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Tucker dedication pays off in Hall of Fame acceptance
INDIANAPOLIS -- Like a scene from Angelo Pizzo's and David Anspaugh's movie "Hoosiers," anyone driving through Cloverdale on a summer or fall evening in the late 1970s and early '80s would see a tall, thin boy shooting baskets in his driveway.
Chad Tucker spent hours shooting in that driveway, many times alone, but often with Cloverdale High School teammates. Tucker left the driveway to become an Indiana All-Star, Butler University's all-time scoring leader and now a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
Family and friends shed tears of joy and sorrow Wednesday night when the late Chad Tucker was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in Indianapolis.
His brother, Brad Tucker, accepted the Hall of Fame plaque and delivered the acceptance speech with parents Al and Joan Tucker and sister Dawn Huber in the crowd of 1,100.
On a night when the creators of "Hoosiers" were honored with the Hall of Fame's Silver Medal, and with basketball legends Oscar Robertson, Del Harris and former Louisville coach Denny Crum in attendance, Cloverdale High School and Butler University coaches and teammates gathered to honor Tucker.
Tucker, who ended a battle with depression by taking is own life in 1996, helped Cloverdale win three straight sectional championships from 1981-83 under the direction of his father and coach Al.
The 1982 team, with a starting lineup of Tucker, Jerry Neese, Mark McCammon, Billy Chestnut and Jim Price went 20-0 through the regular season and captured the Greencastle sectional championship.
As a senior, the 6-foot-8 Tucker averaged 24.5 points and 10 rebounds while leading Cloverdale to a third straight sectional title and regional championship in Terre Haute.
Cloverdale was 67-11 in Tucker's three-year varsity career. Before the three-point shot was introduced, Tucker netted 1,338 points, scoring from under the basket and on the perimeter. He also pulled down 660 rebounds.
Tucker was named to the Indiana All-Star team in 1983, joining Mr. Basketball Steve Alford of New Castle.
A four-year starter at Butler University under the late coach Joe Sexton, Tucker became the Bulldogs' all-time leading scorer with 2,321 points. He was a three-time team MVP and three-time first-team all-conference.
Scott Haffner, a 1984 Indiana All-Star from Noblesville and member of the 2013 Hall of Fame class, got a laugh as he recalled guarding Tucker when Butler played the University of Evansville.
"So I feel I contributed to Chad becoming Butler's all-time scoring leader," Haffner said during his induction speech.
At the time of his graduation, Tucker was also its fourth all-time leading rebounder (689) and eighth in career assists (206). A 1985 honorable mention All-American, Tucker was inducted into the Butler Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.
Tucker was named to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Silver Anniversary Team in 2008.
Tucker played professionally in Taiwan, Japan, France and Australia.
Brad Tucker recalled spending a month in Taiwan with his brother. Big Brother came home after a month because of the poor living conditions, but "Chad stayed for the rest of the season for the love of the game and his teammates," Brad said.
Also inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame were:
-- LeVern Benson, a member of the 1956 and 1957 Crispus Attucks teams; Phillip D. Dawkins Sr., leading scorer for the 1960 East Chicago Washington state champions; Gene Demare, leading scorer for New Marion High School, with an enrollment of 64 students, to a 23-3 record and 1961 sectional championship.
-- Chuck Franz of Clarksville High School and Indiana University's 1981 NCAA championship team; Scott Haffner, 1984 Indiana All-Star from Noblesville and University of Evansville; Bob Heady as coach at Shenandoah and Carmel high schools; Jim Master, 1980 Mr. Basketball from Ft. Wayne Harding; Carl Meditch of Indianapolis Tech and DePauw University; Alan Nass, a 1959 All-Star from Huntingburg and three-year starter at Georgia Tech.
-- Bill "Fig" Newton, who averaged 23 points and 22 rebounds for 19-3 Rockville in 1968 and was a member of the 1973 Indiana Pacers ABA championship team.
-- Dan Palombizio, 1981 Mr. Basketball from Michigan City Rogers and Ball State; Richard "Dick" Piper of Chester Township High School; Bob Rousey, of Anderson and captain of the 1949 Indiana All-Star team; and John Forest "Crainie" Crane from the 1913 Wingate state championship team.