UGA Basketball
Coach White was interviewed on the Buck Belue show on 680 the fan yesterday…a good summary can be found in another thread, audio can be found here under Bulldogs round table for 6-14:
GA Bulldogs Audio
The contact period for 2024 recruits is now open…beginning at midnight schools could contact 2024 recruits, the first for UGA was Asa Newell:
On3 Consensus No. 28 Asa Newell
– Georgia (first), Georgia Tech, Longwood, Florida State, Liberty, SMU, Virginia, Oregon, Missouri, Baylor
On3 Consensus No. 5 Isaiah Elohim
– Missouri, Arizona State, Georgia, Longwood, Arkansas
On3 Consensus No. 25 Ace Bailey
– LSU (first), Georgia, Auburn, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Missouri
On3 Consensus No. 27 Marcus Allen
– Missouri, Georgia, Miami, Florida State, Longwood all reached out at midnight
College Basketball
247 Sports: College basketball: Projected starting lineups for every Power 6 team, other top contenders for 2022-23
Georgia: G Terry Roberts, G Kario Oquendo, G/F Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe, F Jailyn Ingram, C Braelen Bridges
Raleigh News Observer Triangle basketball players find new homes after transferring from UNC, Duke, NC State
Clemson
'It keeps you on edge': Brownell opens up on coaching amid shifting landscape, future at Clemson
Connecticut
Marin Independent: College basketball: Former Marin Catholic standout Calcaterra transfers to UConn
Duke
Raleigh News Observer: After almost a year, former Duke basketball players reflect on how NIL has changed game
The Chronicle: Duke men's basketball's Keenan Worthington to transfer
Kansas State
Wichita Eagle: Kansas State Wildcats land potential impact basketball transfer from Arkansas State
History
Hoops Birthdays
Herb White PG UGA ATL 1970-1971 Born 6-15
Decatur HS
AJC: Reinhart: A dynasty is built in Decatur
“Back in the 1970s and early ’80s, Decatur High School had one of the best high school basketball programs in the state, and at the helm was coach Bob Reinhart.
First Reinhart was an assistant for four seasons for coach Roger Kaiser, the two having grown up together in Dale, Ind. Kaiser, Georgia Tech’s first basketball All-American, left for West Georgia and turned the program to Reinhart for the 1969-70 season. Under Reinhart that season, the Bulldogs won first of three state championships, knocking off Savannah 52-51 in the finals. The other two titles came in 1980 and ’82.
“I was coaching basketball in Indiana, and Roger called me up and said I needed to come down to Atlanta to join him,’’ Reinhart said. “We were building something special, but we did it with a lot of great players that went through Decatur.’’
Reinhart and Kaiser coached Decatur’s first integrated team, which included Richard Wilson, the brother of current Decatur athletic director Carter Wilson. He would go on and have a lot of success as the head coach of the Bulldogs. Their best player was Herb White, who would star at Georgia and then played for the Hawks, the first roommate of star Pete Maravich. White’s nickname was “The Elevator from Decatur.’’
“I remember a story came out where Wilt Chamberlain was asked who was the highest jumper he had ever seen and he said it was this white kid from Atlanta,’’ said Reinhart. “That was Herb. We also had Jack Thompson on those teams, who today is one of the associate athletic directors at Georgia Tech.’’
UGA
Herb White at Georgia
67-68 12GP 7-9 FG 3-7 FT 26R 1.4PPG
68-69 29GP 55-112 FG 27-46 FT 105R 5.5 RPG 7.2 PPG
69-70 25GP 88-184 FG 68-95 FT 159 R 6.4 RPG 112 A 5.5 APG 9.8 PPG
2-12-68
“Twelve missed FTs came back to haunt the Tigers, who lost by five (78-73). With LSU trailing 43-34 at the break, Pete staged a one-man charge by scoring eight straight FGs in 4:36. But that wasn't good enough to catch the Dogs. Maravich ended with 51 of his team's 73 points.”
12-20-68
Georgia moves to 5-0, demolishes Furman, key test at LSU awaits
Herb White contributed 14 points and 7 rebounds.
1-31-1970
“GAINESVILLE, Fla., Jan. 31 (UPI)—Bob Lienhard of Geor gia sank 20 points and grabbed 19 rebounds today as the Bull dogs beat back a late rally and defeated the University of Florida, 68‐64.
Georgia jumped to an early lead and had a 31‐22 advan tage at half‐time. Behind, 51‐39, with nine minutes left in the game Florida started Iclosing the gap, but time ran out.
Andy Owens of Florida was high scorer in the game with 25 points, and Jeff Miller got 12 for the Gators.
Herb White of Georgia hit 12 and Lanny Taylor and Jerry Epling had 10 apiece.”
1-23-1970
AJC: Bulldogs Ready For Road Trip Rosemond Slightly Optimistic, Ole Miss, MSU Next Tests By ALLEN HAUCK
“Georgia's Ken Rosemond was cautiously optimistic Thursday night on the eve of the Bulldogs' departure for the Delta Coun try and a brace of SEC games against Ole Miss and Mississippi State
13 "If we win ... if we win those two," Rosemond ventured, "it will give us a big mental boost. But those two teams have got things going for them now particularly Ole Miss. "Ole Miss beat Tennessee and Mississippi State on last-second shots. We expect a tough ball game against them. Ole Miss knows it can move up after three SEC losses." The Bulldogs, holding down second place in the conference race, battle the Rebels of Cob Jarvis Saturday night in Oxford, then swing into Stark-ville Monday night to tackle Joe Dan Gold's Maroons. "Remember, we barely beat Ole Miss down there in overtime last year. Both of those teams are particularly tough on their own courts. Why, Ole Miss was leading Kentucky by eight at halftime. That shows you they can play. "I know it's an over-used say ing and I hate to use it again, the game coming up next is always the most important game. "And things will stay that way because Kentucky hasn't lost yet and they're leading the league," Rosemond commented. "We've had a real good week preparing for Ole Miss and State," continued the Bulldog basketball boss. "I couldn't ask for more than our players have given us. "We've worked against the zone press, man-to-man, the zone and on the zone offense that Ole Miss likes to run. "And, we've worked on our own press. You never know when you might need that press -especially when you go on the road.
