Bill Uhl
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Birthdate: January 7, 1933
Birthplace: Greenfield, Ohio
High School: Greenfield McClain (1951)
College: University of Dayton (1956)
Died: December 24, 2022
Year Inducted: 2013
The seven-foot, 245-pound Bill Uhl did not play basketball at Greenfield McClain High School until his senior year because his parents had difficulty finding large enough gym shoes. Five years later he was a consensus All-American at the University of Dayton. When Uhl arrived at Dayton, following one quarter at Ohio State, Coach Tom Blackburn asked him what his goals were. Uhl said he wanted to become an All-American and play at Madison Square Garden. “If you do what I tell you,” Blackburn said, “you can do it.” Uhl said he made up his mind to follow Blackburn’s orders “if he told me to stand on my head at Third & Main (streets).” When Uhl’s career ended, he had played in 11 games at Madison Square Garden and had made the 1956 Look All-America team. The Flyers were invited to the prestigious National Invitation Tournament in Uhl’s three varsity years and reached the final twice. The 1956 UD team finished third in the final Associated Press poll. Featuring hook shots with either hand, Uhl led Dayton in scoring and rebounding all three seasons and had a career average of 18.5 points.
Watch Bill Uhl’s Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Speech:
