Talk:Skeeter Swift

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Skeeter Swift Harley E. Swift Jr. (Skeeter)

Position: Guard Height: 6-3   Weight: 204 lbs. Born: June 19, 1946 in Alexandria, Virginia High School: George Washington in Alexandria, Virginia College: East Tennessee State University

Harley "Skeeter" Swift is former Collegiate and Professional Basketball player known for his flamboyent style, scoring prowess, and unique nickname.

Early Life

Swift grew up in Alexandria, Virginia where he learned the game of basketball dribbling on the cobblestone streets of Old Town and the Lee Street playground. He played footbal and basketball for the George Washington High School "Presidents." Many Alexandrians still remember the 1965 high school football game when he drop kicked a field goal and George Washington High School defeated Annandale. As a senior in 1965, he led the Presidents to the Northern District title-he connected on 8-of-12 shots from the field and five-of-seven from the foul line to lead G.W. past the Wakefield Warriors in double overtime, 67-66. That season he was the lone unanimous selection to the All-Northern District team.

College

He was highly recruited by Virginia colleges. He chose East Tennessee State University(ETSU) because of a full scholarship. At 6'3" and 200 pounds many assumed he was there to play football. He was not only a great player but an outstanding entertainer. For the first time in the school's history Brooks Gymnasium regularly filled with fans.

Swift was a three-time All-OVC player and won the conference Player of the Year award in 1968. He led the team in scoring three times and put ETSU on the national basketball map. His freshman year the Buccaneers traveled to Knoxville, TN and beat the University of Tennessee. In 1968 they won the Ohio Valley Conference and in the NCAA Mideast Regional they upset second-ranked Florida State. During his senior year the Buccaneers beat No. 2 Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium. That season he aslo averaged 21.7 points and was named All-American. He is the sixth all-time leading scorer in Buccaneer history and was elected to the ETSU Hall of Fame in 1982.

ABA

He went on to become a star in professional basketball where he scored over 3,000 points. Swift's professional basketball career began in the ABA with the New Orleans Buccaneers, continued with the Pittsburgh Pipers and Memphis Condors. In addition, he played as starter on the San Antonio Spurs original squad. (Then an ABA franchise) The Spurs' first season (1973-74) was a memorable one. In October 1973, San Antonio's starting lineup consisted of 5-10 Joe Hamilton, 6-3 James Silas, 6-3 Harley "Skeeter" Swift, 6-8 Rich Jones, and 6-9 Bob Netolicky. It treated San Antonio's new fans to a 91-89 exhibition season victory over the NBA Houston Rockets on October 6, 1973. Swift today ranks as one of the top 10 free-throw shooters in the American Basketball Association, now the National Basketball Association.

Later life

He has been an outstanding coach, teacher and speaker. As a coach at famed Oak Hill Academy, he won a national championship. He now lives in Kingsport, Tennessee.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/swiftsk01.html

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