‘And Jerry Epling looks like he's about ready to take up scoring again. He's really looked good. Lanny Taylor's still hot and Herb White just keeps getting, better. "Herb's quit making mistakes he used to make and has really improved. The whole ball club is working together.”
“The team seems to have jelled now," Rosemond said. They remind me of the team two years ago that went 17-8, but I believe this team jelled sooner than that one did. "And we're playing better. defense. Our Kentucky game shows that. They scored 72 points, and that's about 18 or so below their average."
2-18-1970
“The Tigers survived a frenzied rally by the Bulldogs in the final 10 seconds to strengthen their hold on second place in the SEC with an 88-86 victory. Trailing 77-68 with less than nine minutes to play, Georgia steadily closed the gap until the margin shrank to 86-84 with 13 seconds to play. LSU appeared to have iced their fifth straight victory when Hester hit two FTs with 0:12 on the clock. But a quick FG reduced the margin to two again. Then Herb White stole the inbounds pass and batted it to Tom Brennan, whose shot rimmed out at the buzzer. The Dogs held Pete to 37, but Newton scored 25.”
Selected in the NBA Draft
1970 NBA Draft 19 rounds 239 picks
Notable Names
1-1 Bob Lanier C St Bonaventure- Detroit
1-2 Rudy Tomjanovich PF Michigan - San Diego
1-3 Pete Maravich SG LSU - Atlanta
1-4 Dave Cowens C FSU - Boston
2-18 Calvin Murphy G Niagara - San Diego
2-19 Nate Archibald G UTEP - Cincinnati
4-61 Bob Lienhard C Georgia - Phoenix
AJC: “Lienhard, a fourth-round selection by Phoenix, didn't bother with the NBA, which offered a non-guaranteed contract. It was arrivederci to hoops in the homeland for a two-year, no-cut deal in Italy.
After five years overseas, Lienhard was anchored, saying "I didn't have any more friends [in the U.S.] than I did here."
He married an Italian, changed his citizenship and registered 13 pro seasons, all in the city of Cantu. When basketball ended, the team owner decided to make use of Lienhard's by-then second language of English and hired him as head computer programmer for his business.”
7-106 Charlie Scott G North Carolina - Boston (Had signed with the ABA)
8-122 Dan Issel C Kentucky - Detroit (Had signed with the ABA)
8-124 Joe McBride Augusta State - Cincinnati
8-132 Rick Mount SG Purdue - LA Lakers (Had signed with the ABA)
Atlanta Hawks
8-133 Herb White G Georgia - Atlanta
The Atlanta Hawks were coming off a division championship, but were trying to gain support in Atlanta…
NYT: “Tom Cousins, a self‐made, wealthy young real‐estate man in Atlanta, bought the Hawks’ franchise from St. Louis (for $3‐million, or $1‐million more than Maravich cost by himself) two years ago, largely because he wants to build a coliseum to house it in, as part of an ambitious shop ping‐center complex he hopes to develop using the air‐rights he con trols over a congeries of railroad tracks in the heart of Atlanta. Until that coliseum is built, the Hawks are using Georgia Tech's, which seats only 7,000.
The Hawks expected that by this year their coliseum would be under construction, but so far the project is unfunded. The city of Atlanta, after outdoing itself to lure major league baseball into the city, found that the Atlanta Stadium, built for the Braves and now used as well by the football Falcons, was an enor mous drain on the taxpayers, thanks to concessions extended the Braves. For two years, the city has been defending itself against another such drain, and meanwhile the Hawks have been failing even to fill their current home. (They averaged only 5,300 customers last year, while win ning the N.B.A. Western Division championship.) The franchise was los ing money steadily and looking less and less like a plum when, by luck and clever dealing, the Hawks man aged to draft and then sign the greatest crowd‐rouser ever in college basketball. Now, having agreed that debt service and any operational def icit will be included in the Hawks’ annual rent, Cousins is said to be on the verge of persuading the city to float a bond issue to build the coliseum,
Meanwhile, Maravich should make the Hawks more nearly solvent even in their temporary quarters, and even after his cut comes off the top. Sea son ticket sales are up 150 per cent this year—but even if the Hawks sell out‐every home game, the difference wouldn't half pay Maravich's. salary. The extra money is in the fringe benefits. Local and national interest in Maravich is so high that the Hawks will be on network television five times this year as opposed to three last season, and their opening game, in which Maravich meets Al cindor, Robertson and the rest of the Milwaukee Bucks this Saturday, will appear on A.B.C.‐T.V.'s “Wide World of Sports,” which means a chunk of money that need not even be shared with the N.B.A. This year the Hawks have sold local television rights for a sizable sum, whereas last year they broadcast the games themselves and just about broke even. And last week they played two exhibition games in Madison Square Garden, against Baltimore and the Knicks, each of which must have brought the Hawks a healthy five‐ figure sum. All of that because, as the San Diego Rockets’ general man ager, Pete Newell, puts it, Maravich “has electricity that is recognized by the fans.”
