Sad news for Bradley fans, and especially for family and friends of one of the all-time greatest basketball players ever to play the game.
Former Bradley star Gene Melchiorre passed away today at the age of 92.
https://twitter.com/BradleyBraves/st...83026614112256
He played at Bradley from 1947-1951, was a 2-time All-American, a 3-time All-MVC, and the only Bradley player and one of only 2 Missouri Valley Conference players ever drafted #1 overall in the NBA Draft. After a great career at Bradley in which he lead the Braves to the championship game of both the NCAA and NIT as a junior in 1950, Melchiorre was drafted #1 overall in the 1951 NBA Draft by the Baltimore Bullets, but never played in the NBA. The only other MVC player to be drafted #1 overall was Oscar Robertson of the University of Cincinnati in 1960, by the Cincinnati Royals (now the Sacramento Kings).
Former Bradley star Gene Melchiorre passed away today at the age of 92.
https://twitter.com/BradleyBraves/st...83026614112256
He played at Bradley from 1947-1951, was a 2-time All-American, a 3-time All-MVC, and the only Bradley player and one of only 2 Missouri Valley Conference players ever drafted #1 overall in the NBA Draft. After a great career at Bradley in which he lead the Braves to the championship game of both the NCAA and NIT as a junior in 1950, Melchiorre was drafted #1 overall in the 1951 NBA Draft by the Baltimore Bullets, but never played in the NBA. The only other MVC player to be drafted #1 overall was Oscar Robertson of the University of Cincinnati in 1960, by the Cincinnati Royals (now the Sacramento Kings).