When Crispus Attucks rose to prominence as the excessive basketball program of the Fifties, successful three state championships and starring among the most legendary names within the historical past of the state, together with Oscar Robertson, among the most difficult video games got here from rival metropolis faculties.
Shortridge was on the high of the listing. And the primary purpose was due to a younger man named Herschell Turner, who by no means might fairly defeat Robertson and people Attucks’ groups. However earlier than turning into completed artist and group chief, the 6-2 Turner and people Shortridge groups gave metropolis basketball followers who packed Hinkle Fieldhouse (Butler Fieldhouse, because it was recognized then) many thrills – and people Attucks’ championship groups some critical scares.
“Herschell was our Oscar,” former Marion County sheriff Frank Anderson instructed IndyStar’s Will Higgins in 2003.
Turner, 86, died Tuesday in Grand Rapids, Mich., the place he lived most of his grownup life. After setting a single-season scoring document at Shortridge as a senior in 1955-56, the identical 12 months Robertson and Attucks’ group grew to become the state’s first undefeated state champion, Turner went on to develop into the primary participant on the College of Nebraska to attain greater than 1,000 profession factors. He led the Cornhuskers in scoring and rebounding for 3 seasons and was named a Helms All-American.
Turner was chosen with the No. 45 general decide by the Syracuse Nationals within the 1960 NBA draft however by no means performed within the NBA. He did play 41 video games within the American Basketball Affiliation in 1967-68 with the Pittsburgh Pipers and Anaheim Amigos. Turner was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Corridor of Fame in 1991.
“I keep in mind Herschell as a really likeable particular person with a very good humorousness,” stated Jim Loer, a 1955 Shortridge graduate who performed basketball alongside Turner. “He introduced music into the locker room, which actually livened issues up earlier than a observe. He was an excellent basketball participant, which added power to our group. Sadly, not sufficient power since we by no means beat Attucks.”
These Attucks-Shortridge video games had been extremely anticipated on the time, performed in entrance of 1000’s of followers at Butler Fieldhouse. As a sophomore, Robertson’s one-handed leap shot in double additional time – then performed as a sudden dying scenario – gave Attucks a 60-58 win over Shortridge on Dec. 30, 1954, within the championship of the Metropolis event. Shortridge misplaced to Attucks 3 times that season, together with a 14-point loss within the sectional championship.
In 1955-56, Turner set the Shortridge single season scoring document with 512 factors. After shedding twice to Attucks throughout the common season, the groups once more met within the sectional championship – this time in entrance of 15,000 followers at Butler Fieldhouse. The Blue Devils battled one of many state’s legendary groups deep into the fourth quarter, shedding 53-48. Turner scored a game-high 16 factors, ending his season with a 21.3-point scoring common.
Albert Maxey, a junior standout for Attucks on that group, would later go on to group up with Turner at Nebraska. Turner, the youngest of six in his household, was recruited to Nebraska by Jerry Bush, who performed for the Fort Wayne Pistons within the Nineteen Forties and coached at Toledo till 1954. (Bush is the grandfather of present Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg.) Turner rewrote the document books at Nebraska, scoring 1,056 factors and grabbing 626 rebounds, averaging 17.1 factors and 9.8 rebounds as a junior and 15.9 factors and eight.0 rebounds as a senior. In 1957-58, Turner’s sophomore 12 months, Nebraska upset No. 4 Kansas and No. 1 Kansas State at house in again to video games close to the top of the season.
Turner went on to play for the Baltimore Bullets, then of the Jap Skilled Basketball League, in 1960-61. He then performed for the Chicago Majors of the American Basketball League, which was owned by Harlem Globetrotters’ coach and proprietor Abe Saperstein earlier than the league folded in 1963. Turner caught on with the Globetrotters on end out his contact, then performed with the Grand Rapids Tackers and Muskegon Panthers of the North American Basketball League earlier than enjoying with Pittsburgh and Anaheim within the ABA.
Turner grew up with an curiosity in artwork. “God gave me a leap shot and a paint brush,” Turner instructed the Lincoln (Neb.) Journal-Star in 2013. His father was a gardner on the Westerley property within the Golden Hill neighborhood on the northwest aspect, the place George Clowes’ household lived. The Clowes’ household had an intensive artwork assortment.
“Mr. Clowes knew I used to be into artwork, and he’d give me his personal private tour,” Turner instructed Higgins in 2003. “I wasn’t floored by it, however I appreciated it. And it was encouraging to me that right here’s this man who actually actually likes artwork and is spending all that cash on it.”
Turner, who settled in Grand Rapids along with his spouse and three daughters, labored as artwork director of the Michigan Division of Correction, the place he taught inmates how to attract. He additionally bought his personal prints (might be discovered at Herschellturnerartwork.com), together with a sequence of work on Black cowboys. He and his previous buddy Maxey had an artwork show featured in Lincoln, Neb., the place Maxey lived his grownup life, a few decade in the past.
“My old flame was and is artwork,” Turner instructed the Journal-Star in 2013. “I’ve been capable of reap the benefits of that due to the basketball.”
Turner labored for Common Motors earlier than turning into the primary director of the Baxter Group Middle in Grand Rapids and incomes many civic and group awards. In 2016, Grand Rapids mayor Rosalyn Bliss honored him by declaring “Herschell Turner Day” on Feb. 24, throughout Black historical past month.
Frank Mead, a 1955 Shortridge graduate and basketball teammate of Turner’s, spoke to Turner on the telephone in Could. They had been hoping Turner might return to Indianapolis for a get-together within the subsequent few months.
“Herschell was a really good man,” Mead stated. “I hadn’t talked to him shortly however instantly he stated, ‘Frank, what are you as much as?’ And we talked for about half-hour.”
A celebration of life is scheduled for Aug. 29 at 11 a.m. at Brown-Hutcherson Ministries in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Name Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.
