September 2, 1972(1972-09-02) (aged 30) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Nationality
American
Listed height
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight
249 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school
Eastern (Detroit, Michigan)
Nashville Christian (Nashville, Tennessee)
NBA draft
1963: 6th round, 48th overall pick
Selected by the Detroit Pistons
Playing career
1962–1968
Position
Center
Number
19
17
32
Career history
1962
Toledo Tartans
1962–1963
Holland Oilers
1964–1967
Detroit Pistons
1967
Chicago Bulls
1967
Trenton Colonials
1968
Indiana Pacers
Career highlights and awards
First-team Parade All-American (1961)
Career NBA and ABA statistics
Points
2,175 (9.5 ppg)
Rebounds
2,199 (9.6 rpg)
Assists
396 (1.7 apg)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Reginald Hezeriah Harding (May 4, 1942 – September 2, 1972) was an American professional basketball player.[1] He starred while playing at Eastern High School in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan, and entered the 1962 NBA draft without playing college basketball due to eligibility issues. Harding was selected by the Detroit Pistons as the first player drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA) without having played in college.[2]
Harding played his first professional season in the Midwest Professional Basketball League (MPBL) before he joined the Pistons in 1964. He spent parts of four seasons in the NBA with the Pistons and the Chicago Bulls during which he was the subject of team misconduct, criminal activity and a season-long league suspension. After his NBA career ended, Harding played briefly in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) for the Trenton Colonials and the American Basketball Association (ABA) for the Indiana Pacers.
Harding's career came to a premature end when he was imprisoned from 1969 to 1971 for a concealed weapons charge. He attempted to pursue a professional comeback after his release but he was murdered in Detroit in 1972.
^"Over Before He Started". The Detroit News. September 3, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
^Dupree, David (12 June 1977). "Even Without College Experience Play of Dawkins May Someday Match His Ego and Personality". The Washington Post.
Ricke, Tom (November 12, 1972). "ReggieHarding". Detroit Free Press. p. 114. Retrieved September 16, 2020. "ReggieHarding, in Memoriam". Detroit Free Press...
finish his four-year college eligibility to be eligible for selection. ReggieHarding, who had graduated from high school but did not enroll in a college...
allegedly raped at knifepoint by local high-school basketball player ReggieHarding after leaving a sock hop at Detroit's Graystone Ballroom (she had arrived...
on December 26, 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2017. One later player, ReggieHarding, would be drafted in 1962 despite never enrolling in a college an being...
to a Spanish League title and to the European Champions Cup final. ReggieHarding, the 29th pick, became the first player drafted out of high school when...
and 13th pick Jim King, have also been selected to an All-Star Game. ReggieHarding, who was the first player drafted out of high school when he was drafted...
murdered by the wife's paramour, wife found not guilty due to insanity ReggieHarding Detroit 1972-09-02 Detroit Pistons player shot in the head Murder of...
of Arab Republics was created between Egypt, Libya and Syria. Died: ReggieHarding, 30, former Detroit Pistons star, died the day after being shot in the...
30 Dave Erickson Marquette 1963 5 39 Bill Small Illinois 1963 6 48 ReggieHarding United States Detroit Eastern High School 1963 7 57 Ira Harge New Mexico...
players ever drafted in the NBA, after ReggieHarding in the 1962 draft. However, because the rules prevented Harding from playing in the league until one...
August 20 – Harold Rainsford Stark, admiral (born 1880) September 2 – ReggieHarding, basketball player (born 1942) September 8 – Warren Kealoha, Olympic...
Marcus Fizer Derrick Gervin George Gervin Willie Green Malik Hairston ReggieHarding Jaden Hardy Manny Harris Spencer Haywood Jermaine Jackson Josh Jackson...
leading scorer, Terry Dischinger (military service) and starting center, ReggieHarding (suspension). On September 28, 1965, Wattrick died of a heart attack...
Chicago; M.C. Burton, Grand Rapids; Willie Merriweather, Holland. ReggieHarding, the first high school player ever drafted by the NBA played for Holland...
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