If you are my age, and can remember what might be called a Golden Age of High School basketball in Western Pennsylvania, then you probably remember the undefeated (28-0) Midland High School Leopards of 1965, the WPIAL and Pennsylvania state champions. A fabulous team whose point guard, Norm Van Lier, went on to a distinguished NBA career with the Chicago Bulls, but the real star of that team was leading scorer and center Simmie Hill. He was force to be reckoned with on the high school level. He played at several different colleges, and had a journeyman career in the old ABA. It is sad to learn of his passing earlier this week at the age of 66.
Ironically, I was at a function earlier in the week where I met a lady from Midland who was a cousin of Van Lier's, and she told me of Sim Hill's passing. I was going to write it up the other night, but waited until it was actually reported in the newspapers.
RIP Simmie Hill.
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