Clyde Lovellette, American basketball player, Died at 86

Clyde Edward Lovellette was born on September 7, 1929, and died on March 9, 2016.

He was an American professional basketball player.

Clyde was the first basketball player in history to play on an NCAA championship team, Olympics gold medal basketball team, and NBA championship squad.

Whilst he was a high school junior (1946-47), Clyde Lovellette’s earlier undefeated high school team in Terre Haute, Indiana lost in the Indiana state championship finals to Shelbyville, Indiana led by Bill Garrett.

Also, he had fostered the trend of tall, physical and high-scoring centers.

He has been a two-time All-State performer at Garfield High School in Terre Haute, Indiana, the six-foot-nine Lovellette later attended the University of Kansas where he became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.

During his years at the University of Kansas, Clyde led Jayhawks to the 1952 NCAA title, capturing MVP honors and scoring a then-NCAA-record 141 points.

Lovellette three-time All-American at Kansas, Clyde led the Big Seven in scoring in each of his three seasons.

He had earned himself a place for the Basketball Hall of Fame coach Forrest “Phog” Allen, he had led the nation in scoring his senior year (1952, 28.4 ppg) and was named the Helms College Player of the Year.

Clyde and basketball legend Dean Smith were teammates at Kansas.

However, Clyde still the only college player to lead the nation in scoring and win the NCAA title in the same year.

Clyde Lovellette’s dominance in the paint landed him a place in the 1952 Summer Olympics gold medal team in Helsinki, Finland and he was the team’s dominating player and leading scorer.

Clyde Lovellette passed away at 86 yrs old.