Bailey Howell

Playing for Coach McCarthy, Howell made an immediate impact as a sophomore, averaging 25.9 points and 19.7 rebounds, as Mississippi State finished 17–8, placing 3rd in the SEC.

Bailey E. Howell (born January 20, 1937) is an American former professional basketball player.

After playing college basketball at Mississippi State, Howell played 12 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Bailey Howell was born in Middleton, Tennessee, on January 20, 1937, to Walter and Martha Howell.

His father was a mail carrier and his mother was a teacher.

He had two siblings.

Playing for Middleton High School from 1953 to 1955, Howell scored 1,187 career points, the Tennessee high school record at the time.

He was selected all–conference each season, All–State his junior and senior seasons and All–American his senior year of 1955.

He averaged 31.2 points per game as a senior.

Howell was recruited by major schools Memphis State, Mississippi, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky, among others.

Kentucky Coach Adolph Rupp never made the trip to see Howell play.

Ultimately Howell chose to play for Coach Babe McCarthy and the Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball program of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

Howell was a 6'7" forward, playing at Mississippi State University from 1955 to 1959.

In 1956–1957 Howell made his varsity debut, as freshman were prohibited from playing varsity.

The 1957–1958 season saw Mississippi State improve to 20–5, placing 3rd in the SEC and being ranked 15th in the final polls.

Howell averaged 27.8 points and 16.2 rebounds, winning the first of consecutive SEC Most Valuable Player awards.

In his senior season of 1958–1959, Mississippi State finished 24–1 and won the SEC Conference Championship with a 13–1 record.

Howell averaged 27.5 points and 15.2 rebounds, winning his second SEC Most Valuable Player award.

His 47 points against Union in 1958 and 34 rebounds against Louisiana State University in 1957 remain single-game MSU records.

Despite playing at the college level for only three years, he set and still holds Mississippi State records for single-game points scored, career scoring average, single–season and career free throws made, single-season and career free throws attempted, single–game free throw percentage, single-game rebounds, single–season rebounds, career rebounds, and single-season and career rebounding average.

His scoring records are particularly impressive, since there was no three-point line or shot clock in the era that he was a player.

He is considered a legend to the Bulldog basketball faithful, and one of the best-known players to have played at MSU.

He is probably most known for his hook shot, rebounding ability, and work ethic as a player and person.

In 1959, Howell was named AP First Team All–American.

Howell was named to the team along with Bob Boozer of Kansas State, Johnny Cox of Kentucky, Oscar Robertson of Cincinnati, and Jerry West of West Virginia.

Howell, Boozer, Robertson, and West have been inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Mississippi State University forfeited its NCAA tournament bids during Howell's tenure.

The university declined to play in the tournament due to the state of Mississippi's then unwritten practice of not playing against integrated basketball teams.

“It was the biggest disappointment of my basketball career,” Howell said of the Mississippi State University's decision.

“I was never so disappointed.

In America, no matter what you do, you have the opportunity to go as far as you can go and be whatever you can be.

We were denied that opportunity.”

Overall, during his three varsity seasons, Howell led the Bulldogs to a 64–14 record.

His career averages of 27.1 points and 17.0 rebounds per game are both still school records.

Howell concluded his career as Mississippi State's leading scorer (2,030 points) and leading rebounder (1,277 rebounds).

Howell was the No. 2 pick of the 1959 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons.

He was selected behind territorial pick Wilt Chamberlain and Bob Boozer, both future Hall–of–Famers.

Howell made an immediate impact, averaging 17.8 points and 10.5 rebounds as a rookie in 1959–60, as the Pistons finished 30–45.

In his first season, Howell became friends with Piston teammate Earl Lloyd, who earlier in his career had become the first African-American to play in an NBA game.

Howell was a six-time NBA All-Star, two-time NBA champion and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997.