Butler set to honor former CHS standout

Thursday, February 1, 2007

Throughout his career at Butler University, former Cloverdale High School basketball standout Chad Tucker was known for his deadly accuracy.

On Saturday, the late Tucker -- along with a handful of other former Butler athletes -- will be inducted into Butler Hall of Fame.

While playing for the Bulldogs,Tucker played along side Darrin Fitzgerald, who will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Bulldogs' Saturday game against the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The formal Hall of Fame induction will take place on June 10.

Tucker's father, Al, told the BannerGraphic Tuesday that his family received a phone call from Butler representatives nearly 10 days ago informing them of the honor.

"It's quite an honor for the family," Al said. "We were very pleased to get that phone call."

Tucker and Fitzgerald will be honored Saturday along with former Butler football players Jerry Shultz, Bruce Scifres, Ken LaRose, tennis player Sara Fee Essick and volleyball player Christine Essington Irbe along with the 1961-62 men's basketball team.

Tucker and Fitzgerald played together for three seasons at Butler. The former Cloverdale standout finished his career as Butler's all-time leading scorer with 2,321 points.

He was a three-time Butler Most Valuable Player and three-time First-Team All-Conference performer. He was also a 1985 honorable mention All-American.

The 6-foot-8 forward had 108 double-figure scoring performances, including 59 games of 20 or more points.

He averaged 20.9 points per game in Hinkle Fieldhouse and 18.9 points on the road during his 117-game career.

Tucker was one of only three Butler players to surpass the 2,000-point mark.

Tucker, who died in 1996, still ranks among Butler's Top 10 list in scoring, rebounding, field goal shooting and free throw shooting.

Tucker went on to play professionally overseas, including stints in France, Austrailia, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Tucker finished his career at Cloverdale with 1,338 points. He graduated in 1983 and is the school's third all-time leading scorer behind Rick Ford (1968) and 2006 graduate and current Wabash College freshman Chase Haltom.

Tucker was selected to the 1983 Indiana All-Star team, which also featured Steve Alford and James Blackman among others.

The Butler Hall of Fame was established in 1991.

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