Harold Blevins (born October 19, 1943) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He was a four-year starter for the Arkansas AM&N Golden Lions, where he is considered one of the program's greatest scorers.[1][2] Blevins was a three-time National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All-American and four-time All-Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) selection.[1][2]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 19, 1943 Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Listed weight | 188 lb (85 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Arkansas–Pine Bluff (1961–1965) |
| NBA draft | 1965: 2nd round, 14th overall pick |
| Selected by the New York Knicks | |
| Playing career | 1965–1966 |
| Position | Shooting guard |
| Coaching career | 1975–2002 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1965–1966 | Trenton Colonials |
| As coach: | |
| 1995–2002 | Arkansas–Pine Bluff |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
| Career coaching record | |
| College | 36–147 (.197) |
Blevins was selected by the New York Knicks in the 1965 NBA draft as the 14th overall pick and became the first Golden Lions player to be selected in an National Basketball Association (NBA) draft.[1][a] Despite not playing football in college, he signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL) that same year.[1][2] Blevins ultimately played in neither the NBA nor the NFL but played for the Trenton Colonials of the Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL) during the 1965–66 season.[3] He was drafted into the United States Army in 1966 and served a two-year stint in Vietnam.[1]
Upon returning from Vietnam, Blevins became the head basketball coach for two junior colleges, including the men's and women's teams at Harford Community College.[1][4] In 1995, he became the head coach of the Golden Lions men's basketball team.[1] Blevins had a 36–147 record over seven seasons and was fired on July 16, 2002.[5]
Blevins was inducted into the Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions Hall of Fame in 2004 and the SWAC Hall of Fame in 2005.[6][2] His No. 50 jersey was retired by the Golden Lions in 2016.[1]
Notes
edit- ^ Frank Burgess, a selection in the 1961 NBA draft, played for the Golden Lions but was drafted after playing for Gonzaga.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h "UAPB to Retire Jerseys of Basketball Greats Blevins and Mason". University of Arkansas Pine Bluff Athletics. February 4, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "SWAC Inducts Seven into Hall of Fame". Southwestern Athletic Conference. December 7, 2005. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ "Trenton Colonials". NASL Jerseys. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ Stewart, John W. (January 31, 1993). "Harford CC basketball turns corner in just four years, women's program is transformed". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ "Arkansas-Pine Bluff Fires Coaches". Associated Press. July 16, 2002. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ "Harold Blevins". University of Arkansas Pine Bluff Athletics. Retrieved May 17, 2020.