Hot Rod Hundley
Basketball · Hometown: Charleston, WV
- High school
- Charleston High School
Rodney "Hot Rod" Hundley was one of the most entertaining players of his era, a showman before the NBA had any. He grew up in Charleston, West Virginia — where he was essentially raised in poverty and discovered basketball as a lifeline — and starred at Charleston High School, where he averaged 30 points per game and broke the state 4-year scoring record in only 3 years. He went on to star at WVU as a 2× All-American before being selected 1st overall in the 1957 NBA Draft by the Cincinnati Royals (immediately traded to the Minneapolis Lakers). Over six NBA seasons, Hundley was better known for his flashy behind-the-back passes and dribbling exhibitions than his statistics, but his charisma made him beloved by fans. He later became the longtime radio voice of the Utah Jazz for over 35 years. Attended Charleston High School in Charleston, West Virginia.