Post by elp525 on Jun 20, 2011 5:19:16 GMT -5
06/19/2011
Andrew Jerome
Morgantown
One of the greatest basketball players to come through West Virginia will be honored by his alma mater this coming fall. Warren Baker, a 1976 West Virginia University graduate, was a basketball standout in his four years with the Mountaineers.
“Wonderful” Warren Baker was heavily recruited coming out of high school. His great athleticism, rebounding, and offensive abilities separated him from other talents in the state of West Virginia. Warren had size, 6-foot-7, and could play above the rim. A native of White Sulphur Springs, his Greenbrier East basketball team won the West Virginia Class AAA State Basketball title in 1972 and Baker would then go on to play his collegiate career for the Mountaineers.
Under Coach Sonny Moran, Baker started as a freshman and sophomore, leading the team in scoring and rebounding both years. His best numbers came in his second year, averaging 17.7 points and 13.1 rebounds per game.
After the 1974 season, new head coach Joedy Gardner arrived in Morgantown. Baker’s playing time would decrease, but he continued to be a force down low. At the end of his Mountaineer days, Baker accumulated 1,556 points and grabbed 1,070 rebounds. He is the only player in WVU history to lead the team in rebounding all four years of his career. Also, he stands alone with Jerry West as the only Mountaineers to eclipse 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds.
Baker says he’s honored to be mentioned with many of the greats in Mountaineer basketball.
“It makes me feel good,” said Baker. “Of course, Jerry did it in three years. But yes, it does make you feel good when you hear your name anywhere close to Jerry West.”
In his junior and senior seasons, Baker played with current WVU basketball head coach Bob Huggins and he has some fond memories of their playing days.
“Huggs was one tough character,” said Baker. “He was a floor general. He knew where guys were. He knew when we needed to get the ball inside.”
Baker has served as a basketball analyst for the past 10 years on 1440 AM-WAJR Morgantown and for the television broadcasts of the Mountaineer women’s basketball games. Today, he is an assistant professor at Fairmont State and he and his wife currently reside in Canonburg, PA.
Baker will join Canute Curtis, Joseph Harrick, Jim Heise, Pat Itanyi Williams and Steve Newberry in the 2011 Hall of Fame Class. The induction ceremony will be on Saturday, Oct. 8th, prior to the West Virginia-Connecticut football game.
Andrew Jerome
Morgantown
One of the greatest basketball players to come through West Virginia will be honored by his alma mater this coming fall. Warren Baker, a 1976 West Virginia University graduate, was a basketball standout in his four years with the Mountaineers.
“Wonderful” Warren Baker was heavily recruited coming out of high school. His great athleticism, rebounding, and offensive abilities separated him from other talents in the state of West Virginia. Warren had size, 6-foot-7, and could play above the rim. A native of White Sulphur Springs, his Greenbrier East basketball team won the West Virginia Class AAA State Basketball title in 1972 and Baker would then go on to play his collegiate career for the Mountaineers.
Under Coach Sonny Moran, Baker started as a freshman and sophomore, leading the team in scoring and rebounding both years. His best numbers came in his second year, averaging 17.7 points and 13.1 rebounds per game.
After the 1974 season, new head coach Joedy Gardner arrived in Morgantown. Baker’s playing time would decrease, but he continued to be a force down low. At the end of his Mountaineer days, Baker accumulated 1,556 points and grabbed 1,070 rebounds. He is the only player in WVU history to lead the team in rebounding all four years of his career. Also, he stands alone with Jerry West as the only Mountaineers to eclipse 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds.
Baker says he’s honored to be mentioned with many of the greats in Mountaineer basketball.
“It makes me feel good,” said Baker. “Of course, Jerry did it in three years. But yes, it does make you feel good when you hear your name anywhere close to Jerry West.”
In his junior and senior seasons, Baker played with current WVU basketball head coach Bob Huggins and he has some fond memories of their playing days.
“Huggs was one tough character,” said Baker. “He was a floor general. He knew where guys were. He knew when we needed to get the ball inside.”
Baker has served as a basketball analyst for the past 10 years on 1440 AM-WAJR Morgantown and for the television broadcasts of the Mountaineer women’s basketball games. Today, he is an assistant professor at Fairmont State and he and his wife currently reside in Canonburg, PA.
Baker will join Canute Curtis, Joseph Harrick, Jim Heise, Pat Itanyi Williams and Steve Newberry in the 2011 Hall of Fame Class. The induction ceremony will be on Saturday, Oct. 8th, prior to the West Virginia-Connecticut football game.