This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 9/9/2007.
John Wooden is widely regarded as the greatest college coach in history with an unmatched 10 NCAA National Championships while at UCLA, John Wooden was the first person ever enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player (1961) and a coach (1973); only Lenny Wilkens and Bill Sharman have since been so honored. Born in 1910 in Indiana, he took to basketball at an early age. Leading his Martinsville High School team to the state championship finals for three consecutive years, he won the tournament in 1927 and was a three time All-State selection. After graduating in 1928 he entered Purdue University, where he was a three-time All-American guard and a member of Purdue's 1932 national championship team. While at Purdue, he was also three-time All-Big Ten and All-Midwestern (1930-1932). Subsequently, Wooden several years playing professional basketball and coaching high school basketball. During one 46 game stretch he made 134 consecutive free throws and was named to the NBL's First Team for the 1937-1938 season. After a stint in the Navy in World War II, Wooden coached at Indiana State University (1946-1948), where he also served as athletic director. In 1947, Wooden's basketball team won the conference title and received an invitation to the NAIB National Tournament in Kansas City. Wooden was later inducted into the Indiana State University Athletic Hall of Fame (1984). Moving on to UCLA, Wooden became known as the "Wizard of Westwood" and gained lasting fame by winning 665 games in 27 seasons and 10 NCAA titles during his last 12 seasons, including 7 in a row from 1967 to 1973. This resplendent metal trophy was presented to John Wooden while a college guard at Purdue. Almost 13" tall, features a figure attempting a free throw atop a cylindrical base. On the front middle is engraved "The Indianapolis Star, All-Indiana Basketball Team, 1930-31, Wooden (Purdue) Guard." Above this is a shield in relief with two players going up for a jump ball. Trophy is in EXMT condition with some tarnishing, a true piece of history from one of the legends of the game.