Special weekend as college hoops honors @hoophall coaching legend, John McLendon. A KU grad & pupil of Dr. Naismith, he later coached North Carolina Central U, where he revolutionized offensive basketball. It was there the “Secret Game” vs. white Duke Med students took place. 1)
The “Secret Game” held on a Sunday morning in March, 1944, defied the Jim Crow laws of the segregationist South at the time. After NCCU won the game, they mixed up the teams into integrated groups.
Coach Mac later won three @NAIA titles at Tennessee A&I (now Tennessee State). Then became the first black professional basketball coach, working for George Steinbrenner & the Cleveland Pipers. Later he served as assistant coach of 1968 USA Olympic Gold Medal Team.
John McLendon is considered the “father of the fast break & great Dean Smith admits to “stealing” the idea for the Four Corners offense from him. Coach, teacher, mentor, innovator, he was ahead of his time.
You can follow @franfraschilla.
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