Jack Wade Moreland, known as Jackie Moreland (March 11, 1938 – December 19, 1971), was an American

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately in diameter) through the defender's h ...

player for the

Detroit Pistons The Detroit Pistons are an American professional basketball team based in Detroit. The Pistons compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division and play their home games at L ...

and the former

New Orleans Buccaneers The New Orleans Buccaneers were a charter member of the American Basketball Association. After three seasons in New Orleans, Louisiana the franchise moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where it became the Pros, Tams and Sounds for four years before an ...

. He played

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for the

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and Lady Techsters, commonly abbreviated La. Tech and Dawgs, refer to the sports teams of Louisiana Tech University, in Ruston, Louisiana. The teams compete in Division I of NCAA sports. Since 2013, Louisiana Tech has bee ...

Background

Minden High School

At Minden High School, Moreland averaged 60 percent from the floor, 90 percent from the free throw line, and 21.3 points and 26 rebounds per game. He set a Louisiana state record for making 27 consecutive free throws in a row. As of 2011, Moreland's 5,030 career high school points still ranked as the fourth-highest total for a high school basketball player in the United States. On April 2, 1956, Minden High School retired Jackie Moreland's number #44 marking the first time the high school bestowed this honor on one of its former athletes. Moreland was a first baseman on Minden's

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding t ...

team where he led the team to an 18–2 record during his junior year.

College career

Recruiting, semester at North Carolina State

Jackie Moreland was one of the most sought after basketball recruits in the nation with

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Texas A&M Texas A&M University (Texas A&M, A&M, or TAMU) is a public, land-grant, research university in College Station, Texas. It was founded in 1876 and became the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System in 1948. As of late 2021, T ...

North Carolina State North Carolina State University (NC State) is a public land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1887 and part of the University of North Carolina system, it is the largest university in the Carolinas. The unive ...

, and Centenary College all seeking Moreland's services. All except Centenary eventually received NCAA probation for offenses related to the recruiting of Moreland. Although he was certainly taken advantage of to some extent, Moreland was also not without blame - A&M coach Ken Loeffler reported (in a ''SPORT'' magazine article by noted

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journalist Furman Bisher in 1957) that the first thing Moreland said to him when he arrived at College Station for a campus visit was "What's the offer?". Moreland decided to enroll at North Carolina State, but never played a game with the Wolfpack. North Carolina State had allegedly offered Moreland cash and gifts including $1,000 cash, travel expenses, and a 7-year medical scholarship for his girlfriend in order to entice him to attend the university. Moreland was declared ineligible at North Carolina State for one year after recruiting violations involving Moreland and the university were discovered. Moreland became a three-time All-American player while at

Louisiana Tech University Louisiana Tech University (Louisiana Tech, La. Tech, or simply Tech) is a public research university in Ruston, Louisiana. It is part of the University of Louisiana System and classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research acti ...

in Ruston under Coach Cecil C. Crowley. His 1,419 collegiate points was the fourth highest in the history of Louisiana Tech, despite playing for only three, instead of the customary four, years for the Bulldogs. He completed three and a half-years at Tech, earning his

Bachelor of Science A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years. The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University o ...

degree in

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. Moreland was also a three-year letterman for Louisiana Tech's baseball team from 1958 to 1960.

1957–58 Season

After attending North Carolina State for a semester, Moreland transferred to Louisiana Tech, where he played in the

Gulf States Conference The Gulf States Conference (GSC) was an intercollegiate athletic football conference that existed from 1948 to 1971. The league had members in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Many of the league's members from Louisiana joined after the Louisi ...

. Moreland led Louisiana Tech in points and rebounds as Tech went 15–10 in his first year with the Bulldogs. He was named a UPI 2nd Team All-American and a member of the All-Gulf States Conference team. During the season, Moreland set numerous single-game and single-season scoring and rebounding records. In 25 games, he scored 602 points which still stands as the record for most points by a Louisiana Tech Freshman in a single season. Moreland also netted 348 rebounds in 1957–58, a record that he broke the following season. He also set Freshmen records for most field goals made (218), field goal attempts (518), free throws made (166), and free throw attempts (218). On December 10, 1957, Moreland scored 43 points against Arkansas Tech, a Louisiana Tech record that was not broken until Mike Green scored 47 points against Lamar on January 22, 1973. He also set single-game records that night for most free throws made (19), and free throws attempted (21) for any Louisiana Tech player. One week later against Eastern New Mexico, he scored 41 points which was the second-highest total by a Tech player in a single game. He also set single-game records for most field goals made (19) and field goal attempts (33) that stood until Mike Green broke both records during the 1972–1973 season.