Maravich was to be the drawing card, still he had to be tested:
“In the Hawks’ rookie camp in June the other rookies, black and white, clearly were out to rough Maravich up. “The roughness is good, as it should be,” said Maravich, who scarcely extended himself against the other fledglings. “I guess it's sort of like the saga of Wyatt Earp. Every body wants to beat the fastest gun in the West.”
But on the last day of rookie camp the scenario changed. Some of the veterans joined in, and Hazzard and Maravich teamed up in‐the backcourt. First, Maravich would bring the ball down and get off a dazzling pass or break toward the basket on a be tween‐the‐legs dribble, and then Haz zard would bring it down and match him. Now that Guy Rodgers has re tired, Maravich and Hazzard are the two most gifted ball‐handlers in the game, and there they were dueling to a standoff.
From that point on, professional ism has governed Maravich's saga. In the Maurice Stokes Memorial all‐star game in August, Maravich hit only four of 12 shots from the floor, with Baltimore's Kevin Lough ery nicking his elbow just slightly every time he put the ball up (“I'd smile; he'd smile; I'd say, ‘O. K., Kevin; I'll get you back’ “), but Willis Reed said, “Don't lay any of that stuff of yours on me tonight, Pete, I'm not ready,” and the Pistol's passes were dazzling, earning him either 12 or 16 assists, depending upon who was counting. And when the Hawks’ training camp opened in September it was evident that the veterans were not going to work him over.
The other rookies absorbed plenty of rough treatment, but Maravich went almost unscathed. In part, no doubt, this was because of his com monly recognized economic value (not only as a draw, but as an infla tionary factor in the salary scale). But a reporter who covers the Hawke spoke for the consensus among steady observers of the team when he said, “I've got to think it's because they respect him.”
1970-1971 Hawks’ season
On 10-20-1970 in a blowout loss to the Pistons, Herb made his debut committing 2 fouls. White would next appear in a lopsided loss to Cincinnati, shooting 1-3 from the floor with 3 rebounds as the Hawks fell to 1-4 on the season.
The Hawks (2-5) would get their second victory blowing out the expansion Cavaliers with White playing 3 minutes and getting 3 boards. The Hawks (3-9) however, would continue to struggle, White getting 5 minutes in a loss to the expansion Buffalo Braves going 2-4 from the field, 1-3 from the line, with 3 boards, 3 assists and 5 points.
Finally the Hawks (5-12) look to begin to turn it around with a win over the Bullets as White picked up 2 assists. But 4 straight losses followed with White getting 2 points in 7 minutes vs the SuperSonics.
The losing streak reached 6 with another loss in a long Western swing to Phoenix with White getting 4 points and a rebound.
The Hawks tried to turn it around two straight wins brought them to 9-21, with Herb scoring 4 points and getting 2 rebounds in a win over Buffalo. White appeared briefly in a third straight win over San Diego. The Lakers came to Atlanta and crushed the Hawks, Herb getting 3 points. In a weird back to back matchup the Hawks then traveled to LA and defeated the Lakers with Herb contributing 3 points and three assists.
The San Diego Rockets then crushed the Hawks with White getting a season high 18 minutes, going 1-4 from the field; 3-6 from the line, and a pair of assists. The Hawks entered Christmas with a 12-23 record, lost on Christmas Day at Phoenix to fall to 12-24. Coming home provided no relief, as the Hawks lost to the Royals, Herb playing 9 minutes and scoring 4 points.
The Warriors made the holiday season miserable with a win at Atlanta. Herb appeared in a new season high 24 minutes, went 3-11 from the field, 1-4 from the line, for 7 points, with 6 rebounds and 7 assists. The Hawks followed that with a loss to the Pistons as White in 25 minutes went 5-9 from the field scoring in double digits for the first time with 10 points. 4 rebounds and 2 assists. Still the defending Western champions were now 12-27.
The day before New Years was Herb’s first NBA start vs the Cavaliers, in 18 minutes he went 1-4 from the field, 1-1 from the line with three assists in a win over Cleveland.
The Hawks then upset the Knicks at the Garden as White in 22 minutes went 4-5 from the field, 1-4 from the line, 2 boards and 2 assists. The joy was short lived as the Celtics blew out the Hawks, White in 26 minutes struggled going 1-8 from the field with 3 boards before fouling out.
The Pistons owned the Hawks as White had 2 points. The Bullets followed with a sweep, Phoenix won at Atlanta (14-32) with Herb playing 14 minutes. The Celtics added to the Hawks’ misery as White played 3 minutes. The Hawks tried to put some wins together, but another losing streak followed as Herb played 2 minutes vs the Bucks.
The Hawks still had Hudson, Bridges, Hazzard, Jim Davis plus Maravich but the losses continued. Herb played 5 minutes in a loss to the Knicks at the Garden scoring 2 points. He played a minute in a win over Cleveland and 3 minutes scoring 3 points in a win over San Diego, both at the end of January.
February brought on a west coast road trip, Herb had 2 points against Portland and played in a win at Seattle. The Hawks returned home and made it two straight wins as they defeated Cincinnati with Herb playing 6 minutes. He played 5 minutes as the Hawks (23-39) made it 4 straight wins defeating Boston.
The Hawks 5 game winning streak came to a end with a crushing loss to the Bucks, Herb played 12 minutes, getting 2 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. After the Hawks split two games with the Bullets, White played in a win over the Blazers. He contributed 3 points in a win over Buffalo and played 4 minutes in a 1 point loss to the Pistons. After the Hawks swept a three game west coast trip including a win at LA, White saw action in the Hawks 4th straight win, at home over Cincinnati. He had 4 points in 9 minutes in a win over Phoenix the Hawks sixth straight win, he also saw action in their 7th straight win over Cleveland.
