Two-time national finalist at Ohio State — one of the greatest college big men in history.
Jerry Ray Lucas was born in Middletown, Ohio in 1940. He attended Ohio State University under coach Fred Taylor and became one of the most dominant college players of his era. He won the national championship with Ohio State in 1960 and reached the title game again in 1961 and 1962 — losing both times to Cincinnati and its star Oscar Robertson. He won the Naismith Award as national player of the year twice (1961, 1962). He averaged 24.3 points and 17.2 rebounds per game across his three Ohio State seasons — the rebounding average among the highest ever recorded in college basketball. He won Olympic gold with the USA at Rome 1960. His shooting touch — he shot over 62% from the field in his career — was extraordinary for a big man of his era. Cincinnati Royals selected him fifth overall in the 1963 NBA Draft. His Ohio State career produced one title and two runner-up finishes in a three-year span that remains one of the most sustained competitive runs in college basketball history. His combination of shooting, rebounding and intelligence made him the consensus greatest college big man of the early 1960s.
National Championship (1960)
Career Honours
- National Championship (1960)
- Naismith Award 2x (1961, 1962)
- Final Four 3x
- Olympic Gold Medal (1960)