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Jim Huggard

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Jim Huggard
Personal information
Born(1933-09-16)September 16, 1933
DiedOctober 16, 2020(2020-10-16) (aged 87)
Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Career information
High schoolWest Catholic Prep
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
CollegeVillanova (1958–1961)
NBA draft1961: undrafted
Playing career1961–1966
PositionPoint guard
Career history
As player:
1961–1963Sunbury Mercuries
1963–1965Scranton Miners
1965–1966Harrisburg Patriots
As coach:
1978–1980Monsignor Bonner HS
Career highlights and awards

James Huggard (September 16, 1933 – October 16, 2020) was an American professional basketball player and coach. He played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats and professionally in the Eastern Professional Basketball League.

Playing career

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Huggard attended West Catholic Preparatory High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but did not play on the school basketball team due to his height of 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m).[1] After his graduation, he grew several inches and gained attention while playing in local Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) circles.[1] Huggard earned numerous scholarships and committed to play for the Villanova Wildcats.[1] He was a member of an undefeated Wildcats junior varsity team during the 1957–58 season.[2]

Huggard played for three seasons with the Wildcats from 1958 to 1961.[3] He became a key player as a sophomore when he averaged 15.2 points per game and helped lead the Wildcats to an appearance in the 1959 National Invitation Tournament.[4] Huggard averaged 15 points per game as a junior while the Wildcats qualified for the 1960 National Invitation Tournament.[4] He averaged a career-high 17.3 points per game as a senior.[4] Huggard totaled 1,184 points during his Wildcats career and was one of the program's first 1,000 point scorers.[3] He set a Wildcats record for assists in a game with 16 which is a feat shared with Fran O'Hanlon.[5]

Huggard played professionally in the Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL) from 1961 to 1966 with the Sunbury Mercuries, Scranton Miners and Harrisburg Patriots.[6] He was selected to the all-EPBL second team and named as the EPBL rookie of the year while playing for the Mercuries in 1962.[6] Huggard led the league in assists twice: 231 in 1963–64,[7] and 256 in 1965–66.[8]

Post-playing career

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Huggard worked as an NCAA Division I referee and basketball coach after his retirement from playing.[4] He was the head coach of the basketball team at Monsignor Bonner High School from 1978 to 1980 and acquired a 12–16 record.[4]

Personal life

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Huggard was married for 30 years and had one daughter and two stepchildren.[9] His granddaughter, Shannon Drakeley, played field hockey for the Villanova Wildcats.[10]

Huggard died at his home in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, on October 16, 2020.[9] Wildcats head coach Jay Wright called him "the original tough, Philly Villanova guard" in an announcement of his death.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Too Small For His High School Team, Jimmy Huggard Is Now Villanova Star". The Catholic Transcript. January 19, 1961. p. 16. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  2. ^ Tax, Jeremiah (December 8, 1958). "Independents". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Vinci, Billy (October 28, 2020). "Men's Basketball Mourns Loss of '61 Alum, Jim Huggard". The Villanovan. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e Toohey, Terry (August 19, 2021). "Villanova great, Bonner coach Jim Huggard dies". The Delaware County Daily Times. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  5. ^ Toohey, Terry (August 19, 2021). "Wildcats get No. 1 seed". Daily Local News. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Jim Huggard minor league basketball statistics". Stats Crew. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  7. ^ "1963-64 Eastern Professional Basketball League Leaders". Stats Crew. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  8. ^ "1965-66 Eastern Professional Basketball League Leaders". Stats Crew. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Obituary for James Huggard". O'Leary Funeral Home Ltd. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  10. ^ "Shannon Drakeley: Leaving a Villanova Legacy". Villanova University Athletics. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  11. ^ "Villanova Mourns the Loss of Big Five Hall of Famer Jim Huggard". Villanova University Athletics. October 16, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
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