The Timeline History Announced for the African-American Player and "The Phat 5" of College Basketball Kentucky, N. Carolina, UCLA, Kansas, a

(PRWeb) February 7, 2007 -- The Timeline History Announced for the African-American Player and "The Phat 5" of College Basketball Kentucky, N. Carolina, UCLA, Kansas, and Duke.

Kentucky 104 years, 1903-2006-07
N. Carolina 97 years, 1911-2006-07
UCLA 88 years, 1920-2006-07
Kansas 109 years, 1899-2006-07
Duke 102 years, 1906-2006-07

The African-American player in major college basketball was a rare occurrence 50 years ago. Bill Russell (San Francisco), Wilt Chamberlain (Kansas), and Oscar Robertson (Cincinnati) are legendary players of that time who became icons of the game. They also paved the way for today's stars.

In 1950 Earl Lloyd, Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, and Chuck Cooper were the first African-American players to play in the NBA. Harry "Bucky" Lew in 1902 was the first African-American player to play professional basketball with the New England Basketball League.

The 5 winningest college basketball programs of All-Time Kentucky, N. Carolina, UCLA, Kansas, and Duke have been major contributors for the black players in big-time college basketball and the NBA.

Kentucky Wildcats

1966-The Wildcats were led by Adolph Rupp who believed in segregation as most people did in the south at the time. The 1966 National Championship game between Kentucky and Texas Western has been called "The Game That Changed College Basketball." The all-white Kentucky vs. all-black Texas Western starting 5's has become a landmark moment in American sports history. At the time of game Rupp and Kentucky had won 4 National Championships the most of any program. The power and stature of Rupp made the Texas Western victory such a significant achievement for the Civil Rights Era. Kentucky to this day remains the winningest college basketball program of All-Time.

1971-Tom Payne became the first African-American player to play at Kentucky. UK was the last of "The Phat 5" to sign a black player. Payne was a 7ft. talent who was being touted as the next Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Payne left Kentucky after his sophomore season and was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks. He played one-season with Hawks before his life took a downward spiral of legal and penal incarceration problems.

1978-Jack "Goose" Givens 6 years after the retirement of Rupp led Kentucky to the 1978 National Championship game and scored 41 points (2nd most All-Time 44-Bill Walton, UCLA) vs. Duke during the 94-88 victory giving UK it's 5th NCAA title and the first for the school in 20 years (1958).

1993- Jamal "Monster Mash" Mashburn the New York City star-forward who helped put Kentucky back on the National map. Mashburn was the star of UK when they met Duke in the 1992 Elite-8 game that has been called one of the 3 best games in NCAA history. Mashburn was the 4th overall-pick of the 1993 NBA daft. He played 10 NBA seasons with a career 19 ppg. average.

1996-UK was led by Antoine Walker, Tony Delk, Walter McCarty, Derek Anderson, Anthony Epps, Ron Mercer, Wayne Turner, and Nazr Mohammed. All of the players for the exception of Epps and Turner have gone on to above average NBA careers.The 1996 Wildcats have been considered one of the 5 best college basketball teams of All-Time. Kentucky beat Syracuse 76-67 to win the NCAA Championship. Tony Delk was named the Tournament MVP.

1997-May 12, 1997 Tubby Smith was named as new head-coach of Kentucky basketball. Smith became head-coach of the most storied program in college basketball history.

1998-Tubby Smith led Kentucky to it's 7th National Championship beating Utah 78-69. Smith would become the 3rd African-American head-coach to win an NCAA title (John Thompson-1984, Nolan Richardson-1994).

2001-Kentucky beats "Phat 5" member N. Carolina for it's1,800th All-Time victory. UK becomes the first program to reach that historical milestone.

Other notable African-American players from UK, Sam Bowie ( the player chosen before Michael Jordan during the 1984 NBA draft), Mel Turpin, Kenny "Sky" Walker, Tayshaun Prince, Jamaal Magloire.


N. Carolina Tar Heels

1967-Charlie Scott became the first African-American player to play at UNC. Scott was the first African-American consensus All-American from the ACC. Scott played 2 years in the ABA where he was named Co-Rookie of the Year in 1971 (Dan Issel, played college ball at UK). He led the ABA in scoring during the 1971-72 season (his 34.6 ppg. was an ABA record). Scott played 8 seasons in the NBA and was selected to the 1975 All-Star game.