The Hawks would end their regular season with a loss at Chicago, Herb played 12 minutes with 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists…the late season run by Atlanta got the team into the playoffs despite a 36 and 46 record.
The Hawks season would end as they lost in the playoffs to the Knicks in a 5 game series, only getting a win in game 2.
LA Times: THE LEAPING LEGENDS OF BASKETBALL : SOME OF THE NAMES WILL JUMP OUT AT YOU, OTHERS WON’T; BUT ALL OF THEM TOOK THEIR GAMES TO LOFTY HEIGHTS (2-12-1989)
Chamberlain was asked, weren’t there any great leapers of the white persuasion?
Wilt mentioned a few names, then said, “You know, there was a white boy who played for Atlanta around 1970. Never got off the bench, but in warmups he could dunk better than anyone I’ve ever seen.”
Chamberlain couldn’t remember the player’s name, but Rod Thorn did. The mystery leaper was--and is--Herb White, 6-foot-2, eyes of blue, from Decatur, Ga.
As with most leaping legends, Herb’s aerial reputation often preceded him. As a high school senior, he received a scholarship offer from a Midwestern college, asking him to become the school’s first black player. Instead he went to Georgia as a white player and was a so-so power forward.
Before his senior year, White happened to work out with some Atlanta Hawks players and they went to coach Richie Guerin with tales of this amazing leaper. Herb was not drafted, but was invited to Hawks’ camp after his senior year and made the 1970-71 team as a point-guard backup and road roommate of another rookie, Pete Maravich.
White started five games, but was mostly a mop-up guy, then was injured and finished his career in a pro league in Mexico.
White, also known as the Elevator from Decatur, made the NBA all-time all-warmup team that one season. Pregame warmups were his showtime. He would perform a reverse dunk-dunk with two balls. He would toss the ball off the backboard and then slam it home. In Madison Square Garden, he got a standing ovation for his warmup dunks.
“I won the unofficial NBA slam dunk title that season,” said White, who now sells heavy equipment in Georgia. “In warmups, we would always check out the other team and get into little contests with their guys. All the teams did that. By word of mouth, you would get to know who the best dunkers were, and by the end of the season it was pretty much agreed the best two were a Portland guy named Claude English and me.
“We played Portland in the last game of the season. Before the game, English and I went back and forth. Finally he did a 360, one handed. So I did a 360, two handed, and he conceded.”
White is a regular at Hawk games and a fan of Wilkins. Can the old Elevator still ascend?
“On a good day,” he said. “About a year ago, I was in a playground game with some black guys. I got fired up and did a 360 dunk. I went back a few hours later with a tape measure. The rim was two inches low. I said, ‘What the hell, I’m 40.’ ”
In his own words:
“I attended the University of Georgia on a basketball scholarship and had the misfortune to try to guard "Pistol Pete" Maravich for three years, once helping to hold him to 57 points in Athens. Later played with the Atlanta Hawks, in Mexico and Europe…”
John Brisker SF Toledo PIT, SEA b 6-15-1947 d 1978
Seattle Times: ‘Is John really dead?’: The mysterious disappearance of John Brisker, the Sonics legend who never was
“Stories about Brisker were legendary. One goes that he ran onto the court during practice, waving a gun. Utah hosted a “John Brisker Intimidation Night” and had professional boxers on the bench. Tom Nissalke, a former ABA and Sonics coach, put a $500 bounty on Brisker before a game, then watched Brisker get flattened (When Nissalke later coached Brisker with the Sonics, Brisker smiled and said, “That was a pretty good move, Coach”)…”
“There was also no denying Brisker’s talent. He scored 47 points in a game with the Sonics, and many of his teammates think he could have been a star. “LeBron James with more skills,” Watts says. “Before his time. They weren’t ready for that type of personality.” Watts’ comparison to James may seem nostalgic, except Spencer Haywood made the same one. “John was a LeBron James with the anger,” Haywood says. “That’s telling. That’s some serious (expletive), I know. But that’s who he was! That’s the kind of (expletive) you were looking at.”
The problem was that Bill Russell didn’t see Brisker that way. Russell won 11 NBA titles in Boston, and by the time he arrived in Seattle, he knew what he wanted from his players. Brisker could score, but Russell didn’t think he played team basketball, so he spent a lot of time on the bench, or worse.
“Two big dogs in the same pen,” Watts says.
As coach and president, Russell won every time. At one point Russell sent Brisker to the Eastern League, a public demotion. “I relaxed,” Brisker admitted at the time. “I became a fat cat, not as hungry as I was years ago.”
He scored 51 points in his first game after the demotion. Next time out, he had 58. Russell was not impressed, but Brisker’s Eastern League coach was.
