A three-time All-American player at Tennessee State, Dick Barnett led his team to three consecutive NAIA national championships for Hall of Fame Coach John McLendon. Barnett was named championship MVP in 1958 and 1959. The top draft choice of the Syracuse National of the NBA, he later played with the Los Angeles Lakers for three seasons and played on two NBA championship teams with the New York Knicks in 1969-70 and 1972-73.

Professor of Sports Management at St. John's University, New York