1972-Bob McAdoo who played only one season at UNC was the second-pick of the 1972 NBA draft. McAdoo was named the 1973 NBA Rookie of the Year with the Buffalo Braves. He was named the NBA MVP in 1975. McAdoo was a 2-time NBA Champion with the Los Angeles Lakers 1982 and 85. McAdoo was a 5-time NBA All-Star. He was enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.

1978-Walter "Sweet D" Davis after a standout career at UNC was named the 1978 NBA Rookie of the Year. At UNC in 1976 Davis was named to the US Olympic team and won a gold medal. Davis was the 5th overall-pick during the 1977 NBA draft. Davis was a multiple NBA All-Star scoring over 19,000 career points.

1979-Phil Ford a 3-time first team All-American at UNC was named the 1979 NBA Rookie of the Year. Ford was on the same 1976 gold medal Olympic team as Walter Davis. Ford won the second-annual John R. Wooden Award in 1978.

1982-Michael Jordan hit the game-winning shot to give UNC it's first National Championship in 25 years (1957). Jordan would be named the 1982 ACC Rookie of the Year. James Worthy of UNC would be named the MVP of the 1982 NCAA Final Four. Worthy the star forward from UNC would be the first overall-pick in 1982 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers and win 3 NBA Championships with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Worthy was enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003

1984-Michael Jordan would be honored as the John R. Wooden Player of the Year. Jordan would be selected by the Chicago Bulls and become the "Greatest" player in the history of basketball. Jordan would be a 6-time NBA Champion, 5-time NBA MVP, and 10-time Scoring Champion.

N. Carolina over the past 25 years has had more players from it's program move on to the NBA, more than any other program. Sam Perkins, Kenny Smith, Brad Dougherty, Scott Williams, Rick Fox, George Lynch, J. R. Reid, Jerry Stackhouse, Rasheed Wallace, Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison, Sean May, Ray Felton, Marvin Williams, and Rashard McCants are some of the former UNC standouts that went on to the NBA.

UCLA Bruins:

1947-Don Barksdale became the first African-American player to be named an consensus All-American . Barksdale was the first African-American player selected to an Olympic basketball team in 1948. He also was the first African-American selected to play in the NBA All-Star game in 1953.

1964-Walt Hazzard was member and star-player on the first NCAA Championship won by legendary coach John R. Wooden. Hazzard attended Overbrook High School in Philadelphia (Wilt Chamberlain attended Overbrook). Hazzard was selected to the 1964 Olympic team and won a gold medal. He was also selected as the USBWA College Basketball Player of the Year. Hazzard returned to UCLA in 1984 and coached 4 seasons.

1967-Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) was the most-hyped prep player to enter college basketball (LeBron James). He would have an impact on the game before he took the court. The NCAA would input the "No Dunk Rule" in 1967 before the start of Alcindor's sophomore season. The "Dunk Ban" would last 9 years until 1976. Alcindor would lead UCLA to an 88-2 record during his 3-year career as a Bruin. He would be an 3-time NCAA Champion, 3-time NCAA Tournament MVP (NCAA record), 2-time National Player of the Year. Alcindor would be the first pick of the 1969 NBA draft and play along-side Oscar Robertson with the Milwaukee Bucks to win the 1970 NBA Championship. He would be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1975 and later team-up with Magic Johnson to win 5 NBA titles. Kareem would be a 6-time NBA Champion and 6-time NBA MVP.

1972- Sidney Wicks the power forward/center of the Bruins was a member of 3 NCAA Championships 1969-71. Wicks was the second pick of the 1971 NBA draft and was named the 1972 NBA Rookie of the Year. Wicks was a 4-time NBA All-Star.

1974-Jaamal "Silk" Wilkes the silky-smooth shooting guard was a 2-time NCAA Champion with the Bruins 1972 and 1974. Wilkes was named the 1975 NBA Rookie of the Year and won the 1975 NBA Championship with the Golden State Warriors who were coached by Al Attles. Wilkes would win 3 NBA Championships with the Los Angeles Lakers.

1977-Marques Johnson a star-player for the Bruins was an consensus All-American in 1977 and was the first player to receive the John R. Wooden Award as the National Player of the Year. Johnson would be selected with the 3rd overall-pick by the Milwaukee Bucks during the 1977 NBA draft. Johnson played 11 NBA seasons and remains close to the game as a broadcaster with FOX Sports.

1987-Reggie Miller the sharp-shooting guard with range from any where on the court. Miller was the 11th overall-pick of the 1987 NBA draft. Miller scored over 25,000 career points and retired as NBA's All-Time leader in 3pt. shots made. Miller will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

UCLA like N. Carolina has produced a number of African-American players who have gone on to the NBA Henry Bibby, Richard Washington, Pooh Richardson, Baron Davis, Jordan Farmar.

