Harold "Red" Blakely (1972) - Bison Athletic Hall of Fame

Harold "Red" Blakely

Induction:
1972

A two-time All-NCC selection as center of Bison Basketball teams in 1924, 1925 and 1926. Sometimes called "30 years ahead of his time," in an athletic sense, Blakely was accorded All-America recognition by the Chicago Tribune. It probably was a result of his outstanding play against Big Ten champion Iowa, which the Bison pushed into overtime before being defeated. Blakely paced Bison cage teams that knocked over such schools as Wisconsin, Washington and Washington State. During his career, the Bison cagers compiled a 63-15 won-lost record, including a 22-3 mark in 1926 as the Herd captured the school's first conference basketball title. He was the captain of the 1926 team, leading the team and conference in scoring. There was no professional basketball in the 1920s, but Blakely went on to play semi-pro ball at Akron, Ohio.