“He played like it was the last game of his life,” he said…”
Michael Doleac C Utah ORL, MIA 1998-2008 6-15-1977 45 YOA
Zan Tabak C TOR 1994-2001 6-15-1970 52 YOA
Coach White was interviewed on the Buck Belue show on 680 the fan yesterday…a good summary can be found in another thread, audio can be found here under Bulldogs round table for 6-14:
GA Bulldogs Audio
GA Bulldogs Audio
https://omny.fm/shows/georgia-bulldogs/playlists/podcast/embed?style=cover
www.680thefan.com
The contact period for 2024 recruits is now open…beginning at midnight schools could contact 2024 recruits, the first for UGA was Asa Newell:
On3 Consensus No. 28 Asa Newell
– Georgia (first), Georgia Tech, Longwood, Florida State, Liberty, SMU, Virginia, Oregon, Missouri, Baylor
On3 Consensus No. 5 Isaiah Elohim
– Missouri, Arizona State, Georgia, Longwood, Arkansas
On3 Consensus No. 25 Ace Bailey
– LSU (first), Georgia, Auburn, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Missouri
On3 Consensus No. 27 Marcus Allen
– Missouri, Georgia, Miami, Florida State, Longwood all reached out at midnight
College Basketball
247 Sports: College basketball: Projected starting lineups for every Power 6 team, other top contenders for 2022-23
Georgia: G Terry Roberts, G Kario Oquendo, G/F Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe, F Jailyn Ingram, C Braelen Bridges
Raleigh News Observer Triangle basketball players find new homes after transferring from UNC, Duke, NC State
Clemson
'It keeps you on edge': Brownell opens up on coaching amid shifting landscape, future at Clemson
'It keeps you on edge': Brownell opens up on coaching amid shifting landscape, future at Clemson
Brad Brownell doesn’t plan on leaving his job anytime soon. At least not on his own terms. Fresh off his 12th season as Clemson’s men’s basketball coach, whether or not Brownell’s tenure with the T…
theclemsoninsider.com
Connecticut
Marin Independent: College basketball: Former Marin Catholic standout Calcaterra transfers to UConn
College basketball: Former Marin Catholic standout Calcaterra transfers to UConn
With one season remaining in his college basketball career, Joey Calcaterra elected to enter the NCAA’s transfer portal in March.
www.marinij.com
Duke
Raleigh News Observer: After almost a year, former Duke basketball players reflect on how NIL has changed game
The Chronicle: Duke men's basketball's Keenan Worthington to transfer
Duke men's basketball's Keenan Worthington to transfer
Worthington is one of three Blue Devils transferring from the program.
www.dukechronicle.com
Kansas State
Wichita Eagle: Kansas State Wildcats land potential impact basketball transfer from Arkansas State
History
Hoops Birthdays
Herb White PG UGA ATL 1970-1971 Born 6-15
Decatur HS
AJC: Reinhart: A dynasty is built in Decatur
“Back in the 1970s and early ’80s, Decatur High School had one of the best high school basketball programs in the state, and at the helm was coach Bob Reinhart.
First Reinhart was an assistant for four seasons for coach Roger Kaiser, the two having grown up together in Dale, Ind. Kaiser, Georgia Tech’s first basketball All-American, left for West Georgia and turned the program to Reinhart for the 1969-70 season. Under Reinhart that season, the Bulldogs won first of three state championships, knocking off Savannah 52-51 in the finals. The other two titles came in 1980 and ’82.
“I was coaching basketball in Indiana, and Roger called me up and said I needed to come down to Atlanta to join him,’’ Reinhart said. “We were building something special, but we did it with a lot of great players that went through Decatur.’’
Reinhart and Kaiser coached Decatur’s first integrated team, which included Richard Wilson, the brother of current Decatur athletic director Carter Wilson. He would go on and have a lot of success as the head coach of the Bulldogs. Their best player was Herb White, who would star at Georgia and then played for the Hawks, the first roommate of star Pete Maravich. White’s nickname was “The Elevator from Decatur.’’
“I remember a story came out where Wilt Chamberlain was asked who was the highest jumper he had ever seen and he said it was this white kid from Atlanta,’’ said Reinhart. “That was Herb. We also had Jack Thompson on those teams, who today is one of the associate athletic directors at Georgia Tech.’’
Reinhart: A dynasty is built in Decatur
Back in the 1970s and early ’80s, Decatur High School had one of the best high school basketball programs in the state, and at the helm was coach Bob Reinhart.
www.ajc.com
UGA
Herb White at Georgia
67-68 12GP 7-9 FG 3-7 FT 26R 1.4PPG
68-69 29GP 55-112 FG 27-46 FT 105R 5.5 RPG 7.2 PPG
69-70 25GP 88-184 FG 68-95 FT 159 R 6.4 RPG 112 A 5.5 APG 9.8 PPG
2-12-68
“Twelve missed FTs came back to haunt the Tigers, who lost by five (78-73). With LSU trailing 43-34 at the break, Pete staged a one-man charge by scoring eight straight FGs in 4:36. But that wasn't good enough to catch the Dogs. Maravich ended with 51 of his team's 73 points.”
12-20-68
Georgia moves to 5-0, demolishes Furman, key test at LSU awaits
Herb White contributed 14 points and 7 rebounds.
1-31-1970
“GAINESVILLE, Fla., Jan. 31 (UPI)—Bob Lienhard of Geor gia sank 20 points and grabbed 19 rebounds today as the Bull dogs beat back a late rally and defeated the University of Florida, 68‐64.
Georgia jumped to an early lead and had a 31‐22 advan tage at half‐time. Behind, 51‐39, with nine minutes left in the game Florida started Iclosing the gap, but time ran out.
Andy Owens of Florida was high scorer in the game with 25 points, and Jeff Miller got 12 for the Gators.
Herb White of Georgia hit 12 and Lanny Taylor and Jerry Epling had 10 apiece.”
1-23-1970
AJC: Bulldogs Ready For Road Trip Rosemond Slightly Optimistic, Ole Miss, MSU Next Tests By ALLEN HAUCK
“Georgia's Ken Rosemond was cautiously optimistic Thursday night on the eve of the Bulldogs' departure for the Delta Coun try and a brace of SEC games against Ole Miss and Mississippi State
13 "If we win ... if we win those two," Rosemond ventured, "it will give us a big mental boost. But those two teams have got things going for them now particularly Ole Miss. "Ole Miss beat Tennessee and Mississippi State on last-second shots. We expect a tough ball game against them. Ole Miss knows it can move up after three SEC losses." The Bulldogs, holding down second place in the conference race, battle the Rebels of Cob Jarvis Saturday night in Oxford, then swing into Stark-ville Monday night to tackle Joe Dan Gold's Maroons. "Remember, we barely beat Ole Miss down there in overtime last year. Both of those teams are particularly tough on their own courts. Why, Ole Miss was leading Kentucky by eight at halftime. That shows you they can play. "I know it's an over-used say ing and I hate to use it again, the game coming up next is always the most important game. "And things will stay that way because Kentucky hasn't lost yet and they're leading the league," Rosemond commented. "We've had a real good week preparing for Ole Miss and State," continued the Bulldog basketball boss. "I couldn't ask for more than our players have given us. "We've worked against the zone press, man-to-man, the zone and on the zone offense that Ole Miss likes to run. "And, we've worked on our own press. You never know when you might need that press -especially when you go on the road.
