Going on vacation and JP will be taking over the Trove in my absence.
By Halldan
...................1 Walter Dukes 1734 points, 1697 rebounds (3 years)
A true pioneer of Seton Hall basketball, Walter Dukes was a Consensus first team All-American in 1953.
His scoring and rebound averages were numbers made of legends. He averaged 26.1 points-per-game and 22.2 rebounds-per-game. He led the Pirates to an NIT Championship when that tournament was more prestigious than the NCAA's, and he was awarded the NIT MVP in 1953.His 734 rebounds in 1952-53, a N.C.A.A. Division I record still stands. to this day and the Pirates ended their championship year with a record of 31-2.
After being named an all-American, Dukes was drafted by the Knicks, but he spurned them for a far more lucrative offer from the Harlem Globetrotters. Abe Saperstein, the Globetrotter owner, wheeled 3,000 silver dollars into the dining room of Toots Shor's restaurant in Manhattan in June 1953 to present as a bonus for Dukes. He signed a one-year contract with the Globetrotters for a reported $25,000, played with them for two seasons, then joined the Knicks.
Dukes played for the New York Knicks (1955–1956), Minneapolis Lakers (1956–1957) and Detroit Pistons (1957–1963) during his NBA career.
Dukes helped the Lakers win the 1956–57 NBA Western Division in his second season. While with the Pistons, he was named to the 1960 and 1961 NBA All-Star.
Dukes averaged double figures in rebounds in six of his eight seasons in the NBA, and had career averages of 11.3 rebounds per game and 10.4 points per game. But maybe the legacy of this gentle giant might be best chronicled in the story below.
ncaahoopsdigest.com
The Very Best at Seton Hall - 1-8
By Halldan
...................1 Walter Dukes 1734 points, 1697 rebounds (3 years)
A true pioneer of Seton Hall basketball, Walter Dukes was a Consensus first team All-American in 1953.
His scoring and rebound averages were numbers made of legends. He averaged 26.1 points-per-game and 22.2 rebounds-per-game. He led the Pirates to an NIT Championship when that tournament was more prestigious than the NCAA's, and he was awarded the NIT MVP in 1953.His 734 rebounds in 1952-53, a N.C.A.A. Division I record still stands. to this day and the Pirates ended their championship year with a record of 31-2.
After being named an all-American, Dukes was drafted by the Knicks, but he spurned them for a far more lucrative offer from the Harlem Globetrotters. Abe Saperstein, the Globetrotter owner, wheeled 3,000 silver dollars into the dining room of Toots Shor's restaurant in Manhattan in June 1953 to present as a bonus for Dukes. He signed a one-year contract with the Globetrotters for a reported $25,000, played with them for two seasons, then joined the Knicks.
Dukes played for the New York Knicks (1955–1956), Minneapolis Lakers (1956–1957) and Detroit Pistons (1957–1963) during his NBA career.
Dukes helped the Lakers win the 1956–57 NBA Western Division in his second season. While with the Pistons, he was named to the 1960 and 1961 NBA All-Star.
Dukes averaged double figures in rebounds in six of his eight seasons in the NBA, and had career averages of 11.3 rebounds per game and 10.4 points per game. But maybe the legacy of this gentle giant might be best chronicled in the story below.
Gentle Giant: Walter Dukes Legacy Lives on in Seton Hall Lore
by Mohamad Mirghahari & Charles Shepard Walter Dukes is tired and defeated. His Seton Hall team just suffered a demoralizing loss in Louisville, Kentucky. The quiet 7-footer is lining up …
ncaahoopsdigest.com
