![]() Handling the basketball like a softball, he often sets up a score by whipping the ball the length of the court after taking a rebound - a la Bill Russell." "The 235-pounder is supple and moves well, and is a good passer. "Although he towers over his opposition, Alcindor has much more than height," reported the AP. ![]() Height alone doesn't make one of the greatest basketball players of all time. "His ability to leap high, and his height, make him almost unstoppable in close and also make him a formidable defender."īut Alcindor had much more to his game than just a tall frame. "Almost all his shooting is inside, hooks, stuffers and tap-ins," reported the Associated Press when Alcindor was a senior in high school. John's coach Joe Lapchick said Alcindor would be the U.S.'s starting center in the 1968 Olympics.ĬAN'T MISS: Find out which March Madness Moment was voted the greatest of all time What was Lew Alcindor's game like?Īs a center who arrived at UCLA at 7-1 and later added another inch, Alcindor's game was what you might expect for someone that tall: lots of activity around the basket. When Alcindor was a senior in high school in 1965, St. Power Memorial once won 71 games in a row with Alcindor. He averaged 30 points and 20 rebounds as a senior, shooting 75 percent from the field, while playing just half the game, or roughly 16 minutes, as a rule. But there have been about 60 or 70 letters from schools showing some interest, including about 17 or 18 outlining the advantages of their scholarships." Reports at the time suggested Alcindor had more than 100 scholarship offers but his coach Jack Donohue at Power Memorial High School set the record straight: "Actually, any college with a basketball team would want him. "There is no doubt the lean, agile center is a prize catch - a sure-bet standout and drawing card at any college."Īlcindor was 6-feet tall by the time he was 11. The Associated Press once described Alcindor as "a towering and talented youngster who is the most celebrated schoolboy basketball star ever developed in this teeming hotbed of basketball," regarding New York City. What kind of prospect was Lew Alcindor in high school? UCLA's first loss with Abdul-Jabbar didn't come until his 44th game with the Bruins, when they fell by two points to No. UCLA went undefeated in 1967, going 30-0 and winning the national championship, then 29-1 in each of the next two seasons. UCLA went 88-2 in the three seasons that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played with the Bruins. RELATED: Gonzaga, Baylor lead Andy Katz's first Power 36 rankings for 2020-21 What was Lew Alcindor's record in college? ![]() He said he took the name in the summer of 1968 after converting to Islam and it was first reported by Sports Illustrated in 1969. Lew Alcindor publicly announced in 1971 that he would like to be called Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, his Islamic name, when he was the NBA's Most Valuable Player with the Milwaukee Bucks. When did Lew Alcindor change his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? The vitals for Kareem Abdul-JabbarĬareer averages: 26.4 points per game, 15.5 rebounds per game, 63.9% shooting season Here's everything you need to know about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's college career. In his legendary career, he nearly went undefeated in college, playing a critical role in the John Wooden-era dynasty at UCLA and winning three national championships in as many years. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, formerly known as Lew Alcindor in college, is one of the greatest basketball players ever.
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