Biography
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Arizin did not play basketball at La Salle College High School, failing to make the team in his only tryout as a senior. Arizin graduated just a year before another NBA hall of famer, Tom Gola, entered La Salle College High School as a freshman.
During his freshman year at Villanova, Arizin played CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) basketball in Philadelphia. Late in that season, Al Severance, then the Villanova varsity basketball coach, attended one of Arizin's CYO games. Afterwards, Severance approached Arizin and asked him if he would like to go to Villanova, to which Arizin answered: "I already go to Villanova."
Arizin then made the team in 1947, his sophomore year, and played on the team for three years. In 1950 he was named the collegiate basketball player of the year after leading the nation with 25.3 points per game. During a game on 01949-02-12February 12, 1949, Arizin scored 85 points against the Naval Air Materials Center roster. Arizin also scored at least one hundred points in a game while playing for Villanova, but the game is not recognized by the NCAA because the opponent was a junior college.
Read more about this topic: Paul Arizin
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