Hal Greer
Harold Everett Greer (/ˈhæl ˈɡrɪər/ HAL GREER; June 26, 1936 – April 14, 2018) was an American professional basketball player. He played for the Syracuse Nationals / Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1958 through 1973. A guard, Greer was a 10-time NBA All-Star and was named to the All-NBA Second Team seven times. He was named to the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, and his uniform number was among Philadelphia 76ers retired numbers. Greer is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Personal information
June 26, 1936
Huntington, West Virginia, U.S.
April 14, 2018 (aged 81)
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
Douglass (Huntington, West Virginia)
Marshall (1955–1958)
1958: 2nd round, 13th overall pick
1958–1973
15
21,586 (19.2 ppg)
5,665 (5.0 rpg)
4,540 (4.0 apg)
Early life and education[edit]
Born in Huntington, West Virginia, Greer attended Douglass Junior and Senior High School in Huntington.[1] Douglass was an all-black school. He played as a guard for Douglass' men's basketball team.[2] He enrolled at Marshall University and played college basketball for the Marshall Thundering Herd's basketball team, becoming the first African American to play for a public college in West Virginia.[3]
Hal's attendance at Marshall University (College at the time) did not cause great uproar from the community, but more rumblings and a general uneasiness. The local newspapers gave Hal and his family casual treatment in deference to him and his family. At the first basketball practice in October 1954, all eyes were on Hal who showed out. Coach Cam Henderson reportedly told sportswriters in attendance that, "Before that young man is through here he'll become one of the greatest players in Marshall history and one of the greatest in the country."[4]
With the Thundering Herd, Greer scored 1,377 points with a .545 field goal percentage, setting a Marshall record. In 1956, Marshall won the Mid-American Conference championship,[5] and made their first NCAA men's basketball tournament appearance.[6] Greer was named All-Mid-American Conference in 1957 and 1958. He was named an All-American in 1958 as well.[5] Greer finished his Marshall career averaging 19.4 points per game and 10.8 rebounds per game.[7] In 1958, his senior year, Greer averaged 23.6 points per game.[8] Greer also played for the school's baseball team in his sophomore year as a first baseman.[5][6]
Post-playing career[edit]
In 1980, Greer coached the Philadelphia Kings of the Continental Basketball League.[11] He also coached the basketball team for Germantown Academy in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.[8]
Personal life[edit]
Greer and his wife, Mayme, had a son and two daughters.[20] Greer died on April 14, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona, following a brief illness. The 76ers announced his death on April 16.[9] They honored Greer prior to Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat.[10] For the remainder of the playoffs, the Sixers wore a black armband on the sleeve of their jersey with a small patch with the number 15.[21]