1958–59 Season

Moreland's second season at Louisiana Tech resulted in greater success for the Bulldog team and more individual honors for Moreland. He led the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs to the second 20-win season in the team's history. The Bulldogs finished the season with a 21–4 record, three victories in the Gulf South Classic against William & Mary,

Northwestern State University Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSU) is a public university primarily situated in Natchitoches, Louisiana, with a nursing campus in Shreveport and general campuses in Leesville/Fort Polk and Alexandria. It is a part of the Univer ...

at Natchitoches, Louisiana, and

Virginia Tech Virginia Tech (formally the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and informally VT, or VPI) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. It also has educational facilities in six re ...

, and the Gulf States Conference Title. Moreland was named a UPI Small College All-American (1st Team) and a member of the All-Gulf States Conference team marking the second straight year he received All-American and All-GSC honors. For a second straight season, Moreland led the Bulldogs in points (528) and rebounds (468). His rebounding total for the 1958–1959 season is still the all-time record for a Tech player in a single season. Joining Moreland in receiving All American status was fellow Bulldog Ray Germany, later a basketball and baseball coach at Moreland's alma mater, Minden High School.

1959–60 Season

Professional basketball career

Retirement and death

In 1970, Moreland said that he had "no regrets" regarding his eight-year sports career despite the recruitment issues: "I received a good education, was a No. 1 draft choice in the pros, and had a good pro-basketball career.". In August 1971, Moreland, at the age of 33, experienced severe stomach pains and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The disease spread to the liver, the stomach, and throughout his whole body. Medical bills soared, and friends from across the state and from

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contributed to a fund to sustain the young family. He passed away months later. Moreland was enshrined as a charter member of the

Louisiana Tech University Athletic Hall of Fame The Louisiana Tech University Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1984 to honor student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and benefactors who have been highly successful at Louisiana Tech Louisiana Tech University (Louisiana Tech, La. Tec ...

in 1984. Louisiana Tech University maintains a Jackie Moreland Scholarship Fund.

NCAA career statistics

, - , style="text-align:left;", 1957–58 , style="text-align:left;",

Louisiana Tech Louisiana Tech University (Louisiana Tech, La. Tech, or simply Tech) is a public research university in Ruston, Louisiana. It is part of the University of Louisiana System and classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activi ...

, 25 , , ... , , ... , , .424 , , ... , , .761 , , 13.9 , , ... , , ... , , ... , , 24.1 , - , style="text-align:left;", 1958–59 , style="text-align:left;",

, 25 , , ... , , ... , , .440 , , ... , , .771 , , 18.7 , , ... , , ... , , ... , , 21.1 , - , style="text-align:left;", 1959–60 , style="text-align:left;",

, 20 , , ... , , ... , , .391 , , ... , , .795 , , 15.1 , , ... , , ... , , ... , , 18.1 , - , style="text-align:left;" colspan=2, Career , 70 , , ... , , ... , , .428 , , ... , , .773 , , 16.0 , , ... , , ... , , ... , , 21.3

NBA career statistics

Regular season

, - , align="left" , 1960–61 , align="left" ,

, 64 , , ... , , 15.7 , , .400 , , ... , , .652 , , 4.9 , , 0.8 , , ... , , ... , , 7.3 , - , align="left" , 1961–62 , align="left" , Detroit , 74 , , ... , , 16.5 , , .421 , , ... , , .747 , , 5.8 , , 1.0 , , ... , , ... , , 7.4 , - , align="left" , 1962–63 , align="left" , Detroit , 78 , , ... , , 19.4 , , .436 , , ... , , .678 , , 5.8 , , 1.5 , , ... , , ... , , 8.8 , - , align="left" , 1963–64 , align="left" , Detroit , 78 , , ... , , 22.8 , , .426 , , ... , , .781 , , 5.2 , , 1.6 , , ... , , ... , , 9.1 , - , align="left" , 1964–65 , align="left" , Detroit , 54 , , ... , , 13.6 , , .348 , , ... , , .635 , , 3.4 , , 1.3 , , ... , , ... , , 5.0 , - , align="left" , 1967–68 , align="left" ,

