three seasons with the Sixers. He played with Charles Barkley and Rick Mahorn. Gilliam passed away in 2011.

Hersey Hawkins

6-3, 190 pound guard

Hawkins was a good shooting guard. He played on three playoff teams. He averaged 20.3 points a game his final season (1992-93) with the Sixers.

Andre Miller

6-2, 200 pound guard

Miller had great three years with the Sixers. Two of those years, the Sixers made the playoffs. He was a sensational point guard. He’s still one of the league’s savvy playmakers.

Steve Mix

6-7, 215 pound forward

Mix had a special place on the court. It was called Mixville. It was in the corner on the right hand side of the basket. That’s where he scored most of his points. He played nine seasons with the Sixers.

Jerry Stackhouse

6-6, 218 pound guard

Stackhouse was a first round pick of the Sixers in 1995. He played two seasons with the Sixers. In 1996, Stackhouse and Allen Iverson both averaged over 20 points a game. They were one of the NBA’s top scoring backcourts.

Clarence Weatherspoon

6-7, 240 pound forward

Weatherspoon played six years with the Sixers. He usually had to play against players a lot bigger than him up front. Nevertheless, Weatherspoon had some big years with the Sixers. In 1994, he averaged 18.4 points a game.

Lou Williams

6-1, 175 pound guard

Williams played seven seasons with the Sixers. He signed with the Atlanta Hawks over the summer. Williams was a second round pick of the Sixers right out of South Gwinnett High School near Atlanta, Ga. He could shoot the basketball. He led the Sixers in scoring (14.9) off the bench last season.

Eric Snow

6-3, 204 pound guard

Snow was the floor leader on the Sixers 2001 NBA Finals team. He was a tough defender. He took care of the ball. Snow did a good job of getting the ball to Allen Iverson in scoring position.

Dana Barros

5-11, 165 pound guard

Barros could really shoot the basketball. He played just two seasons with the Sixers. He averaged 20.6 points a game in 1994-95. He also made the all-star team in 1995.

Elton Brand

6-9, 254 pound forward

Brand was a big free agent signing in 2008. He had shoulder surgery in 2009, but bounced back from the injury to play some good basketball for the Sixers during his four years. The team released him last summer with the NBA’s amnesty clause. He now plays for the Dallas Mavericks.

Derrick Coleman

6-10, 270 pound forward

Coleman could play inside as well as outside. He could handle the ball. He had some of his best games in the playoffs.

Johnny Dawkins

6-2, 170 pound guard

Dawkins played in the backcourt with Hersey Hawkins. They formed a tandem of Dawkins and Hawkins. Dawkins also played with Charles Barkley and Rick Mahorn. He’s now the head basketball coach at Stanford.

Willie Green

6-3, 201 pound guard

Green played seven seasons with the Sixers. He was a solid player. Green was a second round pick out of Detroit Mercy. He started and came in off the bench for the Sixers.

Lionel Hollins

6-3, 185 pound guard

Hollins played on two great Sixers teams. In 1980, he helped the Sixers get to the NBA Finals. He brought a lot of experience with him from Portland where he guided the Trail Blazers to the 1977 NBA title. He played in the backcourt with Maurice Cheeks. He’s now the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Larry Costello

6-1, 190 pound guard

Costello played for head coach Alex Hannum with the Sixers. He played on the Sixers 1966-67 NBA championship team. Unfortunately, he tore his Achilles tendon that season. He had a good career as a player. He also was an NBA head coach with the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks.

Theo Ratliff

6-10, 225 pound forward

Ratliff was a great defender and rebounder. He could run the floor. He had two stints with the Sixers. He played well both times.

Mike Gminski

6-11, 250 pound center

Gminski played with Rick Mahorn and Charles Barkley. The Sixers had a solid frontline with him. He had the ability to step out and hit the 12 to 13 foot shot. He played four seasons with the Sixers.

Harvey Catchings

6-9, 218 pound forward

Catchings could really jump. He was a great shotblocker. He ran the floor. He hustled for loose balls. He played five seasons for the Sixers (1974-79). Catchings played on the Sixers 1977 team that went to the NBA Finals.

Joe Bryant

6-9, 200 pound forward

Bryant played four seasons with the Sixers. He was a very popular high school player at Bartram and La Salle respectively. He played on the 1977 NBA Finals team, which featured Julius Erving, George McGinnis and Doug Collins. Bryant came off the bench with Darryl Dawkins and World B. Free. Of course, he’s the father of Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant.

Jeff Hornacek

6-4, 190 pound guard

Hornacek came to the Sixers from the Phoenix Suns in the Charles Barkley deal. He spent two seasons in Philly. In 1993, he had his best season averaging 19.1 points a game.

Jeff Malone

6-4, 205 pound guard

Malone played three seasons for the Sixers. He was a great shooter. He had a knack of getting open for his shots by using picks. In 1995, he averaged 18.4 points a game.

