Walt was a three-time high school all-American, all first-team I do believe, who put up staggering numbers, averaging 31 points during his four-season high school career. I think his 2,691 points scored still is the New England high school record. He often brought the ball up court as a left-handed shooting guard at 6-4, 185 pounds; he had that kind of handle. He was an excellent passer, who had a strong inside scoring presence. He cocked the ball behind his head and shot fade away jumpers that were impossible to block. His range? Think Reggie Miller—then back it up a few feet. I read where several teams aggressively guarded him as a scoring threat once he crossed midcourt.

Walt put a Catholic high school with no hoops reputation on his back—Kolbe High in Bridgeport, CT—and led it to a state championship, an incredible feat considering the level of competition among the state’s city schools. He averaged 39.5 points, 16 rebounds and 13 assists as a senior and his scoring average was around 44 points before playing through a late-season knee injury. His uniform is one of few high school jerseys in the National Basketball Hall of Fame.

I was an Ohio student during Walt’s three seasons there and I saw all of Ohio’s home games and more than half of its road games. Walt was hindered the first half of his freshman season as he hadn’t completely recovered from knee surgery. He played at a college all-American level his last two seasons, but Ohio never got to see the player people in Connecticut, college coaches at that time—the likes of North Carolina’s Dean Smith and Maryland’s Lefty Driesell—and recruiting gurus such as Howie Garfinkel and Tom Konchalstki raved about. Sadly, the all-world player Walt was in high school was lost on  the operating table—major knee surgery required the doctor’s scalpel back then—as his mobility, particularly laterally, never was the same.

It’s hard to believe that this was more than 40 years ago. I decided to reminisce for the benefit of younger Bobcat rooters who may know Walter Luckett’s name, but may not be aware of his legacy.

Last Edited: 6/20/2013 5:08:41 PM by Lash

Thinking ahead to a question someone may ask—why was Ohio able to schedule so many big-time hoop teams when Walter Luckett played but aren’t able to do so now—the landscape entirely was different back in the early 1970s. Major college powers and mid-majors did not fear playing each other because only 22 teams made the NCAA Tournament—17 conference winners and five independents. There were no at-large bids, so losing to major-conference powers did not hurt the Cats since winning the MAC was the only way they could go the Big Dance. The NCAA tournament brought in at-large bids in 1975, when it expanded to 32 teams and it continued to expand to the 64 teams we have now. So non-conference records really matter now, for big schools and mid-majors, with the increased numbers of at-large bids available.

In Walt’s sophomore season, Ohio went 16-10 overall, 9-3 in the MAC. The Cats lost 7 of 8 games against strong non-conference opponents, but that record doesn’t reflect what occurred on the court. Ohio was very young, with most of their key players either sophomores or freshman. It lost road games to Utah by 3, Wisconsin by 1 and Cincinnati by 2 on a buzzer-beater that bounced on the rim for several seconds before it fell through the net. The Cats opened the season losing to Northwestern by 2 in the Convo and they beat Ohio State by 5 in Columbus.

Ohio went to Bowling Green for the season’s final game tied for first place in the MAC with the Falcons, who had  6-8 all-MAC Cornelius Cash, 6-11 Skip Howard, 7-0 Maryland transfer Mark Cartwright and a slick point guard in Monk Montgomery. Ohio didn’t play anyone over 6-6, but won by a point to get the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. We lost to a Marquette team that had Maurice Lucas at center and high school all-American freshman Butch Lee and Bo Ellis in Terre Haute, IN. 

One point...wasn't the number of teams in the NCAA tournament 25 rather than 22 in those days?

Your main point is well taken.  

OCF, I hope you're reading Flashgary about scheduling differences!  

Last Edited: 6/28/2013 9:30:27 AM by Bobcatbob

I’m sure I’m one of few Bobcat fans who saw Walter play in his first OHIO game, in Columbia Mo. And I was rooting for Mizzou! I was teaching in St Louis and had graduated from Mizzou the year before.  The Tigers were opening their new field house (the Hearnes Center- it’s already defunct),  and Walter was on the SI cover that week which piqued my interest, so I decided to go.

My recollection is Walter didn’t start but played a lot, hit a few nice corner jumpers, but I believe he was only 3 for 12 from the field and the rest of his game was quiet too. When I came to teach in Athens, Walter was in his 3^rd and final season so I did get to appreciate his game. Have spoken to him at Convo events over the years, a very cordial person. 

As some have been known to say, “Stick it in the Bucket, Walter Luckett!”

Last Edited: 7/5/2013 7:58:42 PM by stub

Last Edited: 7/8/2013 5:48:40 PM by brucecuth