Explorer recruiting history 1980-1984

Part V of a multi-part series focusing on the recruiting history of La Salle University basketball looks at the heart of the Lefty Ervin era. Some very good players were recruited by Ervin but also two very difficult recruiting losses; Dallas Comegys, who ended up at DePaul and Pooh Richardson who would sign with UCLA.

The 1980-1984 recruiting period followed the exciting era of Michael Brooks in the late 70’s. La Salle would reach the post season twice during this time. It was guys Like Steve Black and walk-on Ralph Lewis that would carry on the tradition of great players at La Salle. It would be players like Rich Tarr and Tim Legler that would help develop the successful early seasons of the Simmons era. Following national players like Gola, Durrett, and Brooks, the players of this era probably never got all the credit they should have facing the changing landscape of college athletics with the formation of the Big East, the emergence of Temple under John Chaney. This may be a forgotten group of La Salle players straddled between Brooks and Simmons led eras, but one can sit back and look at some talented La Salle players recruited during this era.

1984 Class: Recruited by Lefty Ervin
Eric Lee 6”7 F – Cherry Hill West HS
Victor Moran 6”7 F – Transfer from?????
Ken Palczewski 6”6 F – Colonial HS, Avenel, NJ

Class Notes:
Lee was a talented player that battled injuries his entire career at La Salle and was designated to bench player. Moran was a freakish athlete that transferred into La Salle and was originally from Central Bucks West High School. He injured his knee while at La Salle and was never the same player. Palczewski was a career back-up player. Overall this class did very little at La Salle.

1983 Class: Recruited by Lefty Ervin
Tim Legler 6”4 G – John Randolph Tucker HS, Richmond VA.
Larry Koretz 6”8 F – Wilkes-Barre GAR HS
Rich Tarr 6”1 G – Transfer from Penn State

Class Notes:
This three-man class would all be heavy contributors to the program. All were 1,000- point scorers; Legler and Tarr would leave the top 3 pointer shooters in La Salle history. All three would play big parts in leading La Salle to post season appearances. The story on Legler was that he was set to go to Princeton but was looking for a small Catholic school that played big-time basketball and basically fell into La Salle’s lap. That would make up for the extreme disappointment Ervin would taste when top recruiting target, Dallas Comegys would announce he would attend DePaul. If La Salle had been able to land Comegys this class would be recognized as one of La Salle’s best recruiting classes in history.

1982 Class: Recruited by Lefty Ervin
Chip Greenberg 6”5 G/F – La Salle HS
Gary Jones 6”3 G – Pennsbury HS

Class Notes:
Greenberg was considered a “must get” for Ervin. He would go and have a solid career at La Salle scoring over 1,000 points. More success was placed on him than he actually got while at La Salle but still was solid for the program. Gary Jones had injury problems while in the program and never was the player most believed he could have been if healthy.

1981 Class: Recruited by Lefty Ervin
Albert “Truck” Butts 6”8 F – Frederick Military Academy via Southern HS
Steve Black 6”3 G – Overbrook HS
Dallas Philson 6”2 G – Southern HS
Pete Tiano 6”3 G – Abington HS

Class Notes:
Steve Black and Albert “Truck” Butts bolstered the 1981 recruiting class. Black would become one of La Salle's best ever players and scorers while Butts would be one of the best frontcourt power players ever at La Salle. Butts would lose his last year of eligibility due to an obscure NCAA rule of playing a 5th year after his 20th birthday. The ban of Butts from playing in the 1984-1985 season would deny Black and others at La Salle any chance of a post-season run. Dallas Philson was a very highly regarded player who never developed into the player many believed he would be at La Salle. Slowed by injuries and academic problems Philson was relegated to bench player for most of his career. Tiano was a very underrated player for La Salle and played a lot of minutes due to an enormous amount of missed games from various players, including Black. When he was given the opportunity he stepped up to the challenge in most instances.

1980 Class: Recruited by Lefty Ervin
Brent Hagwood 6”9 F – Chester HS.
Phil Burton 6”5 F – Ben Franklin HS

Class Notes:
Hagwood would play two years and have some off the court issues and never make a big impact on the program. Burton would be primarily a bench player for the Explorers. Overall a small and unproductive class for La Salle.