(born Oct. 16, 1941) Mel Counts had one of the most storied basketball careers for a player from the Coast, moving from Marshfield High to Oregon State to 12 years in the National Basketball Association. And, he won a Gold Medal. Born in 1941, Counts grew up in Coos Bay and excelled in basketball as..Read More
(1908 – Jul. 24, 1981) Mark “Buck” Grayson was a three-sport athlete at Jefferson High, who starred at Oregon State and then had a distinguished career as a city commissioner in Portland. Grayson played football, basketball and baseball at Jefferson, then moved to Oregon State for coach Slats Gill’s first three season: 1928-1931. At OSU,..Read More
(born Mar. 3, 1943) Jim Jarvis helped the Oregon State men’s basketball team reach the NCAA Tournament Final Four in 1963, played professionally and then coached at the Division I level. Jarvis grew up in Southern Oregon, earning All-Tournament first-team honors in 1959 at Coquille when the Red Devils reached the semifinals, and in 1961..Read More
(Aug. 26, 1917 – Sep. 8, 1971) Wally Johansen played a key role in putting basketball in Astoria and then the University of Oregon on the state and national map. Born in 1917, Johansen grew up in Astoria and found a role in the high school basketball program led by coach John Warren. Johansen, a..Read More
(born Nov. 3, 1957) A 6-foot 10-inch Oregon State University basketball star from 1977-1981, Steve Johnson was second at OSU for career points (2,035) and career field goals (828). A 1st Team Consensus All-America and Pac-10 Player of the Year in 1981, Steve was also a three time selection as All Pac-10. As a senior,..Read More
(born Sep. 18, 1942) From Powers, Oregon Jim Boutin went on to an outstanding college basketball career at Lewis & Clark College where he was a four-year starter (1961-64) and earned All-American honors. Boutin led the Pioneers to three consecutive Northwest Conference basketball titles (1962-1964) and three consecutive appearances in the NAIA National Tournament. As..Read More
(Oct. 17, 1942 – Nov. 25, 2017) Steve Jones earned his place in Oregon sports lore as a basketball player at the high school, college and professional level and then as a broadcaster, where he earned the nickname “Snapper.” Born in Louisiana, Jones grew up in Portland and helped Franklin High to the 1959 state..Read More
Hugh “Hunk” Latham played three sports at the University of Oregon and helped the basketball program develop a following that created McArthur Court. Latham played four seasons of baseball and football, but neither team found success like the basketball team. In Latham’s three seasons (1921, 22-24), the Ducks were a combined 45-25, which caused attendance..Read More
(1910-11 – 2005-06) Ed Lewis made his mark on basketball at Oregon State from 1931-33, setting scoring records while leading the Beavers to their first Pacific Coast Conference title. Lewis grew up in Portland and led Washington High School, coached by Eldon Jenne, to the state championship in 1928 and tournament semifinals in 1929. He..Read More
(born Nov. 2, 1952) As a University of Oregon Duck, Ron Lee was the first player ever named to the Pac-8 All-Conference team for four consecutive years (1973-76) and was the 1976 Pac-8 Player of The Year. As a starting guard, Lee was selected four times as Oregon’s Most Valuable Player and was the Duck’s..Read More