Boston College Athletics
Al Skinner Named to UMass' All-1970s Team
October 29, 2008 | Men's Basketball
Oct. 29, 2008
Boston College basketball coach Al Skinner has been selected to the University of Massachusetts' All-1970s squad, according to an announcement made by the coach's alma mater.
The squad, selected by a media panel, is the latest in a series of all-decade teams released by the school as part of its 100 Seasons of UMass Basketball celebration.
Skinner is joined on the 1970s team by Johnny Murphy, Mike Pyatt, Jim Town and Julius Erving. Erving is unquestionably the greatest known athlete in UMass history.
Skinner was a three-time All-Yankee Conference selection. He led the team in rebounding from 1972-74, totaling 749 boards. Skinner set a school record for highest career field-goal percentage at UMass (.557), as well as in a single-season (.620), records he held for nearly 20 years. He helped UMass to two Yankee Conference titles. He led the league in scoring in 1974, averaging 18.7 points per game.
Skinner was the eighth player in UMass history to join the 1,000-point club, finishing his career with 1,235 points. Upon completion of his collegiate career, Skinner went on to play professionally. He was drafted by the New York Nets in the eighth round of the 1974 ABA Draft and by the Boston Celtics in the ninth round of the NBA Draft. Skinner wound up playing for the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association, where he was named to the ABA's All-Rookie team.
