88. John Richter, NC State, 1957-1959

2003 Top 50 List: No

Dan Collins List: No

John Richter was a big man for the late 1950s NC State teams under Everett Case.  He was in fact one of the tallest players in the league at 6’8”.  Richter and Lou Pucillo were the leaders of the 1959 NC State team that finished #6 in the AP poll.  They tied for the regular season championship and won the ACC Tournament but were ineligible for the NCAA Tournament due to probation.  Richter received 25 votes to Pucillo’s 43 in ACC Player of the Year voting.  He was named second team All-American by the NABC and the NEA and finished 16th in the AP balloting, just missing third team.

Richter was also MVP of the 1959 Dixie Classic.  On back-to-back-to-back days, the Wolfpack beat Louisville, who eventually went to the Final Four; Oscar Robertson and Cincinnati, who also went to the Final Four; and seventh-ranked Michigan State, with Jumpin’ Johnny Green.  You gotta love the Dixie Classic.

Richter was the first round pick of the Boston Celtics and spent one year in the NBA backing up Bill Russell and winning an NBA championship with Russell, Bob Cousy, Tom Heinsohn, and the rest of Red Auerbach’s Celtics.  In the offseason, he developed a blood clot in his arm, and doctors advised him to take a year off. When he did return, it was with the Sunbury Mercuries in the Eastern Professional Basketball League, or what eventually became the CBA.

Richter ranks fourth in NC State school history in career rebounds, behind Ronnie Shavlik, Tom Burleson, and Richard Howell.

Players to Lead the ACC in Scoring and Rebounding in the Same Season:

Most basketball fans have heard of 3-point plays but John Richter, North Carolina State’s 6-foot-8 freshman center, has come up with something new – a 5-point play.  In a recent game against the Duke frosh, the Philadelphian came up with, not one, but two 5-point plays.  The oddity goes like this: Richter was fouled in the act of shooting a field goal.  He made the goal, accounting for two points.  He was given one free throw, which he missed.  But Richter grabbed the rebound after missing and scored a field goal, accounting for four points.  He was fouled again and this time made the free throw, thereby accounting for five points.  Richter scored 32 points and grabbed 32 rebounds during the game, to pace a 71-64 win for the Wolflets. – The Charlotte News, January 14, 1956