Hank Whitney Inducted in 2013
Hank Whitney
Henry Lee (Hank) Whitney (April 28, 1939 – April 5, 2020) a Brooklyn native began his basketball career at the High School of Fashion Industries in Manhattan. He later attended Iowa State (1958-61), Whitney came to Iowa State on the heels of John Crawford, another New York City product, as the second black basketball player to wear the cardinal and gold. His accomplishments at ISU helped pave the way for future black players from the New York City area like Vinnie Brewer and Zaid Abdul-Aziz (Don Smith) to join the Cyclones. The athletic post player earned first-team all-Big Eight honors (1961), and helped the Cyclones win a conference title (1959 Big Eight Holiday Tournament champions).
He was drafted in 1961 in the 4th round, the 37th overall pick selected by the Syracuse Nationals. Professionally he played for the Los Angeles Jets (1961-62), Chicago Majors (1962), Pittsburgh Rens (1962-63), Allentown Jets (1963-68), New Jersey Americans/New York Nets (1968-69), Houston Mavericks (1969), Carolina Cougars (1969-70), Allentown Jets (1970-71), Hazelton Bits (1971-72), and Garden State Colonials (1972-73).
Career highlights 2× EPBL champion (1963, 1965), and First-team All-Big Eight (1961).
He was drafted in 1961 in the 4th round, the 37th overall pick selected by the Syracuse Nationals. Professionally he played for the Los Angeles Jets (1961-62), Chicago Majors (1962), Pittsburgh Rens (1962-63), Allentown Jets (1963-68), New Jersey Americans/New York Nets (1968-69), Houston Mavericks (1969), Carolina Cougars (1969-70), Allentown Jets (1970-71), Hazelton Bits (1971-72), and Garden State Colonials (1972-73).
Career highlights 2× EPBL champion (1963, 1965), and First-team All-Big Eight (1961).