Sedale Threatt

6-2, 185 pound guard

Threatt was a sixth round pick out of West Virginia Tech by the Sixers in the 1983 NBA draft. He came into camp and landed a spot with the Sixers. Threatt played four seasons with the Sixers. He also played in the Charles Baker League during the summer months.

Henry Bibby

6-1, 185 pound guard

Bibby was an All-American at UCLA. He won three NCAA championships. He won a NBA championship with the New York Knicks. He played on two Sixers teams, which advanced to the NBA Finals (’77, ’80). He was a good ballhandler with a nice touch from long range.

George Lynch

6-8, 230 pound forward

Lynch did all the little things to help the Sixers get to the 2001 NBA Finals. He played defense, rebounded and hit some timely jumpshots. He was a big contributor.

Earl Cureton

6-9, 210 pound forward

Cureton was good player off the bench. He played defense, rebounded and went after loose balls. Cureton’s big moment came during the Sixers championship run in 1983. He hit a hook shot over Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with the shot clock winding down in the second game of the championship series. It was a big play for him as well as the Sixers.

The Sixers open their 50th season on October 31 when they host the Denver Nuggets at the Wells Fargo Center.

 

Contact staff writer Donald Hunt at (215) 893-5719 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Wali Jones will be conducting the 10th annual “Little” Bobby Jones Memorial Clinic and Educational Workshop at the Carousel House, 4300 Avenue of the Republic, in Fairmount Park. The event will take place Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. with a basketball clinic for the special population kids.

There will be a special recognition ceremony for Fred McCray and Levi Bowen at the event. McCray and Bowen will be honored for their support over the years. They both have served for many years as recreational center directors. The awards ceremony will begin at 12:30 p.m. After the presentation, there will be a student-athlete workshop and basketball clinic.

Jones, former Overbrook High, Villanova and NBA star, looks forward to this day every year. He has received quite a bit of support from family members Ernest Jones, Wilma Jones, Bobby Jones Jr. and Bill Jones over the years.

Everybody remembers Wali Jones in this town. He was an All-Public League standout at Overbrook High School. After that, he played for Villanova and was an All-Big 5 star. Of course, most people remember his playing days with the Philadelphia 76ers. Jones played on the 1966–67 NBA championship team, which featured Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer, Billy Cunningham, Chet Walker and Luke Jackson. For 20 years, he was a community affairs liaison with the Miami Heat.

This is a special event for the kids as well as the community. Jones really enjoys giving back. The nice thing about the event, which doesn’t get publicized as much, is the legendary basketball players who come out to the Carousel House. Three years ago, Jones brought the late Walt Hazzard to the basketball clinic along with Overbrook High’s Michael Jordan. A year ago, he recognized James “Tee” Parham as a Philadelphia basketball legend. Parham was a terrific player at Northeast High. He also played some great basketball in the independent leagues for several years.

These basketball greats attract other players from all across the city. The gymnasium inside the Carousel House is packed with former high school, college and NBA greats. They all come back to see people they haven’t seen in years. It’s one of the best basketball reunions in the city.

The former players hang around the recreation center for most of the day. Then, they go across the street in Fairmount Park where they have a barbecue that lasts well into the afternoon. More than 100 people are out there just having a good time, taking pictures and sharing some great basketball stories from back in the day.

This event has made a big difference in the community. It teaches kids about the fundamentals of the game. Jones has some great clinicians that work with him like Bill Baggett, Ken Hamilton, Bobby Jones Jr. and others. They also stress the importance of receiving a good education. They want the young people to know that basketball and academics will open doors for them down the road. Moreover, the message is delivered by a number of former players who come out to the event.

 

Contact staff writer Donald Hunt at (215) 893-5719 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Shafeeq Coleman, Overbrook High’s first baseman, and Shakore Taylor, Engineering and Science outfielder, played for the Public League baseball team in the Carpenter Cup. Coleman and Taylor are two of the league’s best players. The Public League had a tough 9-3 loss to the Delaware County team. The Carpenter Cup features some of the great high school baseball players from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

 

NCAA winners circle had Penn Relays look

The recent NCAA championship meet at Drake University had some familiar names who stood out at this year’s Penn Relays. At the top of the list has to be Princeton’s Donn Cabral, chosen the outstanding men’s relay performer at Penn with his anchor victories in the distance medley and 4xmile relays. At the NCAA meet, Cabral won the 3,000 meter steeplechase in 8:35.44, after setting a new collegiate record for the event of 8:19.14 at an invitational meet on May 18. He’s among the favorites in the steeplechase at the U.S. Olympic Trials, which get underway this week in Eugene, Ore.

Indiana’s Andrew Bayer won the NCAA 1,500 meter, after he had been chased down by Cabral and finished second in the DMR at Franklin Field. And Illinois’ Andrew Riley was a double-winner of the 100 meters and 110 high hurdles at the NCAAs after winning the 110 hurdles at Penn; the Jamaican sprinter also anchored the Illini to fifth place in the Championship of America 4x100 relay at the Relays.

