In regard to the post on Anrio Adams transferring to Ohio that asked, “Walt Luckett made the front page of SI.......but did Walt have all these offers?”, to put into perspective the number of offers Walter received out of high school, the easy answer is UCLA. That was the only major university who did not show an interest in him. Walt received around 250 letters; he could have attended any of those schools. Not to disparage anyone who has followed him as a Bobcat, but Walt was among the most dominant high school players of all time. This guy’s game as a high school baller was on the level with the likes of Oscar Robertson—who he was compared to—Wilt Chamberlain, Lew Alcindor, Bill Walton, Moses Malone, Patrick Ewing, Allan Iverson and Lebron James. He made the Sports Illustrated cover wearing an Ohio uniform as the reigning national high school player of the year the first season freshman could play college varsity ball.
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.