LaRoy Doss
Encyclopedia
LaRoy S. Doss was an American
college basketball
player and businessman. He was the first African-American player in Saint Mary's College
history and their first to be named West Coast Conference
player of the year
.
Doss was an All-City forward at Sacred Heart High School
in San Francisco. He went to nearby Saint Mary's in Moraga, California
, where he played from 1956 to 1959. Doss was a three-year starter (freshmen were not eligible to play at this time) and was named second team All-West Coast Athletic Conference (WCAC) in each of his first two years and led the team in scoring as a junior.
Doss' senior season was a magical one. Doss averaged 15.8 points per game and was named the 1959 West Coast Conference co-player of the year with Pacific's
Leroy Wright
. Doss teamed up in the frontcourt with future NBA player Tom Meschery
to lead the Gaels to an 11-1 WCAC record. In the 1959 NCAA tournament
, the Gaels made it to the West Regional Final, but lost to eventual champion California
.
LaRoy Doss scored 1,139 points (14.8 per game) and grabbed 712 rebounds (9.2 per game).
Following the close of his college career, Doss did not play professionally. He did enjoy a long career in business, owning several automobile dealerships throughout Northern California. In 1978, Doss was honored as one of the top 100 black businessmen in America by Black Enterprise
magazine. Doss died on September 7, 2004.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
college basketball
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 and businessman. He was the first African-American player in Saint Mary's College
Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church...
history and their first to be named West Coast Conference
West Coast Conference
The West Coast Conference is an NCAA collegiate athletics conference consisting of nine member schools across the states of California, Oregon, Utah and Washington....
player of the year
West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is a basketball award given to the most outstanding men's basketball player in the West Coast Conference. The award was first given following the 1952–53 season, when the conference was known as the California Basketball Association...
.
Doss was an All-City forward at Sacred Heart High School
Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory
Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, commonly known as SH, SHC, or SHCP is a Catholic school located in the Cathedral Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Founded in 1852, Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory is the oldest Catholic secondary school in San Francisco...
in San Francisco. He went to nearby Saint Mary's in Moraga, California
Moraga, California
Moraga is a suburban incorporated town located in Contra Costa County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is named in honor of Joaquin Moraga, whose grandfather was José Joaquin Moraga, second in command to Juan Bautista de Anza...
, where he played from 1956 to 1959. Doss was a three-year starter (freshmen were not eligible to play at this time) and was named second team All-West Coast Athletic Conference (WCAC) in each of his first two years and led the team in scoring as a junior.
Doss' senior season was a magical one. Doss averaged 15.8 points per game and was named the 1959 West Coast Conference co-player of the year with Pacific's
Pacific Tigers men's basketball
The University of the Pacific Tigers Mens Basketball team are an NCAA Division I basketball team, part of the Big West conference. The team is based in Stockton, California. They play their home games at Alex G. Spanos Center and are led by head coach Bob Thomason.-NCAA Tournament Results:The...
Leroy Wright
Leroy Wright
James Leroy Wright is a retired American professional basketball player. He played two seasons in the American Basketball Association in 1967–68 and 1968–69, winning the ABA Finals in 1968 as a member of the Pittsburgh Pipers.-Early life:...
. Doss teamed up in the frontcourt with future NBA player Tom Meschery
Tom Meschery
Thomas Nicholas "Tom" Meschery is a Russian American former professional basketball player. He was a power forward with a 10 year National Basketball Association career from 1961 to 1971. He played for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors and the Seattle SuperSonics...
to lead the Gaels to an 11-1 WCAC record. In the 1959 NCAA tournament
1959 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1959 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 23 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball in the United States. It began on March 7, 1959, and ended with the championship game on March 21 in Louisville,...
, the Gaels made it to the West Regional Final, but lost to eventual champion California
1958–59 California Golden Bears men's basketball team
The 1958–59 California Golden Bears men's basketball team represented the University of California. The head coach was Pete Newell. He led the Golden Bears to their only NCAA Basketball Championship.-NCAA basketball tournament:*West**California 71, Utah 53...
.
LaRoy Doss scored 1,139 points (14.8 per game) and grabbed 712 rebounds (9.2 per game).
Following the close of his college career, Doss did not play professionally. He did enjoy a long career in business, owning several automobile dealerships throughout Northern California. In 1978, Doss was honored as one of the top 100 black businessmen in America by Black Enterprise
Black Enterprise
Black Enterprise is a monthly U.S. magazine which describes itself as "the premier business news and investment resource for African Americans" and claims a readership of 3.7 million. It was founded in 1970 by Earl G. Graves, Sr.. The publication is known for its annual listing of the largest...
magazine. Doss died on September 7, 2004.