In women’s individual events, Oregon’s English Gardner won the 100 meter after running on several relays at Penn, while Kimberlyn Duncan of LSU won the 200 meters and anchored the Tigers to first place in the 4x100 (with Takeia Pinckney, Semoy Hackett, Rebecca Alexander). At Penn, Duncan anchored LSU to first place in the 4x200 meter relay and to second place in the 4x100.

NCAA 400 champion Ashley Spencer brought Illinois home in fifth place in the 4x400 meter relay at Franklin Field, and NCAA 5,000 champion Abbey D’Agostino anchored Dartmouth’s fourth place 4x1,500 relay team.

Other newly crowned NCAA women champions who ran on relays at Penn were LSU’s Cassandra Tate (400 hurdles) and Ohio State’s Christina Manning (100 hurdles). And Texas A&M’s Natosha Rogers finished in sixth place in the women’s Olympic Development mile at Penn, but won the 10,000-meter event at the NCAA meet.

And two teams improved from Penn to the NCAA when LSU’s men (Barrett Nugent, Aaron Ernest, Keyth Talley, Shermund Allsop, same order at Penn) won the 4x100 relay after placing third in the Championship of America, and Oregon’s women (new members Gardner, Chizoba Okodogbe, Laura Roseler, Phyllis Francis), second-place finishers at Penn, took home gold as collegiate champs.

And finally, after repeating as men’s and women’s long jump victors at the Penn Relays, Marquise Goodwin of Texas and Whitney Gipson of TCU, won those events at the NCAA championship meet.

 

Phoenix Club of Philadelphia fifth annual awards program

The Phoenix Club of Philadelphia recently presented its annual basketball awards to high school and college basketball standouts from the Philadelphia area. Kahleah Copper (Prep Charter) and Ciara Andrews (Cheltenham) received the Lurline Jones award. Maurice Watson, Jr. (Boys’ Latin) and Amile Jefferson (Friends’ Central) were given the Kenneth Hamilton award. They were the top high school players.

Gloria Brown (University of Texas, El Paso, Neumann-Goretti) was presented with the Marilyn Stephens award, which goes to the best women’s college basketball player. Ramone Moore (Temple) was honored with the Wali Jones award, which is given to the best men’s college basketball player.

 

Contact staff writer Donald Hunt at (215) 893-5719 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Jones to visit Universal Bluford Charter School

 

Wali Jones, former Overbrook High, Villanova and 76ers basketball star, will be one of the speakers for the Champions for Champions Shoot for the Stars annual recreational and educational basketball clinic at the Universal Bluford Charter School, 58^th and Media Streets. The event will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 7 from 6-8 p.m.

In addition, Ken Hamilton, former Ben Franklin High head basketball coach, will participate in the program. The clinic is held in collaboration with Philadelphia Youth Development Corporation founded by Kelly DuPree and co-directed by Kahlil DuPree. The event will provide key athletic skills and training while raising academic standards.

There will a $5.00 donation. Refreshments will be served.

This is a big week for Jones. He will be inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday, Nov. 8 at Sheraton Society Hill, 1 Dock Street, in center city. Jones will be inducted with a host of great athletes and coaches. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m.

The other inductees will be Doug Collins, Philadelphia 76ers head coach, Dan Baker (Legacy of Excellence), Debbie Black, Eddie Plank, Eric Lindros, Gertrude Dunn, Harold Johnson, Horace Ashenfelter, Joe Klecko, Johnny Callison, Johnny McDermott, Maxie Baughn, Mike Piazza, Tommy Thompson and Legacy Youth Tennis.

Jones had quite a basketball career. He guided Overbrook High to two Public League championships in 1958 and 1959. He played with some great players like the late Walt Hazzard, Ralph Heyward and Wayne Hightower.

The former Public League standout played some outstanding basketball at Villanova. He shared the Geasey Awards as big 5 MVP (1963 and ’64) with Jim Lynam and Steve Courtin, respectively. He was named to the NCAA tournament’s All-East region team. He finished his college career with 1,428 points. He is a member of the Big 5 Hall of Fame.

Jones played 10 seasons in the NBA with the Baltimore Bullets, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons. Jones was a starter on the Sixers 1966-67 NBA championship team, which included Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer, Chet Walker, Billy Cunningham and Luke Jackson. Jones also played one season with the ABA’s Utah Stars.

For over 20 years, he worked in community relations with the Miami Heat. He still does clinics for kids around the country. Every year he holds the Little Bobby Jones Memorial Basketball Clinic at the Carousel House in Fairmount Park.

The Phoenix Club of Philadelphia presents high school basketball awards on an annual basis to some of the area’s top players. The club established the Phoenix Award College Player of the Year in honor of him.

 

Contact staff writer Donald Hunt at (215) 893-5719 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .