Ken Durrett
Encyclopedia
Kenneth L. Durrett was an American professional basketball
player with the NBA's Kansas City Kings and Philadelphia 76ers
. A 6'7 Forward, Durrett was a star at La Salle University
from 1968-71.
and attended Schenley High School
and committed to La Salle
. Durrett played for the Explorers from 1968–71 and was a three-time recipient of the Robert V. Geasey Trophy
, awarded annually to the top player in the Philadelphia Big 5
- one of only four players to accomplish this feat. Durrett finished his collegiate career with 1,679 points (23.6 per game) and led the Big 5 in scoring each of his three years. He was a Co-MVP in the Big 5 as a sophomore in 1969, during the Explorers’ 23-1 season. Durrett led La Salle to a berth in the 1971 National Invitation Tournament
and was a Consensus second-team All-American
in 1971. He was inducted into the Big 5 Hall of Fame in 1975 and the La Salle Hall of Athletes in 1976. A knee injury ended his college career.
. Durrett, still slowed by his college knee injury, played parts of four seasons for the Royals and stayed with the franchise as they became the Kansas City-Omaha Kings. He was dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers
midway through the 1974–75 NBA season and retired at the end of that season. His career averages were 4.0 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.
After a post-playing career as a community activist and basketball coach in his native Pittsburgh, Durrett died at age 52 of an apparent heart attack.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player with the NBA's Kansas City Kings and Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
. A 6'7 Forward, Durrett was a star at La Salle University
La Salle University
La Salle University is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Named for St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, the school was founded in 1863 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. As of 2008 the school has approximately 7,554...
from 1968-71.
La Salle
Durrett was born in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
and attended Schenley High School
Schenley High School
Schenley High School is both a public school building and a school program that closed with the graduating class of 2011. Schenley High School is located in the North Oakland neighborhood at the edge of the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. In 2008 the school's staff and...
and committed to La Salle
La Salle Explorers men's basketball
The La Salle Explorers Men's Basketball Team is the college basketball program representing La Salle University.-History:The program has been rated the 53rd "Greatest College Basketball Program of All-Time" by Street & Smith's magazine and 71st by the ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia.La Salle...
. Durrett played for the Explorers from 1968–71 and was a three-time recipient of the Robert V. Geasey Trophy
Robert V. Geasey Trophy
The Robert V. Geasey Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding basketball player in the Philadelphia Big 5, an informal association of college athletic programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It is not an MVP award and does not represent the entire regular season's most valuable...
, awarded annually to the top player in the Philadelphia Big 5
Philadelphia Big 5
The Philadelphia Big 5 is an informal association of college athletic programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It is not a conference; indeed the five schools that are members of the Big 5 are members of three separate conferences: the Atlantic 10, the Big East, and the Ivy League.The five...
- one of only four players to accomplish this feat. Durrett finished his collegiate career with 1,679 points (23.6 per game) and led the Big 5 in scoring each of his three years. He was a Co-MVP in the Big 5 as a sophomore in 1969, during the Explorers’ 23-1 season. Durrett led La Salle to a berth in the 1971 National Invitation Tournament
1971 National Invitation Tournament
The 1971 National Invitation Tournament was the 1971 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition. 1971 was unique because it is the only time that major rivals Duke and North Carolina have played each other after the ACC Tournament. Eventual ACC member Georgia Tech also made the...
and was a Consensus second-team All-American
1971 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The Consensus 1971 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of four major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Associated Press, the USBWA, The United Press International and the...
in 1971. He was inducted into the Big 5 Hall of Fame in 1975 and the La Salle Hall of Athletes in 1976. A knee injury ended his college career.
NBA
After completing his collegiate eligibility, Durrett was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals with the fourth pick overall in the 1971 NBA Draft1971 NBA Draft
The 1971 NBA Draft was the 25th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on March 29, 1971 before the 1971–72 season. In this draft, 17 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
. Durrett, still slowed by his college knee injury, played parts of four seasons for the Royals and stayed with the franchise as they became the Kansas City-Omaha Kings. He was dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
midway through the 1974–75 NBA season and retired at the end of that season. His career averages were 4.0 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.
After a post-playing career as a community activist and basketball coach in his native Pittsburgh, Durrett died at age 52 of an apparent heart attack.