Ron Dunlap
Ron Dunlap (December 2, 1946 – October 28, 2019[1]) was an American professional basketball player from Illinois. Dunlap, a high school center from Farragut Academy, went on to play for the Illinois Fighting Illini for one year (1965–66). He was a member of the freshman squad during the 1964-65 season and played a key role on the 1965–66 varsity squad, additionally, he started the 1966–67 season with the team and was subsequently dismissed as part of the "slush fund" investigation. Dunlap scored 161 career points with 169 rebounds while only playing 28 games for the Fighting Illini.[2]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 2, 1946 Chicago, Illinois |
| Died | October 28, 2019 (aged 72) Appleton, Wisconsin |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Farragut Academy (Chicago, Illinois) |
| College | Illinois (1965–1966) |
| NBA draft | 1968 / Round: 2 / Pick: 19th overall |
| Selected by the Chicago Bulls | |
| Playing career | 1969–1973 |
| Position | Center |
| Number | 35, 7 |
| Career history | |
| 1967–1968 | Chicago Bombers |
| 1969–1974 | Rockford Royals |
| 1971–1973 | Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C. |
Career
Dunlap attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, playing two seasons for the Fighting Illini. He was forced to skip his last two seasons of basketball (1967-1968) due to a scandal involving illicit "slush funds" and funding paid to University of Illinois players on its basketball and football teams. During this era, the NCAA allowed $15 a month in stipends; however, the Big Ten Conference did not. Dunlap, married and the father of a daughter at the time,[3] had received a total of $410 in monthly increments. Three Illini coaches resigned under pressure, and the athletes receiving the payments lost their remaining eligibility to play in the Big Ten. Based on the incident, the NCAA suspended the Fighting Illini for two seasons.[4]
Dunlap played with the Chicago Bombers of the North American Basketball League in 1967-1968.[5]
Despite the enforced break from the game, Dunlap was selected in the second round of 1968 NBA Draft by Chicago Bulls. He continued his career in the Continental Basketball Association[6] with the Rockford Royals, and later in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv.[7]
References
- West, Samantha (October 29, 2019). "Ron Dunlap, longtime Appleton educator and influential leader in Fox Valley's African-American community, has died". Appleton Post Crescent. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
- Season Stats Archived 2014-01-15 at the Wayback Machine
- "Legends, Lists & Lore: Ron Dunlap". The News-Gazette. December 1, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
- Illini Slush Fund
- https://www.nasljerseys.com/EBA/Rosters/MBL-NABL/Bombers_EBA_Rosters.htm#1964
- Continental Basketball Association
- Maccabi Tel Aviv Website