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

, 76 , , ... , , 30.7 , , .437 , , .500 , , .730 , , 8.1 , , 1.8 , , ... , , ... , , 14.6 , - , align="left" , 1968–69 , align="left" , New Orleans , 78 , , ... , , 34.8 , , .422 , , .250 , , .706 , , 8.1 , , 2.7 , , ... , , ... , , 14.9 , - , align="left" , 1969–70 , align="left" , New Orleans , 80 , , ... , , 29.0 , , .414 , , .250 , , .790 , , 4.8 , , 2.0 , , ... , , ... , , 9.7 , - , align="left" , Careerhttps://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/morelja01.html Jackie Moreland NBA/ABA career Statistics , align="left" , , 582 , , ... , , 23.4 , , .420 , , .300 , , .721 , , 5.9 , , 1.6 , , ... , , ... , , 9.8 , -

Playoffs

, - , align="left" ,

1961 Events January * January 3 ** United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces that the United States has severed diplomatic and consular relations with Cuba (Cuba–United States relations are restored in 2015). ** Aero Flight 311 (K ...

, align="left" ,

, 3 , , ... , , 15.0 , , .452 , , ... , , .800 , , 6.0 , , 1.0 , , ... , , ... , , 10.7 , - , align="left" ,

1962 Events January * January 1 – Western Samoa becomes independent from New Zealand. * January 3 – Pope John XXIII excommunicates Fidel Castro for preaching communism. * January 8 – Harmelen train disaster: 93 die in the wor ...

, align="left" , Detroit , 7 , , ... , , 13.7 , , .515 , , ... , , .571 , , 3.4 , , 1.0 , , ... , , ... , , 5.4 , - , align="left" ,

1963 Events January * January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Co ...

, align="left" , Detroit , 4 , , ... , , 20.5 , , .500 , , ... , , .700 , , 5.0 , , 1.5 , , ... , , ... , , 8.3 , - , align="left" ,

1968 The year was highlighted by protests and other unrests that occurred worldwide. Events January–February * January 5 – " Prague Spring": Alexander Dubček is chosen as leader of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. * Janu ...

, align="left" ,

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

, 17 , , ... , , 28.6 , , .435 , , .000 , , .678 , , 6.7 , , 2.5 , , ... , , ... , , 12.2 , - , align="left" ,

1969 This year is notable for Apollo 11's first landing on the moon. Events January * January 4 – The Government of Spain hands over Ifni to Morocco. * January 5 **Ariana Afghan Airlines Flight 701 crashes into a house on its approach to ...

, align="left" , New Orleans , 11 , , ... , , 31.1 , , .396 , , , , .636 , , 7.2 , , 2.5 , , ... , , ... , , 12.6 , - , align="left" , Career , align="left" , , 42 , , ... , , 25.0 , , .433 , , .000 , , .667 , , 6.1 , , 2.0 , , ... , , ... , , 10.7

Notes

References

*Kerry B. Garland, Jackie Moreland obituary, ''

Minden Press-Herald Minden () is a middle-sized town in the very north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, the greatest town between Bielefeld and Hanover. It is the capital of the district (''Kreis'') of Minden-Lübbecke, which is part of the region of Det ...

'', December 20, 1971, p. 1 *Jackie Moreland obituary, Minden High School Class of 1956: MindenMemories.org * *http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/morelja01.html *http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/ABA_1968_leaders.html *http://www.remembertheaba.com/TeamMaterial/MemphisMaterial/BuccaneersRosters2.html *https://web.archive.org/web/20071101061650/http://www.nba.com/pistons/history/1960s.html *https://web.archive.org/web/20080725232244/http://members.cox.net/tigerdsl/labc/nba_draft_firstround.htm *https://web.archive.org/web/20021001142713/http://members.cox.net/tigerdsl/labc/teamofthecentury.htm *https://web.archive.org/web/20150717063835/http://www.remembertheaba.com/new-orleans-buccaneers.html *http://ssdi.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi {{DEFAULTSORT:Moreland, Jackie 1938 births 1971 deaths 20th-century American engineers American men's basketball players Baptists from Louisiana Basketball players from New Orleans Burials in Louisiana Deaths from cancer in Louisiana Deaths from pancreatic cancer Detroit Pistons draft picks Detroit Pistons players Guards (basketball) Louisiana Tech Bulldogs baseball players Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball players Minden High School (Minden, Louisiana) alumni New Orleans Buccaneers players North Carolina State University alumni Small forwards Sportspeople from Minden, Louisiana 20th-century Baptists