‘And Jerry Epling looks like he's about ready to take up scoring again. He's really looked good. Lanny Taylor's still hot and Herb White just keeps getting, better. "Herb's quit making mistakes he used to make and has really improved. The whole ball club is working together.”
“The team seems to have jelled now," Rosemond said. They remind me of the team two years ago that went 17-8, but I believe this team jelled sooner than that one did. "And we're playing better. defense. Our Kentucky game shows that. They scored 72 points, and that's about 18 or so below their average."
2-18-1970
“The Tigers survived a frenzied rally by the Bulldogs in the final 10 seconds to strengthen their hold on second place in the SEC with an 88-86 victory. Trailing 77-68 with less than nine minutes to play, Georgia steadily closed the gap until the margin shrank to 86-84 with 13 seconds to play. LSU appeared to have iced their fifth straight victory when Hester hit two FTs with 0:12 on the clock. But a quick FG reduced the margin to two again. Then Herb White stole the inbounds pass and batted it to Tom Brennan, whose shot rimmed out at the buzzer. The Dogs held Pete to 37, but Newton scored 25.”
Selected in the NBA Draft
1970 NBA Draft 19 rounds 239 picks
Notable Names
1-1 Bob Lanier C St Bonaventure- Detroit
1-2 Rudy Tomjanovich PF Michigan - San Diego
1-3 Pete Maravich SG LSU - Atlanta
1-4 Dave Cowens C FSU - Boston
2-18 Calvin Murphy G Niagara - San Diego
2-19 Nate Archibald G UTEP - Cincinnati
4-61 Bob Lienhard C Georgia - Phoenix
AJC: “Lienhard, a fourth-round selection by Phoenix, didn't bother with the NBA, which offered a non-guaranteed contract. It was arrivederci to hoops in the homeland for a two-year, no-cut deal in Italy.
After five years overseas, Lienhard was anchored, saying "I didn't have any more friends [in the U.S.] than I did here."
He married an Italian, changed his citizenship and registered 13 pro seasons, all in the city of Cantu. When basketball ended, the team owner decided to make use of Lienhard's by-then second language of English and hired him as head computer programmer for his business.”
7-106 Charlie Scott G North Carolina - Boston (Had signed with the ABA)
8-122 Dan Issel C Kentucky - Detroit (Had signed with the ABA)
8-124 Joe McBride Augusta State - Cincinnati
8-132 Rick Mount SG Purdue - LA Lakers (Had signed with the ABA)
Atlanta Hawks
8-133 Herb White G Georgia - Atlanta
The Atlanta Hawks were coming off a division championship, but were trying to gain support in Atlanta…
NYT: “Tom Cousins, a self‐made, wealthy young real‐estate man in Atlanta, bought the Hawks’ franchise from St. Louis (for $3‐million, or $1‐million more than Maravich cost by himself) two years ago, largely because he wants to build a coliseum to house it in, as part of an ambitious shop ping‐center complex he hopes to develop using the air‐rights he con trols over a congeries of railroad tracks in the heart of Atlanta. Until that coliseum is built, the Hawks are using Georgia Tech's, which seats only 7,000.
The Hawks expected that by this year their coliseum would be under construction, but so far the project is unfunded. The city of Atlanta, after outdoing itself to lure major league baseball into the city, found that the Atlanta Stadium, built for the Braves and now used as well by the football Falcons, was an enor mous drain on the taxpayers, thanks to concessions extended the Braves. For two years, the city has been defending itself against another such drain, and meanwhile the Hawks have been failing even to fill their current home. (They averaged only 5,300 customers last year, while win ning the N.B.A. Western Division championship.) The franchise was los ing money steadily and looking less and less like a plum when, by luck and clever dealing, the Hawks man aged to draft and then sign the greatest crowd‐rouser ever in college basketball. Now, having agreed that debt service and any operational def icit will be included in the Hawks’ annual rent, Cousins is said to be on the verge of persuading the city to float a bond issue to build the coliseum,
Meanwhile, Maravich should make the Hawks more nearly solvent even in their temporary quarters, and even after his cut comes off the top. Sea son ticket sales are up 150 per cent this year—but even if the Hawks sell out‐every home game, the difference wouldn't half pay Maravich's. salary. The extra money is in the fringe benefits. Local and national interest in Maravich is so high that the Hawks will be on network television five times this year as opposed to three last season, and their opening game, in which Maravich meets Al cindor, Robertson and the rest of the Milwaukee Bucks this Saturday, will appear on A.B.C.‐T.V.'s “Wide World of Sports,” which means a chunk of money that need not even be shared with the N.B.A. This year the Hawks have sold local television rights for a sizable sum, whereas last year they broadcast the games themselves and just about broke even. And last week they played two exhibition games in Madison Square Garden, against Baltimore and the Knicks, each of which must have brought the Hawks a healthy five‐ figure sum. All of that because, as the San Diego Rockets’ general man ager, Pete Newell, puts it, Maravich “has electricity that is recognized by the fans.”
