It’s time for Beaver County memories, presented by St. Barnabas Beaver Meadows. Since it’s the time of year when basketball championships are won on the state level for high school and national level for college, in this memory, we will highlight some of the great players that began their careers on the courts of Beaver County high schools and later on played professionally.
Two of most prolific school in Beaver County to produce professional basketball players, ironically, don’t exist anymore. The former Monaca High School saw three players race up and down the floor in the school days including the most tenured N.B.A. star out of Beaver County, Brad Davis, who played fifteen years, most of which with the Dallas Mavericks and his older brother, Mickey Davis, who Played for the Milwaukee Bucks. Prior to the Davis’ bringing basketball glory to the courts of Monaca, it was Bill Zopf who lead the Indians to a twenty one and one record his senior year and eventually played for the Milwaukee Bucks. Zopf is the only Beaver County player to receive an NBA championship ring. Brad Davis also received a championship ring while serving as an assistant coach and announcer for Dallas.
Another school that saw some of it’s kids go from playing on the outdoor courts in town, to playing in packed arenas as pros is also long gone. Midland produced two of the greatest basketball stars to come out of Beaver County, Including Norm Van Lier, who became an all pro with the Chicago Bulls, and team mate from the 1965 state championship team, Simmie Hill, who was drafted by the Chicago Bulls as well, and ended up playing five seasons for several different teams in the A.B.A.
There have been two players to grow up in the 15001 zip code and end up drawing a paycheck by playing basketball professionally. Jarrett Durham Starred for Aliquippa before eventually playing for a year in the A.B.A. For the New York Nets. Another quip player from the same era, Chad Calabria, went on to play for the Phoenix suns for a year.
Three other Schools in Beaver County have sent a player to the pros in basketball. Dennis Wuycik from Ambridge played two seasons in the A.B.A.. Ron Rowan from Beaver Falls made it to the pros for a brief period in 1987 when he played for the Portland Trailblazers and Barney Cable from Rochester, who was Beaver County’s first pro basketball player, Played ten seasons with various teams in the N.B.A. And A.B.A.
This has been Beaver County memories, presented by St. Barnabas Beaver Meadows. Tune in everyday at this time for more Beaver County memories.