Jerry Lucas on the cover of Sports Illustrated, Jan. 8, 1962.
Jerry Lucas, PF
Growing up in Middletown, Ohio, Lucas was LeBron James decades before Sports Illustrated dubbed the St. Vincent-St. Mary product as “The Chosen One.”
Just how good was Lucas? He was twice named the nation’s Mr. Basketball during his playing days with the Middletown Middies. Only James and Lew Alicindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) won that award multiple times.
Lucas was 6-foot-8, but he wasn’t the most intimidating looking player on the court. That didn’t stop him from dropping big numbers on just about everyone.
Lucas helped lead the Bucks to three straight NCAA Championships games, including the 1960 title. He was a consensus All-American in each of those season, and earned National Player of The Year honors in both 1961 and 1962.
Lucas may have not been “The Chosen One,” but SI did name Lucas as its Sportsman of the Year in 1961, when Lucas was only a junior.
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