Key Highlights About “Hal” Greer:

• First African-American to play basketball and break the color barrier at Marshall College
• During college career scored an amazing 1,277 points, averaged at 19.4 points per game.
• Inducted into the Marshall University Athletics Hall of Fame for his career in basketball and baseball in 1985
• His 76ers team of 1966–67, considered one of the game’s all-time greatest, ended the Boston Celtics’ streak of eight consecutive championships.
• Inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame; and he was named to the NBA’s list of the 50 greatest players in league history

Athlete Harold Everett “Hal” Greer was the first African-American to play basketball and break the color barrier at Marshall College (now Marshall University) in West Virginia.

The six foot-two inch guard was born in Huntington on June 26, 1936. He first became a basketball star at Huntington’s Frederick Douglass High School during the days of segregation. While in high school, he was recruited by legendary coach Cam Henderson.

During his three-year college career, Greer scored an amazing 1, 277 points, averaged at 19.4 points per game. He also set the Marshall record for field goals at .545.

Advancing to the National Basketball Association after his 1959 graduation, in 15 seasons with the Syracuse Nationals and Philadelphia 76ers Greer averaged 19.2 points per game and was a ten-time all-star. His 76ers team of 1966–67, considered one of the game’s all-time greatest, ended the Boston Celtics’ streak of eight consecutive championships.

In his final season, 1972-73, Greer also served as the team’s assistant coach. He split time between the bench and the court, appearing in 38 games and averaging just 5.6 points. At season’s end he retired, ending an illustrious 15-year playing career. At the time of his retirement Greer had appeared in more games (1,122) than any other player in NBA history. He also ranked in the top ten in points scored, field goals attempted, and field goals made. After his retirement, the 76ers retired his number 15 jersey; he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame; and he was named to the NBA’s list of the 50 greatest players in league history.

source:

http://www.nba.com/history/players/greer_bio.html