Tom Gola dies

[Da Coach]

Older BU fans will know this name- Tom Gola, a star with LaSalle in the early 1950's. LaSalle beat Bradley, and Tom Gola carried them in the 1954 NCAA Championship game

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/24421528/la-salle-legend-hall-of-famer-tom-gola-dies-at-81

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/colleges/la_salle/012614_Tom_Gola_A_Philadelphia_legend.html

[tornado]

In 1955 Gola averaged 21 ppg and 19 rebounds per game. He had an NCAA record 2,201 career rebounds.

[capecod]

Tom Gola HS All American

The very first National HS All American teams were selected by Chuck Taylor of Converse sneakers fame beginning in 1949.

In order to be selected on this All American team, a player had to appear in a HS All Star game held in Kentucky annually.

Tom Gola (who was headed to LaSalle) was named 'Mr. Basketball' on the 1951 squad. A teammate of Gola's on the North squad in that game was John Kent of Marion, Ill(who was headed to Bradley). Gola scored 10 pts in the game and Kent scored 9 (see link to box score below-actually the link may take you to the site but you may need to click on '1951' to see the boxscore)

http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/north-south_frame.html

This All American team did not last through the mid 50s. Some say it was because HS stars like Jerry West, Oscar Robertson and Elgin Baylor did not appear in the contest during their senior HS year. However it is not clear whether the black players had actually been invited.

The AA team(and game) up until that point had been devoid of any black players- a fact that ended these games by the mid 50s.