Maravich was to be the drawing card, still he had to be tested:
“In the Hawks’ rookie camp in June the other rookies, black and white, clearly were out to rough Maravich up. “The roughness is good, as it should be,” said Maravich, who scarcely extended himself against the other fledglings. “I guess it's sort of like the saga of Wyatt Earp. Every body wants to beat the fastest gun in the West.”
But on the last day of rookie camp the scenario changed. Some of the veterans joined in, and Hazzard and Maravich teamed up in‐the backcourt. First, Maravich would bring the ball down and get off a dazzling pass or break toward the basket on a be tween‐the‐legs dribble, and then Haz zard would bring it down and match him. Now that Guy Rodgers has re tired, Maravich and Hazzard are the two most gifted ball‐handlers in the game, and there they were dueling to a standoff.
From that point on, professional ism has governed Maravich's saga. In the Maurice Stokes Memorial all‐star game in August, Maravich hit only four of 12 shots from the floor, with Baltimore's Kevin Lough ery nicking his elbow just slightly every time he put the ball up (“I'd smile; he'd smile; I'd say, ‘O. K., Kevin; I'll get you back’ “), but Willis Reed said, “Don't lay any of that stuff of yours on me tonight, Pete, I'm not ready,” and the Pistol's passes were dazzling, earning him either 12 or 16 assists, depending upon who was counting. And when the Hawks’ training camp opened in September it was evident that the veterans were not going to work him over.
The other rookies absorbed plenty of rough treatment, but Maravich went almost unscathed. In part, no doubt, this was because of his com monly recognized economic value (not only as a draw, but as an infla tionary factor in the salary scale). But a reporter who covers the Hawke spoke for the consensus among steady observers of the team when he said, “I've got to think it's because they respect him.”
1970-1971 Hawks’ season
On 10-20-1970 in a blowout loss to the Pistons, Herb made his debut committing 2 fouls. White would next appear in a lopsided loss to Cincinnati, shooting 1-3 from the floor with 3 rebounds as the Hawks fell to 1-4 on the season.
The Hawks (2-5) would get their second victory blowing out the expansion Cavaliers with White playing 3 minutes and getting 3 boards. The Hawks (3-9) however, would continue to struggle, White getting 5 minutes in a loss to the expansion Buffalo Braves going 2-4 from the field, 1-3 from the line, with 3 boards, 3 assists and 5 points.
Finally the Hawks (5-12) look to begin to turn it around with a win over the Bullets as White picked up 2 assists. But 4 straight losses followed with White getting 2 points in 7 minutes vs the SuperSonics.
The losing streak reached 6 with another loss in a long Western swing to Phoenix with White getting 4 points and a rebound.
The Hawks tried to turn it around two straight wins brought them to 9-21, with Herb scoring 4 points and getting 2 rebounds in a win over Buffalo. White appeared briefly in a third straight win over San Diego. The Lakers came to Atlanta and crushed the Hawks, Herb getting 3 points. In a weird back to back matchup the Hawks then traveled to LA and defeated the Lakers with Herb contributing 3 points and three assists.
The San Diego Rockets then crushed the Hawks with White getting a season high 18 minutes, going 1-4 from the field; 3-6 from the line, and a pair of assists. The Hawks entered Christmas with a 12-23 record, lost on Christmas Day at Phoenix to fall to 12-24. Coming home provided no relief, as the Hawks lost to the Royals, Herb playing 9 minutes and scoring 4 points.
The Warriors made the holiday season miserable with a win at Atlanta. Herb appeared in a new season high 24 minutes, went 3-11 from the field, 1-4 from the line, for 7 points, with 6 rebounds and 7 assists. The Hawks followed that with a loss to the Pistons as White in 25 minutes went 5-9 from the field scoring in double digits for the first time with 10 points. 4 rebounds and 2 assists. Still the defending Western champions were now 12-27.
The day before New Years was Herb’s first NBA start vs the Cavaliers, in 18 minutes he went 1-4 from the field, 1-1 from the line with three assists in a win over Cleveland.
The Hawks then upset the Knicks at the Garden as White in 22 minutes went 4-5 from the field, 1-4 from the line, 2 boards and 2 assists. The joy was short lived as the Celtics blew out the Hawks, White in 26 minutes struggled going 1-8 from the field with 3 boards before fouling out.
The Pistons owned the Hawks as White had 2 points. The Bullets followed with a sweep, Phoenix won at Atlanta (14-32) with Herb playing 14 minutes. The Celtics added to the Hawks’ misery as White played 3 minutes. The Hawks tried to put some wins together, but another losing streak followed as Herb played 2 minutes vs the Bucks.
The Hawks still had Hudson, Bridges, Hazzard, Jim Davis plus Maravich but the losses continued. Herb played 5 minutes in a loss to the Knicks at the Garden scoring 2 points. He played a minute in a win over Cleveland and 3 minutes scoring 3 points in a win over San Diego, both at the end of January.
February brought on a west coast road trip, Herb had 2 points against Portland and played in a win at Seattle. The Hawks returned home and made it two straight wins as they defeated Cincinnati with Herb playing 6 minutes. He played 5 minutes as the Hawks (23-39) made it 4 straight wins defeating Boston.
The Hawks 5 game winning streak came to a end with a crushing loss to the Bucks, Herb played 12 minutes, getting 2 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. After the Hawks split two games with the Bullets, White played in a win over the Blazers. He contributed 3 points in a win over Buffalo and played 4 minutes in a 1 point loss to the Pistons. After the Hawks swept a three game west coast trip including a win at LA, White saw action in the Hawks 4th straight win, at home over Cincinnati. He had 4 points in 9 minutes in a win over Phoenix the Hawks sixth straight win, he also saw action in their 7th straight win over Cleveland.
