Basketball
Ralph Bunche (Born Detroit, lived in Toledo for a time around age 6) (UCLA) (Nobel Peace Prize 1950, Undersecretary General United Nations)
Harold Anderson (Akron native coached Wauseon HS (1925-26) and Waite (1927-34) High Schools) (Otterbein) (Head Coach, U of Toledo 1934-42 and BGSU 1942-63, 4-time NIT Final Four, National Basketball Hall of Fame)
Chuck Chuckovits (born Akron, Owens-Illinois executive resided in Toledo after playing career) (U Toledo, All-American 1938) (Toledo White Huts, Toledo Jim White Chevrolets, Hammond Ciesar All-Americans, Tri-CityBlackhawks, NBL leading scorer and MVP 1942, 3d highest scoring avg. NBL history) (NBA and NCAA referee)
Wyatt “Sonny” Boswell (Scott) (Harlem Globetrotters - MVP 1940 World Professional Basketball Tournament, New York Rens 1942 World Professional Basketball Tournament all-tourney team, NBL Chicago Studebakers 1942-43, 2d team all-league, Black Professional Basketball Legends Hall of Fame)
Roscoe “Duke” Cumberland (Scott) (Harlem Globetrotters – 1940 World Professional Basketball Tournament champions, New York Rens, NBL Chicago Studebakers 1942-43)
Bernie Price (some sources indicate Scott HS, others Libbey HS) (Harlem Globetrotters – 1940 World Professional Basketball Tournament champions – Globetrotter Legend of Honor, New York Rens – 1st team 1942 World Championship Tournament all-tourney team, NBL Chicago Studebakers 1942-43, Black Professional Basketball Legends Hall of Fame)
Tony Peyton (Scott) (Harlem Globetrotters, NBL Chicago Studebakers 1942-43)
Al Price (some sources indicate Waite HS, others Libbey HS) (Harlem Globetrotters, NBL Toledo Jim White Chevrolets 1942)
Bill Jones (U of Toledo) (NBL Toledo Jim White Chevrolets 1942)
Shanty Barnett (NBL Toledo Jim White Chevrolets 1942)
Casey Jones (NBL Toledo Jim White Chevrolets 1942)
Paul Seymour (Woodward) (U Toledo) (Baltimore Bullets, Syracuse Nationals, 1947-60, NBA champs 1948, 1955, NBA finals 1950, 1954, 2nd team All-NBA 1953-54, 1954-55, NBA all-star 1953, 1954, 1955) (Coach, Syracuse Nationals, St. Louis Hawks, Baltimore Bullets, Detroit Pistons, 1956-68, NBA Finals 1961)
John Payak (Woodward) (BGSU, NIT final 4) (Waterloo and Milwaukee Hawks (NBA), 1949-50, 1952-53, Waterloo Hawks (NPBL) 1950-51, 2nd in league in points scored, Toledo Mercurys, traveling opponent of the Harlem Globetrotters) (NCAA basketball referee)
Bob Harrison (Woodward) (Michigan, All-Big Ten 1948, 1949, NCAA tourney 1948, UM Hall of Honor) (Minneapolis Lakers, Milwaukee and St. Louis Hawks, Syracuse Nationals, 1949-58, NBA champs 1950, 1952, 1953, one of only six Native Americans known to have played in the NBA, NBA all-star 1956) (Head Coach, Harvard 1969-73)
Cal Christensen (U of Toledo) (Tri-Cities Blackhawks, Milwaukee Hawks, Rochester Royals 1950-55, at one time held NBA record for most disqualifications in a season)
Irv Wisniewski (Michigan, 1948 NCAA tourney) (Head Coach, Delaware 1954-66, 2d all-time wins) (also football)
Don Donoher (Central Catholic) (Dayton, NCAA tourney 1952) (Head Coach, Dayton 1964-89, 8 NCAA tourneys, 7 NIT tourneys, 1967 NCAA finalist, 1968 NIT Champions)
Gerald McCloskey (Notre Dame, 1953 NCAA tourney)
Jim Kubacki (Nebraska, last-second shot to upset Wilt Chamberlain-led Kansas) (coached basketball at St. Francis (1965-73) and assistant baseball coach at U Toledo)
Alexander “Boo” Ellis (from Hamilton, Ohio, coached in Toledo at Libbey HS and Toledo Public School administrator) (Niagara) (Minneapolis Lakers, 1958-60) (2003 Masters Basketball Championship team and MVP, 65 and over)
Ben Williams (Woodward) (BGSU, 1959 NCAA tourney) (Ohio HS HOF Coach at Scott, State Champions 1990)
