Click here to read just how good Royce Youree was at Arizona State...
The Arizona Sports and Entertainment Commission (ASEC) announced its 2016 class for induction into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame and it includes Sun Devil Royce Youree along with local racecar Bob Bondurant, 2001 World Series Co-MVP Randy Johnson, former Phoenix Suns Head Coach John MacLeod, former Grand Canyon State Games Executive Director Erik Widmark, and former Arizona Cardinals standout safety Adrian Wilson. Youree is the first Sun Devil basketball player to score 1,000 points and his two free throws in 1958 helped ASU secure its first NCAA Tournament bid.
After ASU Youree, who resides in Chandler, became one of Arizona's most successful high school basketball coaches. From 1969-1982, his East High School team went 301-56 winning five state championships and his only state championship loss was a four-overtime classic to Alhambra High School. Youree continued in the Phoenix coaching system with Mesa Community College and BCI until 1995. He is in the Sun Devil Athletic Hall of Fame (1995), Pac-12 Hall of Honor (2009) and the National High School Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame (2012).
Here are some numbers on Youree's career:
1 (as in first): As a senior during the 1957-58 season, the first year for legendary head coach Ned Wulk, Youree helped ASU win its first Border Conference championship and receive its first bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Sun Devils secured the conference title in the regular season's final game, when Youree made two free throws with three seconds left give ASU a 78-76 win over Arizona.
3: A three-year starter who left ASU as the school's career scoring leader (1,036 points) and was the first player in school history to surpass 1,000 points. He earned B.A. in education from ASU in 1960 and his M.A., also in education, in 1963 and was the 2009 inductee into the Pac-10 Hall of Honor.
3: Played three years of minor league baseball after his ASU career ended, and then went into basketball coaching in 1962 as an assistant at Phoenix's Maryvale High School. Became the head coach of Phoenix East High School in 1964, where he compiled a 5A record of 301-56 and won five state championships over 13 years. The Arizona Republic later named Youree its "Coach of the Century" and ranked five of his teams among the top 15 boys' "Teams of the Century."
13.9: Royce led the Sun Devils in free throw percentage all three seasons he played for ASU, and was the team's leader in scoring with 13.9 points per game in 1955-56.
362: Royce made 362 career free throws, which stood as the school's all-time record for 45 years until Ike Diogu surpassed his mark during the 2003-04 season. It is the longest-standing record in ASU men's basketball history.
1982: In 1982, became the co-coach at Mesa Community College, and he went 126-37 in five years there, including taking his team to a No. 3 national ranking in 1987. From 1988-1995, Youree coached in the Basketball Congress International (BCI), guiding teams of Arizona's top high school basketball players in competition against top challengers from across the country. Then, he spent two years as an assistant coach at the University of San Diego and seven years as a regional scout for the NBA's Atlanta Hawks.
About the Arizona Sports and Entertainment Commission
The Arizona Sports and Entertainment Commission (ASEC) is a non-profit organization created in 1988. The Commission collaborates with hundreds of partners to help fulfill the mission of bringing national and international sporting events to the state; assisting in the promotion of existing events and Arizona sports teams; providing volunteer recruitment and organization for large-scale sporting events; and developing youth sports programs. In 1999, it assumed oversight of the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2012, the Grand Canyon State Games. ASEC was the founding organization and owner of the 2015 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl. For more information about the Commission call 480.517.9700 or visit www.azsportsent.com.
The Arizona Sports and Entertainment Commission (ASEC) announced its 2016 class for induction into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame and it includes Sun Devil Royce Youree along with local racecar Bob Bondurant, 2001 World Series Co-MVP Randy Johnson, former Phoenix Suns Head Coach John MacLeod, former Grand Canyon State Games Executive Director Erik Widmark, and former Arizona Cardinals standout safety Adrian Wilson. Youree is the first Sun Devil basketball player to score 1,000 points and his two free throws in 1958 helped ASU secure its first NCAA Tournament bid.
Hail East High Longhorns, stand proud, bold and true. Through the many years to come we will remember you. https://t.co/v36Z1w5Pxu
— Tony Alba (@talba62) August 4, 2016
Since 1957, the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame has been honoring athletes, coaches, administrators and others who have made significant contributions to Arizona sports. This year's class will be in attendance and recognized during the 46th Arizona Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27 at the Tempe Center for the Arts. Tickets are on sale now at www.azsportsent.com.Huge congrats to Coach Royce Youree for being inducted in to the AZ Sports Hall of Fame! The best HS coach in AZ history!!!
— Basha Basketball (@Bashabasketball) August 4, 2016
After ASU Youree, who resides in Chandler, became one of Arizona's most successful high school basketball coaches. From 1969-1982, his East High School team went 301-56 winning five state championships and his only state championship loss was a four-overtime classic to Alhambra High School. Youree continued in the Phoenix coaching system with Mesa Community College and BCI until 1995. He is in the Sun Devil Athletic Hall of Fame (1995), Pac-12 Hall of Honor (2009) and the National High School Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame (2012).
Here are some numbers on Youree's career:
1 (as in first): As a senior during the 1957-58 season, the first year for legendary head coach Ned Wulk, Youree helped ASU win its first Border Conference championship and receive its first bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Sun Devils secured the conference title in the regular season's final game, when Youree made two free throws with three seconds left give ASU a 78-76 win over Arizona.
3: A three-year starter who left ASU as the school's career scoring leader (1,036 points) and was the first player in school history to surpass 1,000 points. He earned B.A. in education from ASU in 1960 and his M.A., also in education, in 1963 and was the 2009 inductee into the Pac-10 Hall of Honor.
3: Played three years of minor league baseball after his ASU career ended, and then went into basketball coaching in 1962 as an assistant at Phoenix's Maryvale High School. Became the head coach of Phoenix East High School in 1964, where he compiled a 5A record of 301-56 and won five state championships over 13 years. The Arizona Republic later named Youree its "Coach of the Century" and ranked five of his teams among the top 15 boys' "Teams of the Century."
13.9: Royce led the Sun Devils in free throw percentage all three seasons he played for ASU, and was the team's leader in scoring with 13.9 points per game in 1955-56.
362: Royce made 362 career free throws, which stood as the school's all-time record for 45 years until Ike Diogu surpassed his mark during the 2003-04 season. It is the longest-standing record in ASU men's basketball history.
1982: In 1982, became the co-coach at Mesa Community College, and he went 126-37 in five years there, including taking his team to a No. 3 national ranking in 1987. From 1988-1995, Youree coached in the Basketball Congress International (BCI), guiding teams of Arizona's top high school basketball players in competition against top challengers from across the country. Then, he spent two years as an assistant coach at the University of San Diego and seven years as a regional scout for the NBA's Atlanta Hawks.
About the Arizona Sports and Entertainment Commission
The Arizona Sports and Entertainment Commission (ASEC) is a non-profit organization created in 1988. The Commission collaborates with hundreds of partners to help fulfill the mission of bringing national and international sporting events to the state; assisting in the promotion of existing events and Arizona sports teams; providing volunteer recruitment and organization for large-scale sporting events; and developing youth sports programs. In 1999, it assumed oversight of the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2012, the Grand Canyon State Games. ASEC was the founding organization and owner of the 2015 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl. For more information about the Commission call 480.517.9700 or visit www.azsportsent.com.