Bill Raftery

 

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Former La Salle University men's basketball captain and current CBS/ESPN college basketball analyst Bill Raftery ('63) will be one of two recipients to receive the Curt Gowdy Media Award given annually by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA. 

 

The award recognizes one member of the print and one member of the electronic media whose efforts have made a significant contribution to the game of basketball.

Raftery captained the Explorers as a senior at La Salle after a three-year playing career in which he averaged 14.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. 

 

Following graduation he was drafted by the New York Knicks but quickly shifted his focus to coaching with head coaching positions in his home state of New Jersey at Fairleigh Dickinson - Madison (1963-'68) and Seton Hall (1970-'81).

 

He began his broadcasting career as co-host of ESPN's "College Hoops Tonight" in 1980, began calling New Jersey Nets games in 1982 and has built a reputation as one of the most insightful, beloved and charismatic color analysts in the game.  He has called hundreds of collegiate games and scores of NCAA Tournament contests.

 

He received an honorary doctorate from La Salle in 2001 and was inducted into the University's Hall of Athletes in 2004.

 

He will be joined by Mark Heisler who receives the award for his work as an author and reporting on the NBA for the past 23 seasons.  The ceremony takes place during the Hall of Fame's induction festivities this weekend.

 

Previous winners of the award include, Dick Stockton, Dick Vitale, Hubie Brown and Curry Kirkpatrick.