The Hawks would end their regular season with a loss at Chicago, Herb played 12 minutes with 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists…the late season run by Atlanta got the team into the playoffs despite a 36 and 46 record.
The Hawks season would end as they lost in the playoffs to the Knicks in a 5 game series, only getting a win in game 2.
LA Times: THE LEAPING LEGENDS OF BASKETBALL : SOME OF THE NAMES WILL JUMP OUT AT YOU, OTHERS WON’T; BUT ALL OF THEM TOOK THEIR GAMES TO LOFTY HEIGHTS (2-12-1989)
Chamberlain was asked, weren’t there any great leapers of the white persuasion?
Wilt mentioned a few names, then said, “You know, there was a white boy who played for Atlanta around 1970. Never got off the bench, but in warmups he could dunk better than anyone I’ve ever seen.”
Chamberlain couldn’t remember the player’s name, but Rod Thorn did. The mystery leaper was--and is--Herb White, 6-foot-2, eyes of blue, from Decatur, Ga.
As with most leaping legends, Herb’s aerial reputation often preceded him. As a high school senior, he received a scholarship offer from a Midwestern college, asking him to become the school’s first black player. Instead he went to Georgia as a white player and was a so-so power forward.
Before his senior year, White happened to work out with some Atlanta Hawks players and they went to coach Richie Guerin with tales of this amazing leaper. Herb was not drafted, but was invited to Hawks’ camp after his senior year and made the 1970-71 team as a point-guard backup and road roommate of another rookie, Pete Maravich.
White started five games, but was mostly a mop-up guy, then was injured and finished his career in a pro league in Mexico.
White, also known as the Elevator from Decatur, made the NBA all-time all-warmup team that one season. Pregame warmups were his showtime. He would perform a reverse dunk-dunk with two balls. He would toss the ball off the backboard and then slam it home. In Madison Square Garden, he got a standing ovation for his warmup dunks.
“I won the unofficial NBA slam dunk title that season,” said White, who now sells heavy equipment in Georgia. “In warmups, we would always check out the other team and get into little contests with their guys. All the teams did that. By word of mouth, you would get to know who the best dunkers were, and by the end of the season it was pretty much agreed the best two were a Portland guy named Claude English and me.
“We played Portland in the last game of the season. Before the game, English and I went back and forth. Finally he did a 360, one handed. So I did a 360, two handed, and he conceded.”
White is a regular at Hawk games and a fan of Wilkins. Can the old Elevator still ascend?
“On a good day,” he said. “About a year ago, I was in a playground game with some black guys. I got fired up and did a 360 dunk. I went back a few hours later with a tape measure. The rim was two inches low. I said, ‘What the hell, I’m 40.’ ”
THE LEAPING LEGENDS OF BASKETBALL : SOME OF THE NAMES WILL JUMP OUT AT YOU, OTHERS WON'T; BUT ALL OF THEM TOOK THEIR GAMES TO LOFTY HEIGHTS
Stand underneath a basketball hoop, a regulation 10-footer. Look up.
www.latimes.com
In his own words:
“I attended the University of Georgia on a basketball scholarship and had the misfortune to try to guard "Pistol Pete" Maravich for three years, once helping to hold him to 57 points in Athens. Later played with the Atlanta Hawks, in Mexico and Europe…”
John Brisker SF Toledo PIT, SEA b 6-15-1947 d 1978
Seattle Times: ‘Is John really dead?’: The mysterious disappearance of John Brisker, the Sonics legend who never was
“Stories about Brisker were legendary. One goes that he ran onto the court during practice, waving a gun. Utah hosted a “John Brisker Intimidation Night” and had professional boxers on the bench. Tom Nissalke, a former ABA and Sonics coach, put a $500 bounty on Brisker before a game, then watched Brisker get flattened (When Nissalke later coached Brisker with the Sonics, Brisker smiled and said, “That was a pretty good move, Coach”)…”
“There was also no denying Brisker’s talent. He scored 47 points in a game with the Sonics, and many of his teammates think he could have been a star. “LeBron James with more skills,” Watts says. “Before his time. They weren’t ready for that type of personality.” Watts’ comparison to James may seem nostalgic, except Spencer Haywood made the same one. “John was a LeBron James with the anger,” Haywood says. “That’s telling. That’s some serious (expletive), I know. But that’s who he was! That’s the kind of (expletive) you were looking at.”
The problem was that Bill Russell didn’t see Brisker that way. Russell won 11 NBA titles in Boston, and by the time he arrived in Seattle, he knew what he wanted from his players. Brisker could score, but Russell didn’t think he played team basketball, so he spent a lot of time on the bench, or worse.
“Two big dogs in the same pen,” Watts says.
As coach and president, Russell won every time. At one point Russell sent Brisker to the Eastern League, a public demotion. “I relaxed,” Brisker admitted at the time. “I became a fat cat, not as hungry as I was years ago.”
He scored 51 points in his first game after the demotion. Next time out, he had 58. Russell was not impressed, but Brisker’s Eastern League coach was.
“He played like it was the last game of his life,” he said…”
‘Is John really dead?’: The mysterious disappearance of John Brisker, the Sonics legend who never was
By 1978, John Brisker had been out of the NBA for three years. In March of that year, he traveled to Africa and intended to launch an “import-export business.” On April 11, he called his girlfriend in Seattle. That was...
www.seattletimes.com
Michael Doleac C Utah ORL, MIA 1998-2008 6-15-1977 45 YOA
Zan Tabak C TOR 1994-2001 6-15-1970 52 YOA
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