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Jim LaValley - Meet one of the Basketball Players in Pitt Panthers and PA History

Yinzer Crazy • May 26, 2020

Jim LaValley Shaler and Pitt Panther Great. Pitt Stop Athletics Yinzer Crazy Exclusive 

Jim went to school at Kerr Junior High School in Fox Chapel until 1957. From there he moved to Shaler Area where he ultimately graduated from Shaler High School in 1963. He was an incredibly productive Hoops player, scoring an all-section WPIAL All-Star Team selection that year. His laundry list of accomplishments include winning the Bethel Area Post Tourney, the Fort Cherry Post Tourney and being chosen for the 1963 All Star Team, the year in which he graduated.

He was then offered a full basketball scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh, one in which he was very familiar with. Shaler Coaches Jack Azalenski and Barry Brautigam were both in the Pitt coaching ranks in the past, and helped impact LaValley’s choice. 

Jim’s father was also a Panthers alum, and a huge reason he wanted to don the blue and yellow. 

Lavalley went on to major in education and if not a basketball player, wanted to be a gym teacher. In 1967 he led the Panthers in scoring and rebounding and earned the team MVP honors. 

He played for some prestigious coaches including Doc Peterson, and Bob Thimmons. Thimmons was the man in charge in Oakland from 1957-1968. 

We at YinzerCrazy asked Jim about some of his best memories as a collegiate athlete. One that was at the forefront for him was playing summer pickup basketball at trees, a local playground, with Connie Hawkins. 

Hawkins, a 4-time NBA All-Star and leading scorer of the Pittsburgh Pipers - was one of the most influential players in Pittsburgh basketball history. The Pipers were formed in 1967, the inaugural season of the ABA, and brought basketball on a professional level to the city of Steel. The Pipers went on to win the ABA championship that year, led by Hawkins who won both the ABA’s regular season and postseason most valuable player awards. 

At the height of LaValley’s career, the local media would select an all star team aptly named “The Tristate All Stars” made up of players from Pitt, and Duquesne and West Virginia. 

As a Senior, he was named starting Center over elite players such as Bob Benfield of WVU, Paul Mickey of PSU, and Gary Majors of Duquesne. 

We talked to Jim about what sports meant to him and the impact they had on his life. 
His father went to Pitt so it was a dream come true when he received a scholarship following in his father’s footsteps. He said he owes Pitt everything - it's where he got his education and made some of the best friends of his life. 

He put that Education degree to good use - registering 30 years as York County Vo-Tech Physical Education Teacher. LaValley was actually drafted by the Sunbury Mercury’s of the Eastern Professional Basketball league, but passed and enrolled in the 1967 fall semester to finish his credits, intent on graduating in December. 

After retiring from education in 1999 he and his wife moved to the Delaware beach area. “I transitioned into the business world and worked as a sales person and store manager for Baker’s Hardware in Millsboro Until 2012 I retired officially,” said LaValley. 

Following an illustrious playing career and teaching career, LaValley is just like the rest of us currently. Working hard and hopeful that sports will make their return sooner rather than later, of course in a safe fashion.

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