Kansas Jayhawks:

1957-Wilt Chamberlain the first African-American player at Kansas led KU to the 1957 National Championship game vs. N. Carolina and lost in 3OT 54-53. Chamberlain was selected as Tournament MVP in a losing cause. The Kansas vs. N. Carolina game was the first time that two "Phat 5" programs would meet one another for the National Championship. Chamberlain is the first player to be named NBA Rookie of the Year and NBA MVP (1960). Wilt was a 4-time NBA MVP, 2-time NBA Champion, and 7-time Scoring Champion. When he retired in 1973 he was the NBA's All-Time leading scorer.

1969-Jo Jo White the dazzling point-guard was a 2-time All-American at KU. White was the 9th overall pick of the 1969 NBA Draft. He was a 2-time NBA Champion with the Boston Celtics in 1974 and 1976. Jo Jo was a 7-time NBA All-Star. Jo Jo's #15 was retired by Kansas in 2003.

1981- Darnell Valentine was an consensus All-American in 1981. Valentine was a solid point-guard who played 10 seasons in the NBA. His #14 jersey was retired by KU.

1988-Danny Manning led Kansas to the 1988 NCAA Championship from the 6th seed (the lowest seed to ever win an NCAA title). Manning was a 2-time All-American at Kansas. In 1988 he was selected as the John R. Wooden and Naismith Player of the Year. Manning was the first overall-pick of the 1988 NBA draft. He played 15 NBA seasons scoring over 12,000 points.

1998-Paul "The Truth" Pierce the multi-talented swingman from Kansas was drafted by the Boston Celtics just like his fellow alum Jo Jo White. Pierce was a consensus first-team All-American in 1998. He was selected 10th overall by the Celtics. Pierce has averaged almost 24 ppg. for his entire 8-year career. Pierce is regarded as one of the best swing players in the NBA along with Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter, LeBron James, and Tracy McGrady.

Other notable African-American players from Kansas are Drew Gooden and Jacque Vaughn.

Duke Blue Devils:

1966- C. B. Claiborne was the first African-American player at Duke. He arrived at Duke the season after Texas Western beat Kentucky for the National Championship. Claiborne played 3 seasons at Duke. He wore the #23. Michael Jordan down the road at N. Carolina made the #23 and icon number for players of this current generation.

1981-Gene Banks led Duke as a freshman to the National Championship game vs. Kentucky. Banks was an explosive floor-runner who could finish strong around the basket. In 1978 he was named ACC Freshman of the Year. Banks was drafted in the second-round of the 1981 NBA draft with the 5th pick by the San Antonio Spurs. He was inducted into the Duke Hall of Fame in 1994.

1986-Johnny Dawkins the lightning-quick guard who is credited as being the first big-time player under the 'Mike Kryzewski Era' at Duke. Dawkins led Duke to the 1986 National Championship game. He was named to the 1986 NCAA All-Tournament team. Dawkins was named the Naismith Player of the Year in 1986. He was a consensus first-team All-American in 1986 and was the 10th pick of the 1986 NBA draft. He played nine seasons in the NBA. He is currently associate head-coach at Duke.

1994-Grant Hill the classy small forward was labeled as the "Next" Michael Jordan. Grant was an 2-time NCAA Champion at Duke. Hill was the the 1994 ACC Player of the Year.. He was the 3rd pick of the 1994 NBA draft. Hill has been one of more popular players in the NBA. He's an 8-time NBA All-Star. His #33 was retired by Duke.

2001-Shane Battier and Jay Williams were named Co-National Player's of the Year. They both led the Blue Devils to the schools 3rd NCAA Championship. Battier plays for the Houston Rockets with Tracy McGrady. Williams suffered a terrible motorcycle accident that ended a promising career in 2003.

Elton Brand, Cory Maggette, and Daniel Ewing are all former Duke players who play for the Los Angeles Clippers. Carlos Boozer of the Utah Jazz was selected as an All-Star reserve for the Western Conference for the 2007 NBA All-Star game in Las Vegas.


"The Phat 5" of College Basketball has produced some of the best African-American players to play in the NBA over the past 50 years. They have been ground-breakers and history makers for the game.

For more information or interview request on African-American Player and "The Phat 5" at 500 please contact Derrick E. Vaughan of Dunkadelic Inc. at 443-851-5244.

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