Bunk Adams (Macomber) (Ohio U, 1960, 1961 NCAA tournament, 64 points in 4 games) (Pan Am Games, Gold Medal 1963)
Donald “Buzz” Mewhort (DeVilbiss) (Duke, 1960 NCAA tournament, 1962 team captain)
George Patterson (Pittsburgh Central Catholic (PA) HS, resided in Toledo after playing career, long-time teacher and coach at Woodward HS) (U Toledo) (Kansas City Steers, Pittsburgh Pipers (ABL) 1961-62, Detroit Pistons, 1967-68, Washington Generals, traveling opponent of the Harlem Globetrotters)
Howard “Butch” Komives (Woodward) (BGSU, NCAA scoring champ, All-American 1964) (New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Buffalo Braves, Kansas City Kings 1964-74)
Ray Lothery (Macomber) (Tri-State) (Harlem Globetrotters, 1966)
Walt Piatkowski (Woodward) (BGSU) (Denver Rockets, Floridians, ABA 1968-72) (Father of Eric Piatkowski, current NBA)
Steve Mix (Rogers) (Toledo) (Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, 1969-83, NBA all-star 1975, NBA Finals 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983)
Dave McClellan (DeVilbiss) (Michigan, led Big Ten field goal percentage 1967)
Roscoe “Duke” Cumberland Jr. (Scott) (Harlem Globetrotters)
Al Dixon (Scott) (BGSU, 1968 NCAA tourney) (Harlem Globetrotters)
Joe Cooke (Libbey) (Indiana) (Cleveland Cavaliers, 1970-71)
Abe Steward (Libbey) (Jacksonville, NCAA tourney 1973)
Eddie Trail (Libbey) (Utah, leading scorer 1972, 25th alltime ppg, team captain 1972, 1973)
Wardell Jackson (Macomber) (Ohio State) (Seattle Supersonics 1974-75)
Bill Higgins (Ashland College) (Virginia Squires, ABA, 1974-75)
Bill Brown (Ohio, NCAA tourney 1972, 1974) (Head Coach Sacramento State, 1985-87, Kenyon 1987-95, California U. (PA), 1996-present)
Craig Lynch (Start) (Furman) (scored 40 points in 4 NCAA tournament games 1973-75, played professionally in England, coach of the Newcastle Eagles 1997-2000)
Chris Geiger Gobrecht (born Toledo, Huntington Beach (CA) HS) (USC) (Head coach Cal. State-Fullerton 1979-1985, Washington 1985-96, Florida State 1996-97, USC 1997-present, 9 NCAA tourneys, final 8 1990)
Truman Claytor (Scott) (Kentucky, starter on 1978 NCAA champs)
Bill Laimbeer (Palos Verdes HS, CA, parents moved to Ottawa Hills while in college) (Notre Dame, 1978 NCAA tourney, Final 4 1979, Owens Tech) (Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, 1980-94, SI Cover 6/27/88, 11/5/90, NBA champions 1989, 1990, NBA finals 1988, NBA all-star 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987)
Frani Washington (Woodward) (Ohio State, All-American 1979, single season record for FG made and scoring average)
Terry Crosby (DeVilbiss) (Tennessee, NCAA tourney 1976, 1977, 1979) (Kansas City Kings, 1979-80)
Kelvin Ransey (Macomber) (Ohio State, All-American 1980, OSU Hall of Fame, NCAA tourney 1980 27 ppg) (Portland Trailblazers, Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets, 1980-86)
Donald Collins (Scott) (Washington State, all-time WSU single-season scoring avg., Pac-10 scoring leader, 1979-80, All-American 1980) (Atlanta Hawks, Washington Bullets et al. 1980-87)
Eric Newsome (Rogers) (Miami O) (1984, 1985, 1986 NCAA tourney)
Dennis Hopson (Bowsher) (Ohio State, NCAA tourney 1985 (19.5 ppg), 1987 (26 ppg), All-American, 2d NCAA scoring 1987, OSU all-time scoring leader, OSU Hall of Fame) (New Jersey Nets, Chicago Bulls, Sacramento Kings, 1987-92, NBA champs 1991)
Todd Mitchell (St. Francis) (Purdue, All-American 1988, NCAA tourney 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 9th all-time Purdue scoring) (Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs 1988-89)
Jimmy Jackson (Macomber) (Ohio State, All-American 1991, 1992, NCAA tourney 1990, 1991, 1992, National Player of the Year 1992, OSU Hall of Fame, Pan Am Games, Bronze Medal 1991, leading scorer but broke foot before semi-final) (Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings et al. 1992-2006)
