Reid Gettys
Encyclopedia
A "set up man" in large part, Reid Gettys played a pivotal role in the success of the powerhouse Phi Slama Jama basketball teams at the University of Houston
during the early-to-mid 1980s.
Gettys, who ranks as Houston's all-time leader in assists with 740, was responsible for distributing the ball to teammates Akeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler
, Benny Anders
, Michael Young
, Larry Micheaux
and, later, Ricky Winslow. Gettys had a 17-assist game against Rice University
in 1985. He also handed out 15 assists in a 1983 game against the University of Kansas
.
However, he was also a dead-eye shooter from long distance (although he played prior to the 3-point line) and virtually "automatic" from the free throw line. During the 1982 NCAA Tournament, on March 21, 1982, Gettys sunk 10 consecutive free throws down the stretch to move Houston past Boston College and into the Final Four
.
Gettys played his high school ball at Houston's Memorial High School, but chose to stay home to attend college and play for the legendary Guy V. Lewis, rather than following in his father, Marshall's footsteps in attending and playing for Texas Tech University
. On a team that was known for its undisciplined style, Gettys was a calming and consistent influence.
The 6-foot-6 Gettys was drafted by the Chicago Bulls
in the fifth round of the 1985 NBA draft. He was a member of Bill Musselman
's 1987-88 Albany Patroons team of the Continental Basketball Association
(CBA) that posted a remarkable 48-6 record on its way to winning the CBA championship.
Gettys, who has a law degree and has worked as an attorney in Texas, later became an assistant coach at Houston under his former teammate, Drexler, and worked as an ESPN
basketball analyst. Now he also commentates at Houston Rockets Games
Now he has 2 sons and a daughter. One Grayson his a model in New York. Stew attends the woodlands christian academy, and his daughter goes to Mchollough Junior High
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
during the early-to-mid 1980s.
Gettys, who ranks as Houston's all-time leader in assists with 740, was responsible for distributing the ball to teammates Akeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler
Clyde Drexler
Clyde Austin "Clyde The Glide" Drexler is a former National Basketball Association shooting guard and small forward. A ten-time All-Star and member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, the NBA named him one of basketball's fifty greatest players as of 1996. Drexler won an Olympic gold medal in 1992 and...
, Benny Anders
Benny Anders
Benny Anders was a star player at the University of Houston during the early 1980s and a member of the school's so-called Phi Slama Jama basketball fraternity that included Akeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Michael Young, Alvin Franklin, Reid Gettys, and Larry Micheaux.-High School:A cousin of former...
, Michael Young
Michael Young (basketball)
Michael Wayne Young is a retired American basketball player. After a 15-year playing career spent in the NBA and overseas, he is currently the director of basketball operations and performance enhancement at the University of Houston, his alma mater.- College :Young, a native Houstonian, played...
, Larry Micheaux
Larry Micheaux
Larry Wayne Micheaux is a retired American professional basketball player.-College:An all-state basketball player as a senior at E. E...
and, later, Ricky Winslow. Gettys had a 17-assist game against Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
in 1985. He also handed out 15 assists in a 1983 game against the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
.
However, he was also a dead-eye shooter from long distance (although he played prior to the 3-point line) and virtually "automatic" from the free throw line. During the 1982 NCAA Tournament, on March 21, 1982, Gettys sunk 10 consecutive free throws down the stretch to move Houston past Boston College and into the Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
.
Gettys played his high school ball at Houston's Memorial High School, but chose to stay home to attend college and play for the legendary Guy V. Lewis, rather than following in his father, Marshall's footsteps in attending and playing for Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
. On a team that was known for its undisciplined style, Gettys was a calming and consistent influence.
The 6-foot-6 Gettys was drafted by the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
in the fifth round of the 1985 NBA draft. He was a member of Bill Musselman
Bill Musselman
William Clifford Musselman was an American basketball coach in the NCAA, the ABA, the WBA, the CBA, and the NBA. He was a fiercely intense coach who once was quoted as saying "defeat is worse than death, because you have to live with defeat."-Early life:Musselman was the second of five children....
's 1987-88 Albany Patroons team of the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
(CBA) that posted a remarkable 48-6 record on its way to winning the CBA championship.
Gettys, who has a law degree and has worked as an attorney in Texas, later became an assistant coach at Houston under his former teammate, Drexler, and worked as an ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
basketball analyst. Now he also commentates at Houston Rockets Games
Now he has 2 sons and a daughter. One Grayson his a model in New York. Stew attends the woodlands christian academy, and his daughter goes to Mchollough Junior High