Wayne Hightower

Wayne A. Hightower (January 14, 1940 – April 18, 2002) was an American professional basketball player who had a long and productive career in the NBA and ABA, during the 1960s and early 1970s. He was a 6'8" power forward and center. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Wayne Hightower
Personal information
Born(1940-01-14)January 14, 1940
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DiedApril 18, 2002(2002-04-18) (aged 62)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight192 lb (87 kg)
Career information
High schoolOverbrook
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
CollegeKansas (1959–1961)
NBA draft1962 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5th overall
Selected by the San Francisco Warriors
Playing career1961–1972
PositionPower forward / Center
Number55, 20, 12, 54, 35
Career history
1961–1962Real Madrid
1962–1965San Francisco Warriors
1965–1967Baltimore Bullets
1967Detroit Pistons
1967–1969Denver Rockets
1969–1971Los Angeles / Utah Stars
1971Texas Chaparrals
1971–1972Carolina Cougars
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA and ABA statistics
Points6,568 (11.6 ppg)
Rebounds3,966 (7.0 rpg)
Assists959 (1.7 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

College career

Hightower played college basketball at Kansas, with the Kansas Jayhawks.

Professional career

After graduating from college, Hightower moved to Spain, and signed with Real Madrid, whom he led to the 1961–62 season Spanish national domestic league championship, and the 1962 final of FIBA European Champions Cup (now called EuroLeague), which the team lost. He led the Spanish League in scoring that season.[1]

He was drafted in the 1962 NBA draft, at the 7th spot overall, by the San Francisco Warriors, with whom he played for 3 seasons.

The pinnacle of his NBA career came with the Warriors, when together his teammate and fellow Philadelphia native, Wilt Chamberlain, he reached the 1964 NBA Finals. Hightower recorded his best season that year, averaging 13.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.

He later played for several other teams, and moved on to play in the ABA, in 1967, before retiring in 1972.

Death

Hightower died on April 18, 2002, in his hometown of Philadelphia.[2][3]

Notes
  1. Máximos Anotadores
  2. WAYNE HIGHTOWER : De la Copa de Europa con el Real Madrid, a la NBA. April 26, 2002
  3. Wayne Hightower, 62, Basketball Player. New York Times. April 27, 2002. Retrieved on October 17, 2009.
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