Melvin Newbern (Scott) (Minnesota) (Detroit Pistons, 1992-93)
Craig Michaelis (Whitmer) (Miami) (1992 NCAA tourney, 1993 Academic All-American)
John Amaechi (St. John’s, 1 year -- transfer from England) (Vanderbilt, Penn State 2-time Academic All-American) (Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, 1995-2004)
Larry Sykes (St. Francis) (Xavier) (Boston Celtics, 1995-96)
Jay Larranaga (St. John’s) (BGSU) (Captain, Irish National Team 2001-present, played professionally in Italy 1997-2009)
Neshaun Coleman (St. John’s) (Ohio State, 3rd all-time 3-point FGs, NCAA Final 4 1999)
Jermaine Tate (Central Catholic) (Ohio State, leading rebounder and MVP 1996, Cincinnati, NCAA tourney 1999, 2000) (playing professionally in Mexico, Harlem Globetrotters)
Jon Larranaga (St. John’s) (George Mason) (2001 NCAA tourney) (Irish National Team, playing professionally in Europe)
Ericka Haney (Central Catholic) (Notre Dame, NCAA tourney 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, starter 2001 national champions)
Courtney Mix (Perrysburg, Toledo Central Catholic HS) (Villanova, NCAA tourney 2001, 2002, 2003) (daughter of Steve Mix)
Northwestern Ohio
Warren “Bullett” Bell (Findlay) (Zollner Pistons NBL)
Dick Schnittker (Kelley’s Island, Sandusky HS) (Ohio State, NCAA tourney 1950, All-American 1950, OSU Hall of Fame) (Washington Capitols, Minneapolis Lakers, 1950-58, NBA champs 1953, 1954) (also played football at Ohio State)
Bob Burkholder (Bluffton) (Ohio State, NCAA tourney 1950)
Doug McDonald (Fostoria) (Ohio State, NCAA tourney 1961, 1962, starter 1962 NCAA runner-up, 11 pts v Wake Forest in semifinal)
Bob Wortman (Findlay) (Referee – field judge Super Bowl VI, XI and XII and NCAA basketball championship, 1975, 1976)
Dick Clark (North Baltimore) (Eastern Kentucky, 1965 NCAA tourney) (ABA – Minneapolis, Houston, Miami 1967-69)
Willie Babione (Fremont St. Joseph Central Catholic) (Toledo, NCAA tourney 1967)
Dave Sorenson (Findlay) (Ohio State, Final Four 1968, OSU Hall of Fame) (Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, 1970-73)
Jim Andrews (Lima Bath) (Kentucky, 1970-73, All SEC 1972, 1973, All NCAA Mideast Regional Team, 1972, 1973)
Steve Penhorwood (Lima Bath) (Kentucky 1970-71, NCAA tourney 1971, Xavier 1972-74)
Chuck Rogers (Findlay) (Michigan, 1974 NCAA tourney)
Scott May (Sandusky) (Indiana, 1976 Player of Year, 1976 National Champions) (Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, 1976-83) (Olympic gold medal 1976, Sports Illustrated cover 4/5/76, 7/19/76)
Jeff Tyson (Fostoria) (Western Michigan, 1976 MAC Player of the Year, 43 pts in 2 NCAA tourney games)
Dan Hipsher (Fostoria) (BGSU) (Head Coach, Stetson 1993-95; Akron U, 1995-2004; assistant coach, Arkansas 2004-2007, South Florida 2007-2009, Alabama 2009-present)
Tim Selgo (Pettisville) (Toledo, NCAA tourney 1979-80) (Athletic Director, Grand Valley State)
Alan Kortokrax (Delphos St. John’s) (Ohio State, South Alabama, NCAA tourney 1983)
Greg Simpson (Lima) (Ohio State, Big Ten Freshman of the year 1993, West Virginia) (Playing professionally in Israel)
Doug Etzler (Convoy, Crestview HS) (Ohio State, leading scorer and assists 1995, OSU all-time 3-point fg percentage leader)
A.J. Granger (Liberty-Benton) (Michigan State, NCAA tourney 1998, 1999, 2000, starter 2000 NCAA champs, all-tournament team) (playing professionally in Europe)
Clay Tucker (Lima Perry) (Wisconsin-Milwaukee, UWM all-time scoring leader, 2003 Horizon League MVP, 2003 NCAA tourney) (Playing professionally in Sweden)
Caity Matter (Bluffton) (Ohio State, NCAA top 3-point shooter, 2d team all-Big Ten, 2003)
