Hank Gathers

Eric Wilson "Hank" Gathers Jr. (February 11, 1967 – March 4, 1990) was an American college basketball player for the Loyola Marymount Lions in the West Coast Conference (WCC).

The Mustangs reached the Philadelphia Public League championship game in consecutive years, losing to a Pooh Richardson-led Benjamin Franklin High in 1984 before winning the title over Lionel Simmons' South Philadelphia High in 1985.

Gathers and Kimble were not friends until their senior year at Dobbins.

Both of them were recruited to the University of Southern California (USC) by head coach Stan Morrison and his top assistant David Spencer.

During a visit to USC, the two recruits were told that the area around campus was deemed a slum.

Gathers and Kimble, however, considered the area to be a suburb compared to their home of Philadelphia.

Gathers made up his mind early that he would join USC, while Kimble decided independently and only after spurning Temple late.

They were joined on the Trojans by high school All-American, Tom Lewis, and Rich Grande as the "Four Freshmen" star recruiting class.

Following an 11–17 season in 1985–86, Morrison and Spencer were fired despite having won the Pac-10 Conference the previous year.

It was reported that the players would not remain unless certain conditions were met, including having a say in the next coaching staff.

USC hired George Raveling as the next head coach of the Trojans.

Raveling gave the players a deadline to respond whether they would remain on the team.

When they did not respond, he revoked the scholarships of Gathers, Kimble, and Lewis.

Raveling's controversial statement was, "You can't let the Indians run the reservation," he said.

"You've got to be strong, too. Sometimes you have to tell them that they have to exit."

Kimble and Gathers transferred together from USC to Loyola Marymount University (LMU).

Lewis transferred to Pepperdine.

Grande remained at USC.

Due to NCAA regulations, Gathers and Kimble could not play in the season following their transfer.

They helped lead the Lions to a 28–4 record in 1987–88.

Gathers led the team that year in both scoring and rebounding (averaging 22.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game), was named first-team All-WCC and was awarded the WCC tournament MVP.

In the 1988–89 season, Gathers became the second player in NCAA Division I history to lead the nation in scoring and rebounding in the same season, averaging 32.7 points and 13.7 rebounds per game.

He was named WCC Player of the Year and again won the WCC Tournament MVP.

On December 30, 1988, he scored a career-high 49 points along with 26 rebounds in a 130–125 win over Nevada.

After the season, he decided against declaring for the NBA draft.

As a junior in 1989, he became the second player in NCAA Division I history to lead the nation in scoring and rebounding in the same season.

Early in his senior year in 1989–90, Gathers was diagnosed with an abnormal heartbeat after he collapsed during a game.

He was placed on medication and returned a few weeks later, but he initially struggled, which he attributed to his medication.

The dosage was gradually decreased, and his play recovered.

Gathers was a consensus second-team All-American as a senior in 1990.

His No. 44 was retired by the Lions, who also placed a statue of him in his honor outside their home arena Gersten Pavilion.

Gathers began his college career with the USC Trojans, but transferred with teammate Bo Kimble to Loyola Marymount after his freshman year.

Playing under Lions coach Paul Westhead and his fast-paced system, Gathers was a three-time first-team All-WCC selection.

In his first season with the Lions, he earned the first of two consecutive most valuable player (MVP) honors in the WCC tournament.

As a junior, he was named the WCC Player of the Year and began receiving All-American recognition.

Gathers died at age 23 after collapsing for the second time that season during the semifinals of the 1990 WCC tournament.

Gathers was born to Lucille and Eric Gathers Sr. in Philadelphia.

Growing up in the Raymond Rosen Projects, one of the toughest neighborhoods in Philadelphia, he stayed out of trouble by playing basketball.

Gathers played prep ball at Dobbins Technical High School, located among the housing projects in North Philadelphia.

He was joined on the team by his younger brother, Derrick Gathers, Bo Kimble and Doug Overton.