Willie Worsley
Encyclopedia
Willie Worsley was one of the guards for the Texas Western Miners basketball team during their now-legendary 1966 NCAA championship game against Kentucky. Although only 5 foot 9 inches tall, he later played 24 games for the ABA
's New York Nets during the 1968-69 season.
Willie played his high school ball at DeWitt Clinton in the Bronx leading the team to a New York City Championship in 1963. Playing before a crowded Madison Square Garden he was named the championships MVP that year. The team also enjoyed a 38 game winning streak during his playing days. NBA great, Nate "Tiny" Archibald, two years his junior, always looked up to Willie at DeWitt Clinton and eventually joined him in the backcourt at Texas El Paso (Texas Western) for the 1967-1968 season.
Remembering the Kentucky victory, Willie said he enjoyed the game for another reason: His working mother was home in front of a TV, watching. "It was the only time my mother, Julia, got to see me play. She'd never seen me play at all," he said.
Toward the end of the 1960s, Worsley took over as coach for the now-defunct children's shelter Woodycrest located in High Bridge
, The Bronx
, New York City
. There, in conjunction with James Neal, he oversaw the shelter's athletic programs. By the end of the 1970s, the shelter had merged with another home located in Pomona, New York
and Worsley had become a director. After this organization became bankrupt, Worsley became coach of the Spring Valley High School
boy's basketball team in Rockland County, New York
.
While continuing to coach the Spring Valley High School
basketball team, Worsley became the Boys Choir of Harlem
's Dean of Students.
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
's New York Nets during the 1968-69 season.
Willie played his high school ball at DeWitt Clinton in the Bronx leading the team to a New York City Championship in 1963. Playing before a crowded Madison Square Garden he was named the championships MVP that year. The team also enjoyed a 38 game winning streak during his playing days. NBA great, Nate "Tiny" Archibald, two years his junior, always looked up to Willie at DeWitt Clinton and eventually joined him in the backcourt at Texas El Paso (Texas Western) for the 1967-1968 season.
Remembering the Kentucky victory, Willie said he enjoyed the game for another reason: His working mother was home in front of a TV, watching. "It was the only time my mother, Julia, got to see me play. She'd never seen me play at all," he said.
Toward the end of the 1960s, Worsley took over as coach for the now-defunct children's shelter Woodycrest located in High Bridge
High Bridge (New York City)
The High Bridge is a steel arch bridge, with a height of almost 140 feet over the Harlem River, connecting the New York City boroughs of The Bronx and Manhattan...
, The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. There, in conjunction with James Neal, he oversaw the shelter's athletic programs. By the end of the 1970s, the shelter had merged with another home located in Pomona, New York
Pomona, New York
Pomona is a village partly in the Town of Ramapo and partly in the Town of Haverstraw in Rockland County, New York, United States, located north of New Hempstead, east of Harriman State Park, north of Monsey and west of Mount Ivy. According to the 2010 Census, the population was 3,103, a 13 percent...
and Worsley had become a director. After this organization became bankrupt, Worsley became coach of the Spring Valley High School
Spring Valley High School (New York)
Spring Valley High School , formerly known as Spring Valley Senior High School, is a high school located in Spring Valley, New York within Rockland County, New York, educating students in grades 9 through 12. Spring Valley is one of two high schools in the East Ramapo Central School District...
boy's basketball team in Rockland County, New York
Rockland County, New York
Rockland County is a suburban county 15 miles to the northwest of Manhattan and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area, in the U.S. state of New York. It is the southernmost county in New York west of the Hudson River, and the smallest county in New York outside of New York City. The...
.
While continuing to coach the Spring Valley High School
Spring Valley High School (New York)
Spring Valley High School , formerly known as Spring Valley Senior High School, is a high school located in Spring Valley, New York within Rockland County, New York, educating students in grades 9 through 12. Spring Valley is one of two high schools in the East Ramapo Central School District...
basketball team, Worsley became the Boys Choir of Harlem
Boys Choir of Harlem
The Boys Choir of Harlem was a choir located in Harlem, New York City, United States. Its last performance was in 2007 and the group folded shortly thereafter due to several controversies, a large budget deficit, and the death of its founder.Founded in 1968 by Dr...
's Dean of Students.
External links
- Pro stats
- http://www.woodycrestfamily.com/products.html