Scotty Steagall
![]() Steagall with the Phillips 66ers. | |
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | November 13, 1929 |
Died | September 16, 2001 | (aged 71)
Nationality | American |
Listed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
Listed weight | 170 lb (77 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Stewardson (Shelby County, Illinois) |
College | Millikin (1947–1951) |
NBA draft | 1951: 2nd round, 12th overall pick |
Selected by the Indianapolis Olympians | |
Position | Forward |
Number | 33 |
Career history | |
1951–1952 | Phillips 66ers |
1953–1954 | Phillips 66ers |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Scotty Steagall (November 13, 1929 – September 16, 2001)[1] was an American basketball player. After a collegiate career at Millikin University, Steagall was selected in the second round (12th overall) of the 1951 NBA draft by the Indianapolis Olympians.[1] He skipped the NBA, however, and opted instead to play in the Amateur Athletic Union for the Phillips 66ers, one of the most dominant teams in amateur basketball during the mid-20th century.
College career
[edit]Steagall had a prolific career at Millikin between 1947 and 1951. During his four years as a member of the Big Blue, he scored 2,127 points and led all small colleges in scoring nationally as a senior.[2] That season he scored 888 points in 31 games for an average of 28.6 points per game.[2] In addition to the scoring average, Steagall also led the nation in total field goals (314), free throws (260), and assists (122).[2] He guided Millikin to a berth in the NAIA national championship game, but despite losing to Hamline, Steagall was named the NAIA Tournament MVP.[2][3] Converse named him a first team All-American for his outstanding play during 1950–51.[3]
His scoring bursts were not limited to his senior season, however. As a freshman in 1947–48, Steagall averaged 12.0 points per game, increased it to 21.2 as a sophomore, then 23.9 as a junior.[1][2] He set the then-single game scoring mark for small colleges with a 59-point effort against Augustana College.[4]
AAU career
[edit]After college, Steagall bypassed an NBA career despite being drafted by the Indianapolis Olympians. He signed to work in the sales department for the Phillips Petroleum Company in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.[4] He was to also play for their company team, the Phillips 66ers, in the Amateur Athletic Union.[4] After one season with the team in 1951–52, Steagall had to serve in the United States military to fight in the Korean War, thus missing the 1952–53 season.[5] He returned in November 1953 and re-joined the 66ers,[5] but lasted just one more season before being cut in March 1954.[6]
In 1972, Steagall was elected into the Millikin Hall of Fame.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Scotty Steagall". 1951 NBA Draft. The Draft Review. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Steagall Wins Small College Scoring Title", Chicago Sunday Tribune, p. 1, April 1, 1951, retrieved September 15, 2014
- ^ a b "Scotty Steagall". Players. College Hoopedia. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
- ^ a b c "Scotty Steagall to Join Oilers". Mt. Vernon Register. June 1, 1951. p. 8. Retrieved September 15, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Shurtleff Hosts '66' Oilers at Alton". The Edwardsville Intelligencer. November 30, 1953. p. 8. Retrieved September 15, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Phillips Drops Two". The Post-Standard. March 16, 1954. p. 15. Retrieved September 15, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Scott Steagall, Class of 1950". Millikin Big Blue. Millikin University. Retrieved September 15, 2014.